Njeri, a single mother of two who earns a living doing laundry for clients, posted a TikTok video that outlines every shilling she spends each month, drawing attention from thousands of viewers.

Her fixed monthly costs total KSh 5,000 for rent, KSh 1,100 for gas, and variable charges for water tokens, shared Wi‑Fi and garbage collection that together range between KSh 300 and KSh 500.

To meet these obligations, Njeri sets aside KSh 1,800 each week, amounting to KSh 7,200 per month, which covers rent, gas and the variable utilities.

She contributes KSh 1,000 weekly to a chama – a group savings scheme – that she uses specifically for her children’s school fees, with contributions collected roughly every two months.

Together with her sister, Njeri saves KSh 35 daily, equivalent to KSh 250 per week, for personal items such as clothing and occasional needs.

Any remaining cash after bills is deposited into a M‑Pay‑linked savings circle on the Hisa Yako platform, with a minimum contribution of KSh 250 each time.

Njeri also plans to open a separate bank account for income earned through brand partnerships linked to her content creation, keeping it distinct from household finances.

She cautions that food budgeting must be balanced with savings, warning that overly aggressive saving without accounting for meals could compromise nutrition.