How Much Do You Know About Banking and Finance

Image obtained from Google

At what age should we be learning about finances and the banking system just so that we can have general knowledge about finances and how things work? I opened my first bank account when I was 14 years old with a bank that was available nationwide in Tanzania, and that’s because I lived in Dar and Arusha. Fast forward a few years later, I had a bank account oversees for reasons of being an international student. The basic information that I knew was how to deposit, how to withdraw, costs for withdrawals from same bank ATMs (if any) and from other banks ATMs, and monthly account fees. 

I never had a student account for reasons that it was not advertised when I opened a personal account at that time. Few years down the line, banks started advertising student accounts, accounts for unborn babies, corporate accounts, how to get personal loan or business loan, etc etc. Retail banking is simple yet complex especially if you do not know all the information you perhaps would need to make your life better. Personally, when I know what I want, I tend not to ask questions, so it's not that I blame banks for not doing their job of advertising their services well to new and existing customers, it's just that I don't feel like there is enough info out there. 

For the first time in 2017 I opened a fixed deposit account thanks to my friend who had shared with me info on her finances, how she buys shares, bonds, has fixed deposit accounts and the like. When I went to my bank to get a new ATM card, they informed me about a unique fixed deposit account for women and I was already aware of the benefits, so I went ahead and agreed to have an account because I was already “pre-informed.”

If I was asked right now, other than how much I get charged for my monthly fee to have my bank account with certain banks, I would not know anything else that I can get for being a customer to some of the banking institutions I have accounts with. And because of this lack of information, it has in a way left me wondering how to go about getting a credit card to build up my credit. And the only way to overcome this ignorance is by going to a bank and ask relevant questions, but then, how will I know what is relevant if I don't know what's being offered in the first place? Banking and financial education should be prioritized from the age of 16 if we are to have a generation of finance savvy individuals, just saying!!

Rain Rain Go Away

My rain boots have arrived, yaaay. It took a few selections and returning till I go the right pair. I’m so ready to face the rain now...so much for almost ruining my shoes. Take that RAIN!! I didn’t have the time to go around shopping so I bought them from Amazon.com but you can checkout footwear shops in Tanzania and enjoy shopping. 

WendyWoo Jax Fashion Stylist

My girl WendyWoo is one of a kind, her passion for fashion is motivating and she has her outfits to prove it. What I like about her is her knowledge of where to get what you are looking for and within your budget. She is a thrift store queen too, she can find you beauty accessories and brand name clothes from thrift stores for waaaay less than you can imagine, now that’s true talent!!! And did I forget to mention she won a Fashion Award this year? Check her out on her social media handles @wendywoo_fashionstylist (instagram), WendyWoo (Facebook) and IamWendyWoo (YouTube), the one and only Jax fashion stylist. 

Is two weeks too soon?

Image obtained from Google

Hey all,

So I was asked a question by a male friend at work a while back. He said that his friends in a group chat were discussing if two weeks is too soon for a woman to ask a man to define a relation. He asked for my opinion and being a African as I am, I replied with a question or 5. My first question was why would she ask that in two weeks? What has been happening that made her ask a guy to define a relationship in just two weeks?

I honestly don't believe a woman or man would request someone to define a relationship in two weeks time of knowing each other unless there is more to the story than what I was informed.

The responses I gave were; 1. A lady can ask a man to define a relationship if they have known each other as friends for a while and of late they have been intimate beyond what ordinary friends do, hence a lady wanting to know where they stand. I would too. Are we friends who get on with it or what? I would want to know so that I know my next move..a.k.a walk away as fast as I can and go AWOL at the response of being 'friends with benefits'. 

2. A lady would ask a man to define a relationship within two weeks if they have been intimate and she is catching feelings. If she is a one man type of woman (meaning, she does not plan to be hooking up with more than one man). She would want to know if he has any intentions to be her beau or if he's just trying the waters.

3. A lady would ask a man to define a relationship within two weeks, even if they have not been intimate, but maybe a guy is acting some type of way e.g, being very romantic, taking her out on dates, sending her romantic messages, calling her and checking up on her constantly which makes her feel loved and hence wanting to know if he is investing in a relationship or if he is buttering her up for a one night stand or friends with benefit kinda thing. I would want to know too.

I must say though, it was an interesting topic to discuss, even though we took it seriously and challenging like a Kilimanjaro climb. I don't know if this happened to a real person of if it was merely a topic guys chose to discuss for fun sake. But all in all, there is always a reason behind what people do and say even if they don't quite know it yet...it helps to get some background information before coming to a conclusion.  

