In Uganda, there’s a phrase that has become both a meme and a way of life:
“If the money you have can’t solve the problems you have, eat that money!”
Even Kenyans have borrowed this phrase, and you’ll hear someone tell the friend ”thao mbili haiwezi nunua shamba, ikule bana”- (Two thousand cannot buy you a shamba-eat it).
It sounds funny, right? But if we peel back the laughter, it’s also the most dangerous financial advice ever given. Imagine eating money simply because it’s not enough to solve your rent or school fees, so instead you blow it on small pleasures like nyama choma, Rolex (the chapati one, not the Swiss one 😅), ice cream, or a spontaneous weekend road trip. The logic is simple: If I can’t fix my big problems, let me at least enjoy small pleasures.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how financial futures get swallowed.
Why We Love This Phrase and Why It’s a Trap
The truth is, this statement comes from a very relatable place. Life in Uganda and across Africa can be tough. Salaries stretch thin, inflation shows no mercy. And sometimes, your money feels like a joke. So instead of saving, people “eat the money” to feel good for one night.
But here’s the kicker: while you’re busy eating today’s money, tomorrow’s problems are growing stronger, and by the time you look back, your wallet has nothing but receipts and regrets.
The Billionaire Mindset:
Now, let’s look at the wealthiest people in Africa. Aliko Dangote didn’t become Africa’s richest man by eating money because it couldn’t buy him an oil refinery. Strive Masiyiwa didn’t say, “This cash is too little for telecom towers, let me enjoy nyama choma.” No! They understood the power of delayed gratification—sacrificing today’s enjoyment for tomorrow’s empire.
We laugh at billionaires for being “too serious” with life, but let’s be honest: their seriousness is the reason they’re balling, while some of us are still debating whether 5k should go to saving or to a Friday night out.
The Hand-to-Mouth Crew – By Choice
Then there’s another category. Some people genuinely struggle to survive, living hand to mouth because life circumstances left them there. But there’s another group who choose hand-to-mouth living as if it’s a lifestyle. They’ll proudly say: “I can’t be stressing myself with savings when life is short. YOLO.”
The truth? Life is not as short as YOLO suggests. Life is actually quite long when you’re broke and hungry.
When you spend recklessly, you’re not just eating today’s money, you’re also eating tomorrow’s opportunities.
How to Change This “Eat the Money” Mentality
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Budget like your ancestors are watching. If you can budget for Netflix, you can budget for savings.
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Start small. Even 5,000 UGX saved weekly is better than 0. Don’t despise small beginnings; even Dangote once bought groundnuts with pocket change.
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Think in decades, not days. Ask yourself: “Will Future Me thank me for this icecream?”
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Use smart tools. Whether it’s a savings account, an investment group, or even a loan app like Zenka to cover emergencies, put systems around your money.
Laugh, But Learn
We laugh at the “eat that money” phrase because it’s relatable. But if you look closer, it’s also the reason many of us remain financially stuck. The rich are rich because they think long-term. The broke stay broke because they think short-term. And those in between? They’re the ones deciding every day whether that money should be eaten or invested.
So, next time your money feels too small to solve your problems, pause. Don’t eat it, grow it. Because the only thing worse than being broke today is being broke tomorrow with a stomach full of gas and fat and no plan.
Zenka Uganda is here to help you make smarter financial moves or even handling small emergencies. We’re rooting for your growth. Because money is not meant to be eaten, it’s meant to be multiplied.
Until next time- Cheers!
