In 2016, Nora placed ₦3,000 into her Piggyvest account to see if it would still be there when she woke up.
It was.
So she put in ₦7,000 next, and just kept going.
Ten years later, it has paid off. On July 27th, she posted her Piggyvest WAEC results, and one slide put a number on her consistency: ₦202 million saved. We came across the post, and it made us curious: how does a compulsive online shopper end up here?
We reached out to ask, and in return, we got a story about discipline, two parents with opposite money habits, a self-funded move to Canada, a divorce that didn’t drown her, and a philosophy worth living by — every drop counts.
Tell us about you.
My name is Nora and I work as a customer success manager. I also create content on the side.
Let’s go back to the beginning. What would you say your relationship with money was like growing up?
Growing up, my mom was very financially prudent, but my dad was a spender. These two conflicting sides influenced my approach to money. Before I started using Piggyvest, I was very nonchalant about my finances. I spent a lot of money because at that time of my life, I still lived with my parents. I wasn’t paying rent, and didn’t have to save for a car because my dad gave me one. I didn’t even have fuel expenses as he always ensured my tank was full. I shopped at ASOS all the time. I spent money on crap, to be honest, and had no savings culture whatsoever because I just didn’t see the need.
Do you think the different approaches your parents had to money caused conflict while growing up?
Definitely. My mom didn’t support all of my dad’s financial decisions, especially some of the more extravagant ones. At the same time, I felt she could learn to live a little. Sometimes just spend, enjoy it, and worry about it later. There has to be a balance.
Can you tell us how you discovered Piggyvest?
One day, I was scrolling through my timeline when I saw people talking about Piggyvest. I downloaded the app. It was easy to navigate, and I liked how it looked, so I was instantly drawn to it. I remember at that time, I only put in ₦3,000, thinking to myself: “Let me see if the money will be there when I wake up tomorrow.” Woke up the next day and it was. Then saved ₦7,000, and just kept going. Saving can be very addictive; you want to see the next milestone you will hit.
Given your background with money, when did you decide to become serious about saving?
When I saved my first million on the app. I was shocked. I was like, “Wait, I could have spent this money. I could have shopped at ASOS!” I just didn’t think that I could achieve that so quickly. That was the point where I thought to myself, “imagine what could happen if I actually lock in.”
Another instance that left me in awe was when I was moving to Canada. I used my Piggyvest savings as my proof of funds. It was great because I didn’t have to ask my parents to use their bank statements. I felt so good. I felt like a big babe. I did everything myself, with money I had saved. It felt amazing.
So now that you are a more experienced saver, how would you describe your relationship with money?
I see money as a tool for financial independence. This is a bit personal, but I have been married before and got a divorce. Being financially independent saved me from situations I would not have liked to be in. Money is very important, not only for women, but people in general. It gives you clarity and helps you make better life decisions. You’re able to sleep well at night.
Do you have any soft spots when it comes to spending?
The one thing I can spend money on without thinking twice is my son. I’ll spend whatever it takes without thinking about the price. But when it comes to myself, I don’t buy a lot. I’m not really influenced by designer bags, shoes, or luxury cars.
Vacations are probably the exception. That’s when I tend to treat myself and spend the most. I like staying in the nicest rooms, and I’ll happily pay for every activity I want to do.
I also do a lot of DIY projects, so I have no problem spending money on the tools and materials I need. And I love food, so I don’t think twice about spending money on a good meal either. These are the things that make me happy, so I feel like they are worth it.
You’ve been saving on Piggyvest since 2016; you literally grew with us. What would you say made you trust the platform enough to keep your money here for such a long time?
There has never been a reason for me to worry. There was never a time when I felt my money would go missing. I think that helped build trust over time. Seeing my investments grow, seeing Piggyvest give back exactly what they promised.
When I first started, I was using the PiggyBank feature. That’s where I saved my first ₦3,000. Then I started using SafeLock, and my trust actually increased. I have Safelocked money for over a year. That’s a lot of trust. Knowing that this company is still going to be there after a year and I’m going to get my money back.
What would you say is your favorite Piggyvest feature?
It was previously SafeLock, but now it is Flex Dollar. When I first started saving, I liked SafeLock because I was a spender. It was nice to just lock money away and not be able to touch it. My mom uses this the most, too. She’s an avid Piggyvest user, which is so cool.
Your mom uses Piggyvest? How did you introduce it to her?
I introduced it to her three years ago. It was a little difficult, because my parents are used to traditional banks and cannot understand the concept of putting money somewhere. She had so many questions: “do they have an office? Can I walk in?”
Eventually she grew receptive, and started saving on the platform. Over time, her trust has increased. She now uses the Flex Dollar feature. That’s her favourite. She saves her dollars on Piggyvest and even tells her friends about it.
WAEC came out this year, and you saw the stats. ₦202 million in ten years. How did that make you feel?
I was in shock when I saw the figures. It’s good to actually see progress that you’ve made over time. To see the breakdown and think, “Wow, I did that.” I felt very proud of myself.
Do you think discipline was the main factor in your achievement? Were there other factors involved?
I would say discipline definitely helped because if you’re not disciplined, you will be inconsistent. I have close family members who save money, pull it out and then save again. I think to myself: “you’re not making any progress. You’re just going in circles.”
You have to lock in, literally, so discipline definitely helps. Financial safety is another huge factor for me. Knowing that under unforeseen circumstances, I wouldn’t be swimming on a rainy day (because I can’t swim). My savings help me sleep well at night. I know that if anything happens, I won’t drown.
If you could sit down with you from ten years ago, or someone reading this who wants to change their financial habits, what would you tell them about money?
I would say that every drop counts. Don’t wait till you have a million naira. You can start from ₦3000, as I did. If you keep waiting to hit a million, you’re not going to save anything. I would also say that compound interest is amazing. Everybody needs to understand how compound interest works — it literally does all the work on your money for you. So the sooner you begin, the better rewards you’re going to see.
To learn more about WAEC: What Your Piggyvest W.A.E.C. Grade Says About You (And How To Flip It)
