About two decades ago, the rich children could easily be distinguished from those in the middle or lower classes by their physical appearances or the things they owned. Nonetheless, I credit parents like mine who ensured I did not look like what my background was in terms of finances. My school uniform was almost always neat, even though I had just a pair or two, and the same was true for my footwear and school bag. The things I had as a child were things I needed to survive with, not things I wanted as a child or that my other age group enjoyed.
Notwithstanding, my childhood was fun, with memories of long walks, hide-and-seek games, playing with rubber rings, and pushing ourselves on wheelbarrows when we had the chance. Those of us not privileged to enjoy the luxury of owning video games, being brought to school in private vehicles, or perhaps owning a bicycle had other alternatives that put original smiles on our faces. Happiness for us as children was not negotiable, even though we wished we had what other children enjoyed. Contentment was a great gain and a watchword for us.
Several years later, two days ago, I had the privilege of buying what I could not afford several years ago: a bicycle. Beyond the gap in years, the reason for this purchase is not for entertainment but as a frugal means of combating the consistent hike in fuel, transportation, and other commodities in Nigeria. For the past few weeks, I have desired to own a bicycle as a means of #transportation since my place of residence to work is approximately 2.0 km, a 5 to 7 minute drive with limited traffic. The premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly called Petrol, rose within two months from N205 ($0.27) to N520 ($0.7); however, it jumped to N617 ($0.9) within the last 48 hours.
I recently started saving HBD on Hive to procure a bicycle, which ranged between N60,000 and N100,000 ($80 and $133) for a fairly used one. A savings of 10 HBD per month would take me a minimum of 8 months to procure, and I was not certain I could endure the wait on the premise of the worsening economic and high inflation state in the country. Thus, retrospectively, with my HBD savings and an extra source, I was able to get a good enough, neat South Korean foldable bicycle for N60,000 ($80) after several bargains. Certainly there were other larger, fairly used bicycles costing above N110,000 ($147), but for the fact that I am new at riding one, the purpose is for short distance movements, and I have limited resources, the option I settled for was good enough for me.
Luckily for me, I have a friend who has volunteered to teach me how to ride. I hope not to experience any serious accidents, but there is a high chance I will adapt quickly since I am a fast learner who is equally passionate about being #frugal with my expenses. I am glad I am able to pick up the bicycle, knowing that the prices of commodities are on the rise and people have begun seeking cheaper alternatives for transportation.
Thank you for reading. I would love to have your comments and contributions.
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