We finally consult an expert for our financial prosperity

Last week, Shiro and I had a session with a financial planner. For the longest time, I have been telling her that we need to sit together and discuss how much we earn and how much we spend and what our future plans are.

Most of the time Shiro has been reluctant to have the discussion claiming that we both are adults and so can each handle the bills we were allocated.

I was pleasantly surprised when she came back from her trip and told me that “I think we need to connect with that financial planner.” I asked her, “What caused this change of mind?”

She smiled and said, “Well, just some reflection and we had some financial advisor come and speak to us.” For a moment, I was worried she would quote the wisdom according to her new found office best friend, but then I decided to take this advantage and run for it.

So for the last one week we have been sitting with this guy called Benson and it has been some kind of therapy session. Both Shiro and I had to come clean on exactly how much we earn and how much we spend. We had to bring out our respective bank statements.

In Benson’s summary we are living beyond our means and we need to “radically adjust our lifestyles if we plan to make any progress.”

He then listed some of the expenses we could reduce-the DSTV premium package (though I countered that if I do not watch my Premier League football matches, I will go and spend even more money in the pub); Shiro’s hair budget (Benson could not understand why her hair and nails have to be done weekly but Shiro countered that it is part of her brand).

Benson also told us that we should only have one car instead of the two that we are having and should consider taking Maingi to a cheaper school after all he is in play school (this almost caused Shiro to have a heart attack).

I realised that we needed to be serious and so the next day I cancelled the DSTV package, and started shopping around for cheaper schools for Maingi.

Shiro was not budging on her hair appointments and I reckoned that once we become a one-car household and the baby comes she might have difficulty keeping those appointments.

I also decided to revisit my 'side hustle' business as a way of making money. The main reason for the shop’s continued closure is that Shiro has been unwilling to consider having a relative from my side of the family work in the shop.

I had brought this up with Benson who said that we were wasting money since we continue paying rent for the shop yet it doesn’t generate revenues. I quickly called my mother in the village and told her to send for my youngest brother Victor to come and man the shop.

She told me that “Victor ran away from home three weeks ago and I do not know where he is.” She narrated a whole story about how he has been complaining about not having something to do after his Form Four exams.

She then proceeded to lecture me about having been “too busy for your brother.” This is a discussion we have had so many times with my mother and so I told her, “Sorry I have another phone call and so will have to call you later.”

I had no choice but to now surrender and tell Shiro that I guess she can get me someone from her side of the family. I spent the rest of the evening reviewing what Benson had called our Family budget.

Some of the things he was talking about were downright ridiculous- like spending only Sh1000 on air time each month, going for family outings once in a month, sending Maingi to school with homemade breakfast instead of bought stuff.

His rules are Draconian but if we are to achieve financial prosperity we need to take strict measures. My thoughts were interrupted by a sharp sound of the doorbell.

Since Shiro was not yet home and the househelp was helping Maingi with his homework, I had no choice but to open the door. You can imagine my shock when I found my brother Victor on the other side.