The Trend I Can't Ignore

Whenever I hear the word "trending," what comes to my mind is what's popping on social media at that time, the raining news across Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram, and the rest, and sometimes, I will rush to see the latest trending so I stay updated in my world.

However, there is a particular trend this day that really caught my attention, of which many Nigerians are talking about it up and down on social media, and that's the rising cost of living. No doubt, this might be the kind of trend so common nowadays, but you know what? I am really interested in this trend because it affects almost everyone.

Almost every basic need these days has one story or the other attached to it. Is it the electricity, or the transport, or rent, or the Almighty school fees? Why I am really interested in this kind of trend is for knowledge sake. Like the other day, it was trending that a bag of rice will start adding up to double all of it's current price. As a smart Nigerian, I rushed and secured one bag and kept it safe somewhere for my family and me, lol, at least to hold back for the proposed increase in price.

I know a lot of times I feel frustrated with the increased price of good at the market far beyond what I calculated at home before getting to the market. The change in prince within a space of two weeks can be quite crazy, and sometimes I wonder if we are in the same Nigeria. Even without buying luxurious things, I come back from the market most times and feel like I threw my money away and returned home with almost nothing.

It's sad how prices change at any time, and the more reason while planning has become more important, and yeah, this is that point where I feel this kind of trending has taught me something vital.

I must learn to adapt.

I know there was a time I planned my purchase ahead and got it at a good price without feeling frustrated in the market, but not anymore. This comes with headaches, lol. If you aren't intentional with everything you do this day, then there are more headaches for you, and again, I am also learning never to take little things for granted.

We complain about virtually everything; how things are very expensive, but then, I see a lot of people and business owners adjusting and surviving just to stay in the business despite the increase in cost of living. Obviously most people are adjusting to survive, and honestly, this is one sensitive lesson; this trend has brought my way. Life isn't fixed; it's quite flexible, and I must be flexible without losing my goals too.

I am becoming more intentional about my spending, no longer what I want but what I really need for me and my family. But then, what interests me most is that despite how hard the economy gets, Naija peeps must find a way out and be alright. In fact, they will create memes for every difficult situation and laugh over it; the resilience is made in heaven. lol.

So without mixing words, the trend I am interested in these days and invested in is the changing cost of living and how my fellow Nigerians are adapting to it. As much as we can't control the way things are unfolding, we can learn better how to react to these changes, and this is already a big lesson for me.