The beautiful intersectionality Of African Culture with Personal Finance

The responsibility to be in more than one place at a time is a multitasking dilemma I continually need to reel back from. At times; it is a millennial struggle, where teleportation could really hurry up with it’s advancements and help us out from suffering from millennial burnout.

Let’s mix money with this idea just to make it interesting, and Tada! Complications appear from some magic hat!!

• Should I work here, live here and start my life here? Mhmm, in that case do I spend my finite resources here or send them home?
• Long term goals and my immediate bliss, when did I start mixing them?
• How long should I target to invest for? What will I invest in; social capital, passion projects, businesses or self investment? What has more value for me at this point and a year or two from now?

Does one invest their money in the economy and currency they earn? These are serious questions African millennials ask themselves who fit into the categories of Diaspora, Expatriates and Patriots. To be honest, finding yourself confused and overwhelmed could be the steps necessary for breaking through a ceiling, or even so bold, the sky!! Confronting one to deal with how we perceive and feel about our roots. We find ourselves contemplating home as an investment option, Africa, however knowing our shortfalls on a personal and collective level, . Where do we intend to set up shop or seek out opportunities in markets given our ever changing standards and phases in maturity and lust for life?

I think the answer is ingrained in our African culture;

Experience .

This brings to memory the go-to phrase for a disrespectful remark, “Respect your elders”. The importance of seeking out an experienced globe trotter in any family is the benefit of life lessons; getting access to advice and options for circumstances of crisis. Taking the time to ask people who have travelled a similar path to your own path definitely takes the weight off the pressure. and makes the pressure and anxiety we face towards our decisions, less difficult and exciting.

Diaspora, expatriates, international students, young professionals and all included in this set once the dust settles from a move the options for the next steps in one’s live seem to approach.

I took my own thoughts and asked the questions; where’s a good place to start a financial journey. Taking the time to break them down into option plans is below:

• Gotta’ get liquid: Having a substantial cash amount to get through the unexpected turn of events.
• Market opportunities that are unique to your situation. We make friends along the way; connections and communities. We tend to express and exchange ideas with our social networks. They in turn help us find purpose and avenues of revenue that a market place may need or that a market place we are situated in has better facility for.
• A long term ‘attainable’ investment plan: Understanding assets with value and risk you are willing to bet on is an important step for anyone. Considering items of value tailored for one’s unique life journey that is available when important the milestones in one’s life come up.

Personal finance is not that different from one continent to another, from one culture to another. So with everyone looking at success stories, we need to find out where the lessons to be learned are, as millennials, and hopefully, put them into practice.

If you got some notes or opportunities on this topic, leave a comment.