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👋 Good morning. Did you guys hear that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially retained 150/400 as the minimum cut-off mark for university admissions? 100 for Polytechnics and 150 for Colleges of Nursing. I’m not sure why the heads of tertiary institutions decided this was a great idea, but I thought I’d let you know. Now more than ever, get your savings and investments in the bag. |
This week: we spoke to a creator about her first brand deal, insights on getting your first paycheck, and a savings hack worth bookmarking. Let’s get right into it. |
If you’re enjoying this, don’t forget to subscribe and join The Juice community. We’re building this together ♡. |
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Shalom Tewobola,
Editor.
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Share with us |
What’s that one money experience you have, good or bad, we don’t judge. Reply to this email or reach us here. We're featuring the most relatable ones next week! |
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THE STACK |
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ArtbyDetolu on getting paid for his creativity |
A first brand deal means the world to many creatives. More than the money itself, it feels like proof, a tangible sign that maybe this thing you’ve been pouring yourself into can actually become something real. |
Because creative work is so often dismissed as unserious until money enters the picture. Once you get paid for it, something shifts. It suddenly feels possible. For ArtbyDetolu, that moment came after seeing a brand call for creators to promote an event. He applied, got the congratulatory email, and just like that, his first brand deal arrived. |
In this conversation, he reflects on that experience, what he spent the money on, and the saving habits that have stayed with him since. |
Take me back to your first brand deal. How did it come in, and at what point did it feel real to you? |
My first brand deal came in a pretty simple way. I saw a post from a brand looking for creators to promote an event through short-form videos, so I applied and eventually got a congratulatory email. |
But it didn’t feel real yet. It only clicked when I joined a call with the other creators, and they started explaining the deliverables. That was the moment I thought, “Okay, this is actually happening.” |
What was the very first thing you spent that money on, and why that specifically? |
The first thing I did was pay my tithe. After that, I bought data, and the rest went into transport for another event I had to attend. Nothing flashy, just things I genuinely needed at the time. |
Was that purchase something you had always imagined making when you “made it,” or was it a spontaneous, in-the-moment decision? |
Not at all. It wasn’t some big “I’ve made it” purchase. It was more of an in-the-moment decision, just handling what was right in front of me. |
Looking back, was the amount fair for the work you did, and would you negotiate differently now? |
Honestly, probably not. But at the time, I was excited to get the opportunity, and I knew it would be valuable for my portfolio. So it made sense then. |
Now, though, I’d definitely negotiate differently. |
Do you think you spent that money wisely, or did you just need to feel something in that moment? |
I think I spent it wisely because it solved actual problems I had at the time. |
What’s the most valuable saving hack that has helped you? |
One thing that has really helped me is saving immediately after getting paid. Once the money comes in, I set a portion aside and leave it untouched. It always ends up helping later. |
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Many are already using Pulse’s editorials and socials to grow their businesses and tell their stories to more than 5 million people. Just saying. Oh, and did I mention it only takes you one click? |
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BAG CHECK |
Peace Audu started her career with a ₦75K pay cheque |
At 17, while most of her mates were earning ₦10,000 or ₦20,000 during their IT placements, Peace Audu was making ₦75,000 as a UI designer she landed while searching for a place to complete her SIWES. |
What started as an early opportunity during her Computer Science studies quickly became the foundation for a career she still works in today. |
In this conversation, Audu reflects on her first pay cheque, her lifelong love for design, and how ambition, discipline, and financial responsibility shaped the way she thinks about work and money. |
What was the very first thing you ever did to make money, and how did you get into it? |
My first paying job was during my internship in 2019. I was 17 at the time and studying Computer Science, so I was looking for a place to do my SIWES when someone called me about an opportunity. |
I ended up getting the role, and I remember being really shocked by how much I was paid because I was earning ₦75,000 while a lot of my mates were earning ₦10,000 or ₦20,000. I’ve also always liked design, and I was studying Computer Science, so it still felt natural to me. |
Was it something you genuinely liked, or were you influenced by someone else? |
I genuinely liked it. I’ve always liked design, so it wasn’t difficult for me to get into that kind of work. Of course, being around people in tech also influenced me, but it was something I already had an interest in myself. |
Are you still doing that kind of work today in some form? If not, why did you move away from it? |
Yes, I’m still doing that kind of work today. Right now, I work freelance, so it has evolved from what I first started with, but it’s still within the same space. |
What did earning your own money for the first time teach you about the value of work and money itself? |
I think I already had a strong sense of financial responsibility before I even started earning. As a child, I saved a lot. I remember saving up to ₦50,000 at one point, and honestly, I don’t even know where that money is now. Saving has always just been part of my character. |
When that first opportunity came, I knew I wanted to take it seriously because I wanted to support myself through school. |
I’ve never really been someone who mismanages money, and I think part of that comes from my family because we were always very open about money at home: what was coming in, how we were making it, and what it was being used for. |
I was also a very ambitious person at that age, so earning my own money made me even more conscious of independence and responsibility. |
What did you do with the first money you made, and what do you think that says about you now? |
I think I bought skincare with my first earnings. Looking back now, I think that says I’ve always liked taking care of myself, but I’ve also always been financially responsible. |
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#5 Saving hack |
The 1% trick. |
If saving a big chunk feels impossible, start with just 1% of your income. It's so small you won't feel it. Then, after a month, bump it to 2%. Then 3%. By the time you're saving 10–15%, you barely notice the climb. |
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Today’s email was brought to you by Shalom Tewobola and Praise Okeoghene Vandeh. Editing by: Shalom Tewobola. Designs by: Daniel Banjoko |
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