High Inflation: Have You Moved Back to Your Parents’ House?

Inflation, in simpler terms, is the increase in the price of almost everything, a rise in the level of prices, and the cost of living. This is when money loses its value because there’s a lot of it in circulation (but none or little of it in our pockets)— high inflation bits into almost every aspect of our lives.

Nigeria has been experiencing a steady increase in prices of goods and services for some years now. As we know, in Nigeria, things don’t obey the laws of nature. What goes up doesn’t come down; it hangs up there like a kite until it becomes an everyday occurrence.

The prizes of items in Nigeria don’t come down whenever it goes up. This should be worrisome to everybody, both rich and poor. The market price for goods has also lost its stability; it increases every week without sensible reason. The cost of living is now so high that one wonders if the air we breathe will become a commodity. Oh wait, it is air conditioning.

Have you ever heard of Sapa?

Sapa is a slang used to depict the state of brokenness and extreme poverty, especially after extravagant spending. It is used mostly by Nigerian youths today to describe how broke they are after incurring too many expenses. I believe extravagant spending can be caused by failure to make a budget.

Everyone thriving on a salary with or without a side-hustle is either in Sapa mode or one level above Sapa. Now, it’s time for the big question.

Have you moved back to your parent’s house?

Being a young single person living outside one’s parent’s house in Nigeria is a dream. Moving out to your own place, even if it was a one-room or self-contain apartment, was pure bliss; there is no one to call you to switch on the generator or bug you to cook or monitor your whereabouts. It used to be sweet and peaceful, but not anymore. At least in your parent’s house, you won’t have to pay all the bills alone.

If your answer is “no,” you are a warrior and Ndaboski. Either you are earning enough for your keep, or you don’t want to look like a failure. It’s okay, but you need to know that adulthood during the time of our parents and now is totally different. In the past, they had available jobs, good food, cheap food, and cheap housing in their times, not now in your own time.

If your answer is “yes,” you are calculating and economical. I see no problem with this as well. If you think you can save more of your earnings back at your first home, do so by all means. Don’t let “big boy” and “big girl” finish you first with hunger.

The prices for everything are so shockingly high that you wonder how we got to where we are without people complaining. If Nigerians are good at one thing, it’s suffering and smiling. After all, Fela confirmed it decades ago in his song Shuffering and Shmiling.

For now, help yourself to this list of items that may not be decreasing anytime soon. It shows how far Nigeria has punished its citizens for their stupid electoral choices.

Bear in mind that prices may differ with location, but this is the average price of things at the time of this article. You can also add yours in the comment section.

Remember, due to the epileptic power supply in the country, and you might need to buy petrol for your generator – also pay for power supply, water supply, security, and so on.

Do you still think you can continue living alone? Do you think it’s high time you moved back home to your parents?