We are currently in very difficult times in my country Nigeria, not as if it were better before, but things just got worse ever since the inauguration of the new president, in less than two months in office, life has become unbearable for all its citizens Prices of basic commodities have skyrocketed, and people are finding it hard to survive. The government has failed to address the needs of its citizens, instead choosing to increase taxes and remove subsidies. Insecurity is also on the rise, making it even more difficult for citizens to live peacefully. The removal of the fuel subsidy is the hardest hit, imagine buying fuels from 185 naira per liter to 600 naira even above now. Note that salary and wages still remain the same, this has caused a great burden on many citizens who are already struggling to make ends meet, and also resulted in a sharp rise in prices for essential goods and services and most especially, the cost of transportation is higher now, we can't easily move from one place to another, a lot of business opportunities missed due to this reason, also many other businesses which are run using power generators also suffer, which has further diminished the quality of life for many.

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So the big question is HOW DO WE SURVIVE THE INFLATION pending the time hopefully things get better.To do so, we must be proactive and take measures to reduce the effects of inflation while we wait for the situation to improve, reason why I've come up with some realistic tips to help us stay afloat the difficult situation.

Having more than one stream of income

Depending on just one source of income these days will not be enough to sustain and help us grow financially because expenses has doubled due to higher cost of goods and services, it is also advisable to double our income, we could invest in a passive source if income in addition to our main source so as not to be overwhelming on us, this can be done by taking on a part-time job, or starting a side business that can generate additional income. Making smart investmentscan also be a great way to grow our wealth. Another option is to save and invest a portion of our main income.

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CARPOOLING

A lot of us are daily workers, if we calculate all the transport-fare needed for a month, we will realize that we have nothing left to survive with, so its better to carpool, because to be honest driving to the office alone every day is an expensive task, a group of workers living in the same region can choose to use one or two of their cars to convey them to their workplace, this way, there are even more advantages, less air pollution, less traffic and also saved cost of transportation.

HOME FARMING/ GARDEN

We don't need to be professional farmers to own a home garden , where we can plant some vegetables and fruits, Home gardening can provide us with fresh and healthy food and save us money it instead of buying costly and chemically infused one in the market, it can also help us reduce our environmental pollution, as it eliminates carbon impact, and also no need for long-distance transport of food if we have most of them planted around us. Additionally, it allows us to get in touch with nature and enjoy the beauty of growing our own food.

AN ALTERNATIVE

instead of depending on fuel for most of our vehicles and power supplying gadgets and machines, we can opt for alternatives that are less costly to afford and manage These alternatives include solar panels for generating electricity in place of a generator, gas powered vehicles, These are renewable sources of energy that are not only cost-effective but also sustainable in the long term. Furthermore, they are more efficient and have fewer environmental impacts than traditional fuel sources.

BUDGETING

This is one financial habit every everyone must imbibe, as budgeting helps us to plan and manage our money better, It also helps to monitor our income, expenses how to have something left for saving. Budgeting allows us to make better decisions with our money and avoid getting choked up in debts due to mismanagement which is easy to get caught up with us in this current inflation.

EATING HOME COOKED MEAL

Since cooking at home is more sustainable in this part of the world, and more satisfying than buying an expensive plate of food that will not satisfy us so we end up spending more, it is better to cook at home, measuring ingredients that we sustain the family, most especially when you have children, we monitor all ingredients we eat, this way, we can save money and have a healthier diet

MINIMALISM

Minimalism in most aspects of living will be more beneficial now, instead of living above your means, why not try living below, This will help us to focus on what's important and prioritize our needs. It will also help us to save money for other areas of life such as investing in order to have a more financially free future. Lastly, it will help us to live a more sustainable lifestyle.Minimalism can also encourage us to be mindful of the way we spend, making us to spend lesser because we are meant to appreciate the things we already have and limit our reliance on material goods. It can also help us to live with less stress and distraction, allowing us to focus on what’s truly important, that way we spend less and practice saving more instead.

With this current inflation and difficult economy, I believe if we follow these set down tips, we can make sure that we are in a better financial position to be able to come these trying times, by being able to manage our finances and successfully make sound investments and mostly survive the inflation, hopefully waiting for things to get better. Our country will be great again. Let's not lose hope.

Thank you for reading