How to keep your child safe

Image obtained from Amazon

There is a sense of relief when you know you can control a child's movement while walking in a crowded area or when contact with a moving vehicle is more likely to happen. Kids can be such a challenge to handle, especially on a day when your mood is off, you might find yourself crying from frustration, that happened to me once. I took our little munchkin to a park to play and she kept walking towards the cars, I got so frustrated and couldn't wait to get done and go home. When I got back home went on Amazon.com and searched for child leash, boy or boy, it felt like Christmas when the options popped up. I bought two products, the wrist leash and a harness. 

Image obtained from Amazon.com of the actual product bought

Day 1, I used the wrist leash, it worked perfectly well until Miss thang decided to figure out how the Velcro on the leash works and she managed to get herself out of it. It was also very uncomfortable for both of us as well, because she might be using her hand for something else and there I go making it difficult for her to move her hand, or she would prefer to walk ahead, but I can't walk behind her with a hand to hand leash. So, option two was activated, and it worked like magic. First of all, She thought it was part of her outfit, then it was possible to let her walk ahead as she always prefers, thirdly, I was able to control her movement without much interference, especially when she would walk on uneven surfaces, she never fell because I pulled her up a bit which gave her balance. 

It's the little things that we need on this earth to make our lives simpler. Having a child safety leash is like sleeping in a house with security doors to every room, you just rest assured that all is safe, and your child is un-bothered.

Domestic Tourism

Sunflower plantation in Mlolo / Kikombwe Iringa.

Hey y'all, 

It was an amazing 6 weeks back in motherland filled with joy, calmness, shock, sadness, reality-check, togetherness, and so much more. We had to go to Iringa twice two weekends in a row. Both times were not for a happy reason, but I give God the Glory. On our way back from Iringa we passed through Mikumi National Park, we had our few minutes of utalii wa ndani as we drove through the main road. We came across different animals both times, I made sure to record videos, please watch the video link below. 

Even though I had been to Mikumi National Park before back in 2002 (school tour), it felt different this time around, I desired to go back into the park and not just drive through it. My sister had never been to Mikumi and she wanted to do a domestic safari so badly, unfortunately, time was not on her side. Even though it was not an actual safari, we were happy with what we saw and we still desired for more. 

When I was in Zimbabwe, my cousin Zack asked Kaka about his experience doing safaris in Tanzania. We Tanzanians don't take advantage of what we have as much as foreigners do. It was interesting that a Tanzanian was asking a foreigner for tips to visit Zanzibar,  and whether they (my cousin and his family) should do Serengeti Safaris or Ngorongoro. But my cousin was real, he talked about how we Tanzanians work hard to make money yet do not spend the time to enjoy what our country has to offer. And it had to take some convincing from his wife for them to go back to Tanzania for a break this June to visit national parks as well as swim in the clear waters of Zanzibar. 

I do not have the statistics of Tanzanians who do domestic safaris but I would guess not as many as the government wishes, and I wonder why that is. Do we do a better job of advertising our mother nature to the outsiders more than we do to the insiders? Or do the outsiders do a better job of telling each other about what Tanzania has to offer and that's why they flock in in good numbers? And I say this because when I traveled with Kaka back in 2010, we went to Maziwe Island in Tanga which I had never heard of before he mentioned it, so perhaps the lonely planet has something to do with it. And no, it's not just me, I have mentioned Maziwe Island to a few friends and they had no idea about it. I mean, apart from mentioning the five national parks which we had to remember thanks to the childhood songs about Tanzanian national parks, what other parks can we think of on the top our head? I came to know about Selous national park in 2012 when my supervisor at my first job had taken his family on a safari to Selous on one of the long weekend, I think it was organized by their community. 

How many of us Tanzanians truly know what we have, without being adventure lovers like my friend Suzanne who organizes group tours within TZ and abroad for her family and friends just for fun, or my friend Hasina who owns a Tours and Travel company? How can an ordinary Mamatembo be informed about what Tanzania has to offer, near and far, so that on a lousy day when I have the cash and a long weekend, I can decide to go somewhere for a hike, a walking safari, or swim in our exotic beaches or bath in the water falls? I can give some credit to the government for advertising tourism on some TV stations, or a dedicated TV station that I think I came across by accident. But let's be realistic here, I spend more time on Instagram than I do watching TV, how good are we marketing our national treasures to the social media generation to the point where we are all effectively and equally reached regardless of what media we use?

Anywho, I suggested to my cousin to visit the Ngorongoro Crater and I know he and his wife won't regret it. Zanzibar is a must see as well.

Home