From Nanny to Business Owner: How to Save 50,000 Shillings in 18 Months
For many domestic workers in Kenya and abroad, the dream is often the same: to work hard, save enough, and eventually transition from being an employee to a business owner. However, when you are earning a salary of 15,000 shillings per month, that dream can feel like a distant mountain. Between supporting family back home, personal upkeep, and the rising cost of living, saving even a single coin can feel like a miracle.
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| An image of house helps from Nairobi, Kenya. |
But at The House Girls Village, we believe that financial freedom isn't about how much you earn; it’s about how much you keep. With a clear plan and the right financial advice for house helps in Kenya, you can save a total of 50,000 shillings in just 18 months.
Read Related: 10 Characteristics of a Good House Help Employer
This 50,000 shillings is not just a number; it is "seed money." It is enough to start a successful business—like a poultry farm, a small cereal shop, a second-hand clothes (Mitumba) stall, or a salon—that will change your life forever.
The Mathematics of the Goal
To reach 50,000 shillings in 18 months, you don’t need to do anything impossible. You just need to be consistent.
The target: Save approximately 2,800 shillings every month.
If you earn 15,000 shillings, saving 2,800 leaves you with 12,200 shillings for your expenses. While it requires discipline, this is highly achievable. Let’s break down the behaviors and strategies that will get you there.
1. The Power of "Pay Yourself First"
The biggest mistake many workers make is waiting until the end of the month to save what is "left over." Usually, nothing is left over.
The secret to saving 50,000 shillings is to treat your savings like a mandatory bill. The moment your employer pays you your 15,000 shillings, immediately move 2,800 shillings to a separate place where you cannot touch it. In the financial world, this is called "paying yourself first." You are paying the "Future Business Owner" version of yourself.
2. Choosing the Right Savings Vehicle
Where you keep your money matters. If you keep it in your M-Pesa or under your mattress, the temptation to spend it on a "small emergency" or a new dress will be too high.
M-Shwari Lock Savings: This allows you to lock money for a specific period (e.g., 6 months) with a bit of interest.
Chamas: If you belong to a trustworthy "House Girls Village" chama, ensure it is a "Merry-Go-Round" where you get a lump sum, or a "Table Banking" group where your money grows through interest.
Money Market Funds (MMF): This is the best financial advice for house helps in Kenya looking for growth. Apps like Chipper Cash, Zimele, or Sanlam allow you to save as little as 100 shillings. Your money earns interest (about 9-11% per year), helping you reach that 50k goal even faster.
3. Adopt the "Village Gold" Mindset (Saving Behaviors)
To save 2,800 shillings a month on a 15,000 salary, you must look at your spending with a "eagle eye."
Audit Your Airtime: Are you spending 50 shillings daily on airtime to browse TikTok or call home? That’s 1,500 shillings a month! Switch to weekly bundles or use the house Wi-Fi (with permission) to save at least 1,000 shillings of that.
The "Black Tax" Boundary: We all love our families, but you cannot pour from an empty cup. If you send everything home, you will remain a house help forever. Set a fixed "Home Allowance" from your 12,200 balance and stick to it. Tell your family about your 18-month goal; if they love you, they will support your discipline.
Avoid "Impulse Treats": On your off-day, it’s easy to spend 500 shillings on fast food and a soda. Instead, carry a snack from the house or eat before you leave. Small daily savings of 100 shillings add up to 3,000 shillings a month!
More: 10 Smart Ways a House Help Earning Ksh 10,000 Can Achieve Financial Freedom in 24 Months
4. Tracking the 18-Month Journey
Visualizing your progress keeps you motivated. Create a simple chart or use a notebook to tick off every month you successfully save your 2,800 shillings.
Months 1-6: You will have 16,800. You might feel like it’s growing slowly. Don't stop!
Months 7-12: You will have 33,600. Now you are seeing the "seed" for your business forming.
Months 13-18: You hit the 50,400 mark. You are now a potential entrepreneur.
5. The Ultimate Goal: Starting a Successful Business
Why 50,000 shillings? Because in the Kenyan economy, 50k is a "magic number" for small-scale startups. Here is what that amount can do for you:
Cereal/Dry Foods Shop: You can rent a small stall and buy your first few bags of maize, beans, and rice.
Poultry Farming: Back in the village, 50,000 can build a professional coop and buy 100 improved kienyeji chicks plus feed.
Mitumba Business: You can buy two "Grade A" bales of children’s clothes or ladies' tops and have money left for a small display.
Beauty Salon: 50,000 can buy a good hair dryer, basic chemicals, and rent a small space to start your own salon.
The goal of saving this amount is to buy your freedom. When you have your own business, you dictate your time, your income, and your future.
Advice for Workers Outside Kenya (Middle East/Europe)
If you are working abroad and earning more than 15,000, your goal should be even higher. However, the temptation to spend is also higher. Many come back home after two years with nothing because they sent all the money to relatives who spent it.
Pro Tip: Open a dedicated investment account in Kenya while you are away. Send your 2,800 (or more) directly to that account. Do not let it pass through a third party.
Conclusion
Saving 50,000 shillings is 10% math and 90% discipline. It requires saying "No" to temporary pleasures so you can say "Yes" to a permanent business.
At The House Girls Village, we want to see every nanny and house help become a "Boss Lady." Start this month. Put away that first 2,800 shillings. Eighteen months from now, you won't just have 50,000 shillings; you will have the confidence, the character, and the capital to start a successful business.
Your journey to 50k starts today. Are you ready?
6 Sure Businesses You Can Start With KSh 50,000 and Make Profit in Kenya
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About the Author
House Girls Village & BureauDomestic Staff Placement Experts in Kenya
This article was written by the team at House Girls Village & Bureau, a domestic staff placement bureau based in Kenya. With hands-on experience in recruiting, training, and placing house helps for Kenyan households, we work closely with both employers and domestic workers to ensure fair, safe, and professional placements. Our daily work involves screening candidates, advising families, resolving placement issues, and promoting ethical domestic employment practices.
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