Salome Dassah has many personalities. A sharp, thoughtful friend. She was the law student who always had a side hustle, and the lawyer navigating the daunting job market with a mix of wit and weariness. But what I hadn’t fully grasped until our conversation was the central theme of her story: an evolving, sometimes complicated, relationship with money, shaped by the unique pressures of studying law in Nigeria.
The Many Side Hustles
Salome’s entrepreneurial spirit ignited not from a desire for wealth, but from a love for fun and connection. During her undergraduate years at the University of Jos, her ventures were what she calls “side quests,” low-stakes, enjoyable projects never meant to be primary income sources.
It began with selling earrings. “A glamorous older friend had a supplier and asked if I knew anyone who might be interested,” she recalls. “I took them around campus, and they sold out fast. It was just… easy.” That first foray taught her she could create value from her social network, but the money was always extra cash for “my stomach,” a theme that would persist.
Her most successful venture was a surprise package and gift business, born from her natural thoughtfulness. “People would always ask where I got a gift I’d put together, and I’d say, ‘I made it myself.’” Alongside a friend, she launched it on 2019. “It went really well. We were among the only ones doing it at the time.” The pandemic ultimately halted her involvement, a casualty of her caution, but the experience underscored a pattern: she could build something people wanted, even if profit wasn’t the primary driver.
Today, she runs a floral business from her mother’s garden in Abuja. It’s a venture that perfectly encapsulates her approach: collaborative, creative, and financially fluid. “Most of my businesses were things I did with friends and family… I just send her the account number. It’s not a big deal.” For Salome, these quests are less about revenue and more about the plot of life, something interesting to do.
The Safety Net and The Shift
A central pillar of Salome’s financial story is the safety net that allowed her to explore without pressure. Through university and law school, support from her family provided a steady allowance. “I knew that money was coming from somewhere. Money will definitely come,” she admits. This security meant her side hustles were purely for fun, not survival, freeing her to prioritize her demanding studies.
That priority was tested in law school in Port Harcourt. The academic intensity was a shock. “I had never been challenged like that… I was reading every day and still felt like I wasn’t catching up.” The cost of living was another jolt. While she wasn’t stressed about finances, she became acutely aware of prices. The safety net was there, but the real-world weight of money began to feel heavier.
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The most profound shift in Salome’s money journey is happening now. Freshly called to the bar and hunting for a job, the safety net is receding by choice. “I’m trying to be independent here… I have to realize, oh, nobody comes to save you again.”
This awakening is colliding with the harsh realities of the Nigerian job market. She’s faced with a jarring disparity: the high cost of her education against the low offers for fresh lawyers. “You see people in top firms getting 600, 800k… but most people are offering 60k, 80k.” Her dream salary, a figure she has soberly re-calibrated, an amount she feels is fair for the “blood and happiness” the job can take.
This transition is forcing a new financial consciousness. The woman who once saw little point in saving from her allowance is now trying to learn. “I’m trying to be better,” she says, acknowledging it’s a habit she has to build.
A Generous Spirit in a Practical World
Complicating her savings journey is a deeply generous spirit. Salome has always been involved in humanitarian causes, and even small amounts of money earmarked for savings can feel like they have a better purpose. “If I see a cause, I’m like, ‘this is more important’… This little money is not going to do anything for me.”
It’s a mindset that clashes with conventional financial advice but speaks to a values-driven life. For her, money’s utility isn’t just in its accumulation but in its immediate ability to do good or bring joy.
Building From a New Foundation
Salome’s money story is one of transition: from the supported student to the aspiring independent adult. She is unlearning the assumption that money will always appear and is grappling with how to build financial discipline from a place of autonomy, not fear.
“I’m obviously getting older. I have to get my life together,” she says. It’s a relatable pivot, fueled by audacity and a touch of anxiety. She is ready to trade the safety net for self-made stability, one deliberate move at a time. And in truth, that’s the ultimate money move.
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I’ve lived many lives, but one lesson ties them all together: money is only as powerful as its utility. Through my work, I share stories about money and create guides for Africans who want to get the best out of theirs.