The Power of Starting Small: Why Every Penny Counts
- chetaemuwa
- Feb 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 25
Why Small Beginnings Matter
When it comes to personal finance, never underestimate the power of starting small. One of the biggest mistakes young professionals, entrepreneurs, and new investors make is thinking that investing or saving isn’t worth it unless they have a significant amount of money.
This mindset couldn’t be further from the truth. Imagine saying you won’t take an entry-level job because it doesn’t pay enough, while waiting for a high-paying role to come along. The reality? That well-paying job is usually a reward for the experience and discipline gained at the lower-paying one. The same applies to money.
Managing a small income wisely prepares you for handling a larger one. If you can build good financial habits with £1,000, you’ll be in a much stronger position when you start earning £10,000 or more. As Luke 16:10 and Matthew 25:21 in the Bible remind us, “Whoever is faithful with little can be trusted with more.”
How to Start Small & Build Big
Here’s an example from my own journey:
After graduating from university in the UK in 2014, I moved back home to Nigeria. When I landed my first job after NYSC (a compulsory youth service program you have to do as a citizen of Nigeria), I earned N125,000 per month. I committed to saving at least N25,000 every month, depositing it straight into a mutual fund account. Were there times I had to dip into it? Yes. But knowing I had money accumulating in an account earning above inflation rates (a topic for another day!) was incredibly reassuring.
As my income grew to N200,000, I increased my savings to N50,000 per month. After just two and a half years, I had saved enough to fund my own holiday—without asking my parents for money. The feeling of financial independence? Unmatched.
Your Takeaway: Start Where You Are
The key to building wealth isn’t waiting for the "perfect time"—it’s starting with what you have.
Begin by saving or investing even a small percentage of your income.
Be consistent, no matter how little it seems.
Increase your savings rate as your income grows.
With time, patience, and discipline, you’ll look back and thank yourself for starting small.
What small step can you take today toward your financial goals?
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