A Nigerian woman has shared a relatable story about the tough financial decisions many families face amid the rising cost of living. She explained that her husband asked her to buy shawarma for the family, but after calculating the cost, she opted to refill her cooking gas cylinder instead.
Woman Calculates Cost of Shawarma vs. Gas
The woman, identified as @ahmedhalimah02 on social media, revealed that her family of five was craving shawarma. Her husband encouraged her to go out and buy shawarma and drinks for everyone. However, before leaving, she decided to calculate the total expense using her phone calculator. To her surprise, the cost of shawarma and drinks for five people amounted to over 35,000 naira. In comparison, a 12kg cooking gas cylinder costs 24,000 naira and can last the family for at least four weeks. She made the decision to refill the gas instead of buying shawarma.
Economic Realities for Families
In her post, @ahmedhalimah02 highlighted how difficult it has become for even dual-income households to afford small treats. She noted that everything extra is now considered a luxury. She also expressed concern for families where parents are unemployed, lack skills, or earn meager wages, emphasizing that their situation is far worse. She added, "We all know what we are doing but you people should fear Allah."
Reactions from Social Media Users
The post sparked a wave of reactions from Nigerians who shared similar experiences. User @exceljpg commented, "In a well-functioning society, shawarma should be an ordinary affordable snack, not a luxury item. The fact that many people now regard it as a luxury says a great deal about the economic realities we are facing in this country."
@ObasiJewel shared, "It's like this is what is happening in most homes. We dey punch calculator too ooo before we eat. Instead of bread, we buy garri. Family of 5 too. But 12kg gas will last at least 4 weeks? Una dey cook ooo. My 12kg will last for at least 2 months and we cook beans a lot."
@bellotec wrote, "Some of our people are just dishonest and not that they are not aware but they must defend everything. So to parks in Kano, from Yan Kaba to Tashan Rami to Ungwan Uku to Kano Line to Filin Paki, everywhere is fill with kids from broken home readily available to use."
@AMuhammad45869 added, "I went to buy Irish potatoes yesterday. I asked for the price of one measure (tiya), as he told me the price I just left without responding to him."
@ART_OF_EMERALDS said, "It's so sad now. The solution is learn how to make these treats or similar treats because it's more affordable that way and you can bond with the kids over it too. Although, there are times we just want to outsource and not lift a finger but times are changing."
Similar Stories of Economic Hardship
This story is not isolated. Legit.ng previously reported a young Nigerian lady who shared her experience after buying cooking gas at a higher price. She revealed the amount she paid for 3kg of cooking gas and said she would reduce how often she cooks to make the gas last longer. Another report featured a young Nigerian man who posted a receipt showing the amount he paid for 2kg of gas, noting that the price had increased within a week.
