In my teens, one of the ways I saved cash was by adopting what I called the mint and 200 approach.

For the mint approach, whenever I withdrew money from the ATM or received change from a bus conductor or vendor, and it was a mint note, I did not spend it. I know mentioning the bus conductor here is strange, but on rare occasions, I have received mint notes as change.

I had a clean envelope where I kept these mint notes, and at the end of each year, I would pay them into my account or use them to buy something important.

For the 200 approach, each time I receive any cash, and there is a 200 Naira note in it, I remove the note and keep it. If there are multiple 200 Naira notes, I remove two. I use this approach especially if I am trying to save towards buying something I need in a couple of months.

Times have changed, and I do not know if both approaches can work given current realities. But if you are finding it hard to save cash and just starting your savings journey, this is a fun way to start.

And avoid having random cravings for ice cream, fish barbecue or shawarma.