What is the Maximum You Can Save When Earning Ksh100k With 2 Kids (Nairobi)

Every morning I arise with determination, gearing myself up for the day ahead. As a hotel manager in Westlands, my plate is always full, but it's a life I cherish—well, most days. With a loving wife and two adorable kids, every day is an adventure, albeit one with its own set of challenges.

Managing Finances on a Ksh100,000 Gross Salary

For the last five years, my beautiful family and I have been living in a small estate slightly before Kinoo market. Rungiri. One could almost mistake it for “ushago” because although it does not pass for a posh leafy suburb, it is pretty decent. With the green plantations, the home owner’s cows mooing from afar, one “nduthi”  here and there raging through the newly tarmacked roads and the sound of children playing mixing with the hum of daily life. A perfect mix of urban and rural. 

My wife Shiku is my rock. She’s a stay-at-home mom. A role she navigates with grace, taking care of our home affairs such as walking our kids to and from their school just a stone's throw away. It's a local private school, not a fancy one, but it does the job just fine.

Family Life and Responsibilities

Budgeting is key in our household, a skill we've honed over the years, especially as our family grows and the economy tightens. I am the sole breadwinner, my salary is Ksh100,000 gross. This comes to 73,385 in the net salary -, every shilling counts.

Rent and utilities take a good chunk at Ksh22,500, leaving us with Ksh50,885. Ensuring we have all the necessary groceries requires a careful approach, especially on a budget. We prefer shopping at the Kangemi market because there is always fresh produce at a fair price. The rest of the items we buy in bulk to stretch our Ksh12,000 as far as possible. This includes our kids’ snacks to carry to school.

Balancing Work and Home

Transport to work in Westlands costs me Ksh4,000. I used to own a small saloon car some years back that I had to sell to cater to some financial challenges - story for another day. Though hectic, I am now used to public transport. And when I do the math, with the rise in fuel prices over the years, it would have cost me so much more to drive to and from work.

School fees for both kids add up to Ksh20,000, with Mukami our first child in Grade 2 costing Ksh12,000 and Makena our second child in Baby Class costing Ksh8,000. We're lucky that the school is within walking distance which means we get to save on their transport costs to and from school. Acknowledging my wife's efforts once more for always ensuring they are readied up and in school on time every day without fail.

Aside from that, my wife is part of a Home Chama, to which we contribute Ksh2,500 every month. I also have a loan with my Sacco, I pay Ksh5,000 every month - I have 18 months to clear it. Miscellaneous expenses come to around Ksh3,500 every month.

In months when I am paying school fees, this usually leaves me with Ksh3,885 at the end of the month. We channel into my Sacco account as savings. When I am not paying school fees, I put aside some Ksh10,000 in a money market fund which I use as an emergency fund as well as a fund for my children’s fees in the coming years. 

Family is everything to me, so I make it a point to support my parents when I can, sending them around Ksh5,000 quarterly, especially in months without the burden of school fees.

Wrapping Up

Life here may not be extravagant, but it's rich in the small moments we share as a family. From the laughter of our children echoing through the corridors of our rental abode to the simple pleasure of a home-cooked meal prepared with love, these are the treasures that money can't buy.

Living within our means has become more than just a necessity—it's a philosophy that shapes our daily existence. Through careful budgeting and prudent financial decisions, we've learned to make the most of what we have. Every coin counts, from the groceries we purchase at the local market to the smart choices we make when it comes to transportation and utilities.

But perhaps the greatest lesson we've learned is the importance of involving each other in our money matters. My wife, my steadfast companion in this journey called life, has been my partner every step of the way. Together, we've navigated the highs and lows, supporting each other through thick and thin. Her role as a stay-at-home mom is not just a job—it's a labour of love that binds our family together, ensuring that our children grow up in a nurturing environment filled with warmth and affection.

With every moment and with each dream borne, I'm reminded of the true meaning of wealth. It's not measured in the size of our bank accounts or the possessions we accumulate but in the love we share and the memories we create together. And as long as we have each other, I know that we are truly blessed beyond measure.