NewStats: 3,261,943 , 8,175,622 topics. Date: Saturday, 31 May 2025 at 08:04 AM 5k13b

fullclub:

In the UK, unless you’re in a high-paying field, you will mostly live paycheck to paycheck

What are these high paying field oo?

This Nigeria don tire me biko

martineverest:
even with minimum wage,such expenses is exaggerated

exactly. No mind the OP.

They don't talk about the quality of life and other perks.

Food, security, jobs, unlimited data and calls, road etc.

fullclub:
Pictures.

Note that primary n secondary schools owned by government are free u only pay for private schools.
Health is not free as a migrant as we pay 1030 pounds per annum.

The second picture is water bill
The third is health insurance. Its a must as a migrant
The last is council tax different from income tax
Do you pay for health insurance in the UK now? I thought NHS was free

braine:
This is MINIMUM wage income!!

Bro is living fine on the barest minimum. They even have savings from the wife's minimum income too.


You can definitely earn more than the minimum!

That guy is a guy with almost zero ambition and very little character to thrive but a big mouth for nagging.

From the first UK thread he open I did tell him he was heading for a bare-mimimum living in the UK and its not surprising how it turned out for him

Treadway:
fullclub!

I you very well..I engaging with your earlier thread, and wishing you the best through your ordeal at the time.

But I can't understand why you are yet again creating a thread like this one, that achieves nothing, ultimately.

I'm sure if we could turn back time, to go back to where you were mentally when you began your journey to Japa, 10001 of these kain threads would not have deterred you. So I just wonder what you hope to achieve with it now. Even Dele Momodu wey dey cap, prolly spends more than half of the year overseas.

These kain decisions should be left to each person to make and deal with. No need for convincing or explaining. It is pointless! I don taya to dey read this kain threads for here aswear


Those that think it best to stay in Naija should be left alone, as they have the conviction that they know what they are doing. Those that think is best to Japa should be left alone, as they also have the conviction that they know what they are doing...

All this shalaye is not necessary

Your type don't know what "HEADS UP" mean and you think you're smart

NiceLegs:
Note: food is extremely cheap and affordable unlike in Nigeria. That's why most that relocated after few months they look revived and fresh grin


You see this line here.

This is the third or fourth time I'm hearing this from someone abroad.

And this is one of the reasons most people would want to Japa. Especially those struggling to feed themselves in Nigeria.

and there are foodbanks everywhere especially in UK

Rich people are many on nairaland sha

Well you have given urself the answer, the economy In Nigeria is nothing to write home about, the naira value is seriously down nothing to benefit from, it all bows down to the person's mindset if you have a spending habit on unnecessary things and is not the discipline and hustling type, it might not work but all together japa still has a little edge than staying in Nigeria that's all.

Insightful
intensified after media personality Dele Momodu claimed that anyone who spends ₦30 million to leave Nigeria is a fool. His statement sparked mixed reactions online, with some agreeing while others says that that 30 million is nothing compared to the financial reward that comes with japa

Having lived in the UK for some time now, I’ll share an honest perspective on the financial reality of life here, especially for those considering selling anything just for relocation.

Breaking Down Earnings in the UK

For context, I work an average of 36 hours per week (9 hours daily for 4 days), meaning in a month, I clock 144 hours of work.

Minimum wage in the UK is £11.44 per hour, and most employers are required to pay this, except in cases like apprenticeships.
144 hours × £11.44 = £1,647.36 per month
After tax deductions, which depend on factors like number of jobs and tax codes, my take-home pay is around £1,479.55.


Monthly Expenses in the UK
Here’s a breakdown of my fixed monthly costs:

House rent – £700
Gas & electricity – £120
Council tax – £110
Water bill – £43.46
Food – £200
Transport – £140
Phone bill – £52 (for two people

Total expenses: £1,365.46
Remaining balance: £114.09
Although i could have chosen to work up to 5 days which would have given me total income of 2059 and 1775 after tax but to give my partner a chance while i take turn to look after the kids

Note: food is extremely cheap and affordable unlike in Nigeria. That's why most that relocated after few months they look revived and fresh

Now, factor in additional responsibilities. We send £150 monthly to family back home in Nigeria. My wife, who works part-time (two days per week because of our baby as leaving the children will risk losing them to the governmen), earns about £732 per month, which we try to save, though unforeseen expenses (baby food, transport, etc.) often reduce our savings to around £500 per month.
Aside this we spent over 4000 pounds this year alone for health insurance. Yes its a must you pay it and funny enough i have not visited the hospital once since i arrived.

