Let’s go back to my early days as an Immigrant and why I have chosen to share Money tips every week with immigrants.
First, sign up here. So you can also receive the weekly tip.
Back to my story.
In 2017, I left Lagos Nigeria for a Scholarship sponsored MBA at the Edinburgh Business School (Heriot-Watt University). This was a dual country 1-year course, meaning I spent a number of months in Dubai for some classes/workshops/project work and the rest of it in Edinburgh.
My MBA concentration was in Entrepreneurship and I got the opportunity to stay back after the conclusion of the program to join the newly created Business Incubator by the Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh Business.
I was developing a business, a wedding gift registry, for cash gifts only. Something I had started before I left Nigeria. It eventually failed and I went back to full-time employment. Story for another day.
This is now 5 years plus in the UK and as an immigrant, I wish someone or some people had shared/documented the money/financial lessons I will share over the next couple of weeks.
Because while I landed in the UK with some good enough savings and took up a part-time job while in school and while building my business, I ended up broke.
I mean so broke that I didn’t have money to buy food.
I remember going into my part-time job most days praying someone is celebrating something so they can share some snacks. That was my only hope at a meal for the day.
And there was the period I was wearing torn clothing because I couldn’t afford to buy new ones. So I did a lot of patching up or leaving the tear if it was not in a visible spot.
You may ask:
* But you were on a scholarship?
* But you were working part-time?
* What happened to all the savings you came with?
* Didn’t you have a family to support you?
* Didn’t you have friends that could help?
They are very valid questions. And I will answer them all as I share in the coming weeks.
It was indeed a tough season and I am glad that season of my life is over.
I don’t know you (at least not yet) but I know one thing is common between us, we made the tough decision to leave our family, friends and everything we know in our home country to make the move to a new country. I am glad I am in a good place where I can look back and share the lessons that helped turn the tide around for me so you – the female or male who has chosen to go and live in another country, can begin to build that legacy for your next generation.
I plan to share very relatable and simple-to-understand money tips every week so make sure you subscribe. I promise you will learn so much!
Anu
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