Welcome to #ChopLifeDiaries, a series documenting how Nigerians eat and all the ways they spend their money on feeding. In a country where people spend up to 59% of their income on food, we’re following our readers’ food journeys during the week and documenting expenses related to shopping, fast-food meals, market runs, restaurant dates, and every bite in between. In this time of rising food inflation, #ChopLifeDiaries reveals how folks from different walks of life are figuring out their food budgets in different cities
Today’s subject is both an HR Professional and a media personality. She gets to walk us through her eating habits and meal plans.
Income
Today’s subject lives in Ajah, Lagos, Nigeria. Best described as a meticulous person, our subject has a multifaceted personality and fills us in on how she manages to multitask and enjoy life despite the economic inflation and her tight schedule. She is willing to tell us what she does, her income and schedule and how she still manages to be a part of the Chop Life gang in her little way.
Can we meet you? Tell us a little about yourself ( What you do, i.e your occupation and the role you play, Where you stay and any other thing you feel comfortable sharing with us)
I am Ruth Richard Nekpenekpen, a top-tier stellar host, Creative, Media Personality, and HR Professional. I live in Ajah Lagos Nigeria, and one key thing about Ruth is that she’s passionate about people and loves making an impact wherever she finds herself
What’s your annual income and what’s the payment structure like? Give us an estimate
About 2,400,000 to 3,500,000 annually. The payment structure is the regular monthly pay which is 250,000naira asides other bonuses here and there. This is from my 9-5 which I prefer to share alone.
What are your recurring monthly expenses apart from food?
Light bills, equipment for my creative side and transportation.
The Budget
Give an estimate of how much you spend on food per week, you could run us through your typical food timetable daily. What do you like to eat? If you skip breakfast? Typical hacks you have to cut down food costs e.t.c
I currently do not spend much on food and that’s because my workplace gives us breakfast and lunch, and I eat twice a day. So I mainly cook Saturday and Sunday if I’m not at work. I like everything, so I don’t select food. I don’t have an issue with anything they cook or they give me to eat. I would say I don’t have any hacks actually, but if there are any I would say buying food in bulk has helped me and has saved me a lot, I would recommend it because it’s cost-efficient even with how the high cost of living. When you buy in bulk, you have foodstuff that will last you for a while, so even when the price increases, you are not bothered cause you have enough stuff to last you till you gather or save enough money to restock.
What’s your most recurrent meal and how much does it cost you to prepare?
At work, Rice is the recurrent meal, and they make varieties of it so I don’t know how much it costs. They prepare in bulk so I’m sure it would cost them a lot. I’m sure they get to buy their foodstuff in bulk quantity.
Do you have an idea where your company gets their food supply from?
No, I don’t but I could ask since they buy in bulk maybe from the companies that make and grow the food product directly or open market.
Ever heard of Vendease? An E-procurement company that does food supply in bulk quantity directly at your doorstep?
No, not at all but this sounds interesting. I could recommend them to where I work though.
That would be nice, you could download the Vendease app http://app.vendease.com show them what it looks like, and how it works and get them to sign up, Thank you.
So moving on,
If you were to eat one particular type of meal for the rest of your life, which would you pick?
Plantain, all day, every time and always
Have you ever used your last money to buy food, what’s the motive behind that?
Yes please, why not, if not? I have used my last money ohh! I’m that girl who always goes for what she’s craving actually. Anything I crave, I must get. I do not joke with my cravings.
What’s that one food you can’t eat outside?
Not sure of any food though, I eat everything as far as it’s food. Both Inside and Outside, I eat the same type of food. I’m not a shy person to form so there is no type of food I don’t think I can eat outside
Give us an insight into your weekly food timetable and how much it would cost you to prepare it.
As stated earlier my office takes care of my feeding, and bills on them, not me. But from my calculation, based on what I eat, weekly food timetable and all I would say 40k weekly, for me alone. I’m not sure of this though, because the woman cooks in bulk for over 222 staff. So let’s just say a budget of 40k weekly. I might be wrong, I might be correct, I might be entirely wrong. But with the current economy, I’m sure my company must be spending hundreds of thousands or millions on our feeding now when a bag of rice is about ninety to hundred thousand naira.
Cooking at home and Take-outs or Eat-outs which do you prefer and which do you feel is cost-efficient?
Cooking at home is more cost-efficient but when I am tired I go for take-outs, please. I’ll pick an easy life, any day, anytime.
What’s your favourite meal to cook at home and how much does it cost you to prepare?
My favourite meal to cook at home should be Plantain and Owo soup. This should cost about five to ten thousand naira to prepare. Everything still depends on the assorted proteins you want to put in it though
Where are your favourite places to eat out or order from?
I get my Swallow from the PLACE, then I frequent Mega Chicken and Chicken Republic once in a while.
What’s your monthly food budget? Do you sometimes spend more than your budget or are there specifics you put in place to ensure you do not spend more than your monthly food budget?
I don’t do food budget ohh! For someone like me who has really beautiful cravings which I must satisfy, how do I want to stick to a budget like this when the economy isn’t even smiling? Back then, there were months I had food budgets but I always ended up spending more than the initial food budget, but to be honest I barely have a food budget. Once I just check and there is no food at home, I stock the house almost immediately. I don’t do the regular.
Would you choose your occupation over and over again?
Yes, I will
If you do not ever have to worry about food again, what else would you use your money to do?
Hmmm! Well, I would start up a business, continue with my hosting, keep creating quality content and buy the best gadgets and equipment I need to enhance my media career.
Thank you for letting us in on your earnings and how you Chop Life.
Dear Reader, You too could be a part of the #ChopLifeGeng. If you would love to share your Chop Life stories with us, kindly send an email to [email protected]