More worrisome is the endless billing from home , the billing from friends and extended family is out of this world, from your pastor who want tithe in pounds and thinks it's because of his or her prayer u went out, to your siblings, to your inlaws, to secondary schools friends, university's friends to even your street guys to Facebook friends. Those who will quickly open Opay for their 3 years old child and forward you school fees or birthday bill. What about those who forwarded us their house rent bill to help clear their rent of over 500k abeg na

A lot of Nigeria said if they are offered 50 million and japa, they will prefer japa as they will earn more over when i read this comment on Facebook i just laugh hard as this is not the case as a research said that over 39% of UK residents have a minimum of 1000 pounds as savings this means that Despite earning in pounds, many struggle with high living costs, taxes, and bills but on the other hand In Nigeria, ₦50M can fund investments that generate steady income.
In the UK, unless you’re in a high-paying field, you will mostly live paycheck to paycheck


Comparing Life as a Single vs. Married Individual Abroad


Single individuals have a higher chance of saving since they have fewer responsibilities.

Married couples without kids can maximize their earnings by both working full-time while covering expenses from one salary and saving entirely the other salary.

Families with children face higher expenses, including childcare, health insurance, visa fees.

This is why adequate preparation is crucial before relocating, especially for families


Is Dele Momodu Right? Should You Japa with ₦30M?
We should understand that Dele Momodu is an elder and vastly traveled and he knows what is obtainable in Europe and America.
His point is valid if you look at finances alone because at the ene of the day almost all you make goes back to the system. But If insecurity concerns and food inflation in Nigeria didn’t exist, staying back with ₦30M would be a better financial decision as you could expand your business.

Another thought is the issue of owning a house. An average 3 bedroom house cost over 300k pounds and i have worked with colleagues who are in their late 50s struggling to work and pay off their mortgage so as to be free while me in my 30s own over 3 house back in Nigeria . Some pays mortgage for over 35 to 40 years but shockingly most they end up selling it at old age hand over this money to care homes to take care of them till death. Note children dont have any responsibility of taking care of their age parents they leave their lives while the parents uses proceed from their house to offset this bill

Final Thoughts: Should You Japa?

Japa is not a one-size-fits-all decision. If you have ₦30M and solid income streams in Nigeria, it might be wiser to invest and build wealth at home. But if safety and quality of life matter more, than wealth accumulation then relocating might still be the best option but must be done tactically especially when coming on student visa as one academic error could throw u off.

Bottom line: Japa is not a magic solution—it requires careful planning, a realistic mindset, and financial discipline.

Picture below is my phone bill

There other bills i chose to ignore like the tv bill. I didn't buy tv because i know that one will end in another billing
[/quote]

martineverest:
the wife will also be working too

yes but not full time i said she works 2 times per week

AfahaAbia:
Im shocked you earn just 1700 to 1800 pounds when I know people in Nigeria who work for remote companies earning from 2400 to 2600 pounds a month. Hmm you people in UK are really trying.

This sounds unrealistic perhaps that's why you "know some people", instead of you being the one

martineverest:
even with minimum wage,such expenses is exaggerated

Even with receipts i showed oya suggest your owb bill
Even my house rent of 700 is the cheapest as its a tiny space.

A friend in London pays 1800 for same type of 2 bedroom. We do same type of job.. Only he works more hours

Japa is slavery 2.0

fullclub:


Even with receipts i showed oya suggest your owb bill

Honestly it all depends on lifestyle sha, why can't you dabble in to mortgage instead of rentage.

Dotherightthing:
Japa is slavery 2.0

Not telling you to japa or not to japa, but sample well.

Dont use a guy who is comfortably doing minimum wage job, has no driving license and no clear plan of how he intends to climb the ladder as your case study.

Even with his minimum wage job he manages to send money to people in Nigeria and still has savings from his salary and his wife's pay

I earn 2k plus monthly and my partner earn 1.8k monthly. We leave in just 2 rooms with seating room. Baby is on its way already.

Nigerians, do not allow anyone deceived you. In 3 to 5yr you'll recover the 30m and supers it.

fullclub:


Even with receipts i showed oya suggest your owb bill
Even my house rent of 700 is the cheapest as its a tiny space.

A friend in London pays 1800 for same type of 2 bedroom

but your 700 pound house comes with all bills inclusive right?

We all know London is expensive

If u live in Manchester,u can get cheaper accomodations in greater Manchester cities like Bolton,Oldham etc

fullclub:


That better quality of life is lame bro. I had a quality of life while in Nigeria. Here u have to stress standing long hours working with ur feet wanting to pull off.

