Abuja Will Kill Your Budget: Here’s How to Save It

Abuja; land of the powerful, and home of where your budget goes to die. Once described as the ‘land of first class Nigerian citizens’, Abuja is one of the most expensive cities to stay in the country. But that doesn’t rule the country’s capital city out as one of the coolest places to live in Nigeria. Staying in Abuja does not have to ruin your budget. The capital offers exciting and brilliant values you might not get anywhere else.

I heard some microwaves these days are so complex, you need a manual to get them working. To that fact, living in Abuja can get a little complex with the high cost of living that comes along with it – so here’s a guide to help you get around it.

Find accommodation in uptown part of the city

Finding affordable housing isn’t that difficult. Hotels and houses away from the central commercial districts and tourist zones like Gwagwalada, and Kubwa are relatively cheaper. People who stay in these major parts of the city usually have lucrative employment packages – and in most cases, the sponsoring company foots the housing bills, health insurance, transport needs, and even flights back home. Another life-hack in this regard is to get a flatmate you can share rent with. Getting a flat of your taste can be high-priced in the city, so if you can’t afford to stay in uptown Abuja probably because you work in Wuse or Maitama, getting a flatmate would be smart.

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Don’t engage the luxury of cabs

Transportation cost – like any recurring cost, has a big say on your budget. Cut down your transportation expenses by taking other means of public transportation besides cabs. There is the "keke" and buses around that provide an alternative to the expensive cabs. In this part of the country, cabs can be insanely pricey.

Dine on a dime

Being a cosmopolitan center, Abuja has one of the best restaurant lineups for every budget in the country. It’s the perfect destination to find any food you can think of at reasonable prices. Dining on a dime, you’ll need to stay clear from restaurants close to the city’s center. You can also think of cooking as an alternative, if you don’t want to eat out.

Shopping

The only thing cooler than window shopping is branching into an affordable store. You can get your items cheap at markets in the city, and with the slew of online shopping portals available now, your shopping experience can make even more sense.

DIYs Remember

There are a lot of things we can get done by ourselves without patronizing artisans. From dry-cleaning to housekeeping, you’ll be surprised how much money you can save. In town charges for these services can be scary, as the charges can be ridiculously high. Doing things yourself won’t just to show how frugal you are, but how elegantly you’ve been in spending.

Considering these steps can overturn the frustrating part of staying in Abuja, and you won’t have to complain about spending over budget again. The city can kill your budget, but it doesn’t have to.