It started like any other day at Eko Market. I was arranging my stall, shouting out deals, counting my daily earnings, nothing out of the ordinary. But little did I know, my life was about to teach me a lesson in financial discipline.
Eight months ago, I opened a GTI Target Savings account. Every month, I put aside a little of my earnings, sometimes ₦20,000, sometimes ₦50,000, earning up to 15% per year. My plan was simple, save for emergencies. Nothing flashy, no impulse spending, just a quiet fund growing in the background.
And yes, temptation knocked. By the sixth month, I was staring at my balance, seeing how much it had grown, and thinking, “Maybe I can splurge on that designer bag I’ve been eyeing or the phone I’ve been dreaming about.” But I reminded myself this money wasn’t for wants; it was for emergencies. I stuck to my plan.
Then, out of nowhere, my landlord dropped the bombshell. He had sold the building to an investor who wanted to turn it into a supermarket. Suddenly, all of us tenants were given very little time to move out, even though my lease still had six months to go. Panic set in. Moving costs, deposits, furnishing a new apartment, I had no idea how I would manage it all.
Then I remembered my Target Savings. That emergency fund I had built up, carefully, patiently, was there waiting. The compounding interest had done its magic. Every ₦20,000 I had saved early on had multiplied, and the later amounts had grown steadily. By the time I needed it, I had enough not only to secure a new place but also to furnish it comfortably. No loans, no stress, no sleepless nights, just my disciplined savings working exactly as planned.
That day, I realized something crucial. Saving isn’t just about discipline, it’s about protection. It’s about giving yourself a safety net that actually works when life throws curveballs.
If there’s one thing I can tell anyone reading this, it’s this: don’t wait for an emergency to start saving. Start your GTI Target Savings today, set your goal, and watch your money grow quietly and securely. One day, when life surprises you, as it always does, you’ll be ready.
Because emergencies don’t wait, but your savings can save you.
