When you are too polite to say no!

Not long ago, I walked into our office complex and found this man selling a set of perfumes. A few office mates were admiring the products. Coincidentally, my perfume had run out and I was already planning to buy one. I am so conservative with the perfumes I wear.

I stopped by to take a look at the perfumes. My favourite brand was not there, so I started walking away when one of my workmates called me back to see one particular set. She talked very highly of it, and even told me how she fell in love with her husband because of the brand. But when I sniffed it, it did not appeal that much to me. Just as I was about to leave, another colleague told me he knew somebody who sells all sorts of perfumes and would be ready to supply me at the office if I told them what brand I wanted. So he called the vendor right away.

That afternoon, the perfume vendor came into my office, smelling really good himself. But he did not have the brand I wanted. However, he had a couple of perfumes which he said were some of the best in France—the home of perfumes. I sniffed one, it really smelt paradise. I asked for the price, and oh! It was a whole gross salary for a high ranking senior clerk in the public service. Then two of my colleagues came into my office and took one each from the same brand I liked. I looked at them and for fear of kunyozeka pa town (to avoid being looked down upon), I got one too. But truthfully, my heart was pounding –mavuto anga anali ambiri (my financial problems for the month were many).

So when the workmates were gone, I kept on staring at the perfume. I started applying my intellect towards what I would tell my wife that evening on such unsolicited whopping expenditure.

I tried to delay my arrival at home, but I had to go home anyway. I rehearsed on how I would break the perfume news to my wife. We had a big construction project running and how was I to justify this especially being a bonafide economist myself?

Going by Job 13:13: “Let me speak and I will face the consequences”, I gathered courage. I called my wife to the bedroom and pulled out the perfume. Before I could speak, my wife went “Oh! This is a nice perfume. You have decided to spoil yourself this time? It’s worth it sweetie—the price is not too bad. I am sure this will help because the perfume you were wearing before was staining your clothes.” I just laughed and made my way back to the lounge wondering how she knew of the brand and let alone the exact price of the perfume—I let sleeping dogs to lie.

However, this just reminded me of how many people get themselves to spend in such a manner. Sometimes, we are too polite to say “No, I can’t afford this now.” We want to be showy and in the process, we end up losing our hard-earned money on luxuries.

Finance management calls for discipline of highest order. One needs to prioritise their expenses. This calls for window shopping before making a decision to buy a product.

This is not to say that you should not spoil yourself once in a while if you can afford, but save money whenever you can, you will need it one day. Think of your problems before you join the bandwagon of those buying luxuries because your time may not be ripe yet. Some of the important questions to ask include: Do I really need this now? Can I manage with a cheaper product which can offer me more less the same utility? Is this an important expenditure among my present priorities?

Remember the money you spend on luxuries could have made all the difference to your family. Have a blessed weekend!