No party, its work home sleep work home sleep no outdoor cos of the massive cold we aren't used to

Although the children goes to good schools that's a compensation as they quickly learn their ascent

Now the bolded is a big big lie

tensazangetsu20:


Honestly if a Nigerian can’t make it in the uk where English is spoken and black man has levels then they are better off returning to Nigeria and staying forever.

You're very correct. What many don't realize is if they put half of the money they use in Japa into a well structured business, they will be better off here in Nigeria. I've visited more than half of the countries in the world, and I don't think I ever put any country ahead of Nigeria.

martineverest:
but your 700 pound house comes with all bills inclusive right?

We all know London is expensive

If u live in Manchester,u can get cheaper accomodations in greater Manchester cities like Bolton,Oldham etc

Na na unless u are in a student accommodation. Once u are in a family house that's it house rent, heater, water u take care of it. If anyone claims otherwise let them bring their bills online and proves

Shawarmagirl:
I earn 2k plus monthly and my partner earn 1.8k monthly. We leave in just 2 rooms with seating room. Baby is on its way already.

Nigerians, do not allow anyone deceived you. In 3 to 5yr you'll recover the 30m and supers it.

Yes i mentioned it there that once u dont have a baby u are better off. Once ur baby comes u move to a bigger house. Your wife can't work full time. U do all the working or u take turns as u can't leave the baby and face work.


If i dont have a baby i should be working 45hrs and earning 1800 after tax and my wife also the same

Can someone advise the op to come back to Nigeria and enjoy a normal life?

Japa or no japa, if you're comfortable with minimum wage then you're still sleeping! The expectation is that you do that minimum wage for a couple of years and then naturally grow into higher paying job.

In 2010, I arrived US making minimum wage from cleaning floors, 3 years later I was making 55,000 a year and felt comfortable, fast forward 12 years later, I'm making close to 300k per year between the job and businesses yet the drive and ion never stops, abroad is what you make of it.

There's no one path to success and life abroad is full of ups and downs, even high earners could find themselves unemployed, this is why even when comfortable you cannot afford to relax and dull yourself.....Stay hungry, stay disciplined....Keep growing, never ever ever BE COMPLACENT!

Atk1nson:


Not telling you to japa or not to japa, but sample well.

Dont use a guy who is comfortably doing minimum wage job, has no driving license and no clear plan of how he intends to climb the ladder as your case study.

Even with his minimum wage job he manages to send money to people in Nigeria and still has savings from his salary and his wife's pay

He is living an extremely frugal life. He can't even have a TV. He is living from paycheck to paycheck.
And he's likely to remain that way till he retires. I pray not so for him.
In Nigeria, you will blow over the years.

My dear, save yourself the troubles of all this long write up. Just come back home

fullclub:

What does it mean bro

Am sorry my brother, you are actually wasting your time explaining to Nigerians. Let them go and discover themselves.
Average 9ja believe the entire 1400 belongs entirely to you and they will just convert it to Naira

Just don't bother yourself

Op is either a terrible liar or mugu in the UK. Good shared apartment with all bills inclusive is £450 monthly. No way a single person can spend £700 monthly on bills including feeding.

Better get sense before you dey mumu yourself for UK.

Paying your school fees is the biggest burden.

SocialJustice:
Op is either a terrible liar or mugu in the UK. Good shared apartment with all bills inclusive is £450 monthly. No way a single person can spend £700 monthly on bills including feeding.

Better get sense before you dey mumu yourself for UK.

Paying your school fees is the biggest burden.

Calm down... Am a family man with 2 kids

fullclub:


Even with receipts i showed oya suggest your owb bill
Even my house rent of 700 is the cheapest as its a tiny space.

A friend in London pays 1800 for same type of 2 bedroom. We do same type of job.. Only he works more hours

I was almost sharing apps that will help your case but since you believe you know what you're doing, dey there make express leave you.

fullclub:


Calm down... Am a family man with 2 kids

Shuuu, na im you dey threaten me. Your wife no dey work dey share bill with you, what you are paying is too much.

Them no dey do man of the house for UK, before you know your wife go build house here and you have nothing. Your kids are almost no expense too, school is free and government pays you stipend for each child abi no be so?

Op go and learn driving and get licence
Get certification in your field and submit applications for job. Don't use indeed. Go to Craiglist rather.
If you can't succeed in UK then you can't succeed anywhere.
Even Canada is hard now.
Stop complaining and I hope you can suspend any childbirth now and allow your wife to work to you until you two are better to start birthing children again.