When I heard that Arese Ugwu’s The Smart Money Woman was getting a television adaptation, I knew it was definitely something to anticipate. First published back in 2016, The Smart Money Woman uses the lives of fictional characters Zuri, Tami, Lara, Adesuwa and Ladun to educate us about financial literacy and money management. Now on our screens, the half-hour 13-episode TV series promises to deliver the same nuggets of wisdom with its star-studded cast. Written by Jola Ayeye and Pearl Osibu, we get to watch Osas Ighodaro(Zuri), Ini Dima Okojie(Tami), Toni Tones (Lara), Kemi Lala Akindoju (Adesuwa) and Ebenezer Eno (Ladun) every week as they navigate their careers, relationships and finances.
Womxn having open and honest conversations about money is something that I have, and will always, champion. Which is why The Smart Money Woman is a refreshing watch. I mean…entertainment plus money tips? Sounds like a win to me. To bask in my weekly TV show pleasure, I’ll be taking you along with weekly reaps on what’s going on in the lives of Zuri and her friends!
ICYMI:
In Episode 1, we’re introduced to Zuri – a babygirl who just doesn’t seem to be able to catch a break. Fresh from vacation and straight into heartbreak, she finds out online that her ex-boyfriend Olumide (Yoruba demon full at work here!) is already engaged. Throughout the episode, Zuri doesn’t seem to be able to catch a break. Car trouble, shaky work performances and behind on her service charge to her landlord, Zuri bounces from one wahala to another throughout episode 1.
And On This Week’s Episode:
Still avoiding her landlord’s demands for his service charge, Zuri is becoming increasingly desperate trying to sort out the growing elephant in the room. If she’s not careful, there won’t even be a room for the elephant to grow in because she’ll be kicked out of her apartment! Just btw.
Making her way down a list of people she can call to loan her some money, she gets a call from her mum who starts with the usual, “when will we do your own wedding?” chat. This is honestly the least of Zuri’s problems right now and she doesn’t waste any time showing it. When she gets the chance, she asks her mum for the N500,000 she needs. Unfortunately, her mum’s answers to this request are “no” ( welp) and “ find a good man that’ll take care of you” (welp x 2).
In between fielding calls from her mechanic and her landlord, and calling her girls to ask for money (no luck there either), Zuri finally decides to answer Olumide’s persistent calls and agrees to meet him at a restaurant. At this point, I took a freakishly large sip of my wine because I just know this is going to end in tears. It always does, doesn’t it?
Meanwhile, in another scene, Ladun is living a very different life to her friend Zuri and we see her shopping like her life depends on it. Seriously, she spent N3,000,000 in one week on clothes. Mad. When her husband calls to sheepishly complain, she just tells him not to be boring. Fair enough sis.
Now back to Olumide and his Yoruba demon ways. Before Zuri walks into the restaurant, we see him on the phone insisting that his friend attends his wedding as it’ll be the “the wedding of the year”. When Zuri gets there, the first words out of his shameless mouth are, “she’s not important to me, Zuri. It’s not like with you and I.” Remember when I said it’ll end in tears? Ok. As he pathetically continues to beg her – failing woefully might I add – Zuri’s landlord calls her again to ask her about the service charge. At this point, Olumide practically jumps at the offer to be a knight in shining armour and offers to pay. Zuri rejects the offer (that’s my babe!!) and storms out after Olumide continues to spin her some tales by moonlight.
In the last scene, Zuri links up with Lara, Adesuwa and Tami (Ladun is living her best life somewhere at a spa) for lunch afterwards. The topic of discussion is Adesuwa’s husband and a girl who’s constantly commenting heart-eye emojis on his IG posts. Adesuwa says her husband is like an “egbon” to the girl and their relationship is totally innocent (this too shall, in fact, end in tears). The conversation shifts to Zuri’s finance trouble and her somewhat questionable money management skills. It becomes obvious to Zuri that no help will be coming from her group of friends as everybody has their problems to solve (except for Ladun who is babygirl-ing) and the episode ends with her reflecting on what her next course of action will be.
The Smart Money Tip of the Week:
“Ultimately how we behave with money is deeply rooted in how we think about money and fear can be crippling. But what you deny and ignore, you delay. What you face and accept, you conquer.”
What are your biggest money fears? I’m constantly afraid of not saving enough for my next house rent, that I tend to put away too much money in my savings account, forget that there are daily expenses that need to be met and then get left with little money that I can easily access. By the time the next month’s salary rolls in, I’m half-buried in debt and struggling to pay them off.
I’m still saving, but not doing so at the expense of what I need to survive in Lagos. I’m budgeting based on priorities and ensuring that I always have money to first pay for my necessities.
