I Thought Saving Was Enough; Then a Ksh100K Deal Changed Everything

It had all been fun and games in my small friend group until I discovered an opportunity that could earn me the equivalent of my monthly salary in a matter of days. 

I had just turned 26, earning Ksh50,000 net salary a month as an IT administrator at an NGO in Westlands. This is my first proper job after a year of tarmacking, and from the start I wanted to build my savings, invest, and own at least a major asset in my name by the time I started a family.

For the first year, I thought I was doing well. I paid my bills and usually had something left in my bank account. I believed I needed Ksh100,000 before I could start investing, so I kept saving towards that target.

Then one afternoon in January last year, my boss presented us with a rare opportunity.

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My Ksh50,000 Missed Opportunity

Our NGO had imported new Mac computers for a project that was later cancelled. Employees were offered the first chance to buy them for Ksh100,000 each. 

I asked my former classmate who sells computers in town to assess the opportunity. Similar models were selling for at least Ksh180,000 in town. 

I was interested immediately. My friend assured me he had a ready market, so if we split the profit, the extra money could strengthen my savings or help me finally start investing.

There was just one problem: I had only Ksh30,000 in my bank account. I briefly considered borrowing the remaining Ksh70,000, but the offer was moving quickly. 

Many colleagues took up the offer, including my friend Ken.

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Ken Had a Different Money Plan

Ken and I had met when we were being interviewed for our current jobs. We started on the same Ksh50,000 net salary and progressed at roughly the same pace. He lived in Uthiru, I lived in Kinoo, and we both commuted to Westlands. Our expenses differed, but I assumed we were at a similar financial stage.

When I asked how he had bought the Mac so quickly, he told me he had more than Ksh200,000 in his investment portfolio. I was stunned. 

We earned nearly the same salary, yet within two years, his portfolio was worth more than six times the Ksh30,000 I had sitting in my bank account. Reselling the Mac eventually made him another Ksh50,000. 

Ken explained that he had started investing through I&M Capital’s I&M Wealth Fund almost as soon as we got our jobs. He began with Ksh5,000 and topped up with whatever extra he got. 

He had also automated his contributions, making investing a regular habit rather than something he had to remember each month. And because his investment money was separate from his everyday spending account, he was less tempted to dip into it. All this with the benefit of making a withdrawal in just a few days in case he needed it. 

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Giving My Money a New Job

That conversation pushed me to find out more about I&M Capital and the I&M Wealth Fund, which I now use. I moved my Ksh30,000 into the fund last year and have been making top ups whenever I come across some extra cash. 

I have also automated 20% of my current pay into my Wealth Fund every 3rd day of the month. I know myself well enough to recognise that if investing depends on remembering to transfer money every month, I can easily postpone it.

Keeping my investment separate from my everyday account also gives the money a clear purpose. I am less likely to mistake my investment kitty for cash available for bills. 

The I&M Wealth Fund pools money from investors and is professionally managed in line with its objectives, so I don't have to select individual investments myself. I have benefited from above-market returns over the last year which has accelerated my journey, despite the earlier delay. 

Looking back, my biggest mistake was not simply how much I earned. It was believing I had to become wealthy before I could start investing. While I waited for Ksh100,000, I missed the opportunity to give my money time to grow. 

Today, my returns compound every month, meaning the interest on my money also earns interest. 

The Mac opportunity was unusual, and I do not expect to make Ksh50,000 in a few days again. But it has taught me that I cannot build a financial future by waiting for the perfect opportunity. I can start with what I can afford, contribute consistently and give my money time.

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