Some say that the best way to learn a money lesson is to learn from your past mistakes, and for Our Sales Operations Manager, AFEX Uganda, Lambert Manzi, that’s the way you live and learn. In this article, he shares how his wedding was his greatest money pleasure in 2022 and his retirement plans.

What’s your top money lesson in 2022?

Wow, this question is simple yet means a lot. This year I have grown mentally and financially, I’ve come to understand key aspects of financial management, but the top lesson of the year is budgeting. Every shilling matters and you need to account for and be accountable for every penny you make. If I had known these things earlier, I’ll then have been miles ahead in my finances.

What did you spend money on in 2022 that gave you joy?

Oh! that would be my wedding, I got married on the 26th of February. It drained my savings, but it made me the happiest man. My wedding is the best thing to have ever happened to me. It was worth every money! If given another chance I’d do it all over.

What’s the biggest money mistake you made this year?

Impulse buying! This is not my default but comes from the fact that I am newly married, and I want to give everything my wife wants. So, if she requests, I’m buying it straight away. I know better now, if what she wants is way out of budget, I make her see the reason why we should get it later. It is a discipline I am trying to instill in us.

How did you up your money game in 2022?

The year has been quite interesting financially, I have a pool of friends that have similar money hunger. We have an investment/savings club, a percentage of what we earn is put into that pool and we have a rotation for who gets a share of it at the end of the month, and we do this alphabetically. We also explore different ideas; this has helped me grow immensely.

What did you spend the most money on this year?

The answer is still my Wedding. Made me break the bank, but I loved every single detail of it. You can see how happy I am in the picture I used as DP on my WhatsApp.

One thing you’d do right now if you had all the money you wanted?

Woohoo! I have quite a lot, but since you’ve asked for one, it will be setting up farmland for and also as my retirement home. I am passionate about agriculture, and I’ve always envisioned commercial farming to a great extent, when I can afford to explore this dream, I’d go for it.

What’s the best money lesson you got from your parents?

I learned a lot, however, the ones that stood out are disciple and budgeting. I got that from my dad. No matter what you say and what excuse you give; he’d always say no to money unbudgeted for. Now, I am married I want to also practice that.