A 30-year-old man earning a net salary of Sh68,500 shares his struggle with financial stress and debt, feeling worse off than when he was unemployed.

• His monthly expenses include a Sh16,500 microfinance loan and Sh7,000 in mobile loans, totaling 35% of his income dedicated to debt repayment.
• The author, Gertrude Njeri, an accountant and personal finance consultant, explains that lifestyle upgrades financed by long-term debt are the root cause.
• She advises prioritizing paying off mobile loans by temporarily adjusting social spending, then focusing on saving and avoiding future debt for lifestyle enhancements.