Thread by @JeSuisNaija

I thought flatmates who live miserly at the expense of others ended with my generation? The one that beats my imagination the most are squatters, who have, but pretend not to have when their host is in dire need, or when there's a common need - food, groceries, fuel for Gen etc.

When I went to a neighbourhood where i lived as a bachelor, i was shocked to realize all the miserly savings made by a guy who lived with me didn't make much difference, 15yrs after. This was how it began. My church rented a duplex, which it decided not to put to use eventually.

Rather than recover the money paid as rent, the church asked singles who needed accommodation to move into the property. Surprisingly, i was the only one that moved. To digress, it was a blessing i was naive on this "women business" at certain critical stages.

I recently found out the pastor had his eyes on me throughout my 2yrs stay, living alone in d duplex. There was no time i received a female visitor, and many guys who needed accommodation didnt accept the offer for this obvious reason. Most of them dey 'fire' and the pastor knew.

The person i started this story with lived a few block away from the duplex that the church gave me, back then. He had issues with his uncle and he was ejected. We were barely acquaintance when he told me his ordeal and i asked him to move in, without thinking twice.

I'm too free-spirited an animal to notice this guy wasn't contributing anything to our communal living, despite that he works as an account officer, at a time my only source of income was teaching and giving 'expo' to JAMB students. Hope this has stopped? May God forgive us. 😂

He waits till i buy soap before he washes. I cook and keep food for him always. He'd complain his employer is owing salary arrears; then sneak out to eat, many times that i slept on empty stomach when broke. If there's no toothpaste, he'd buy 'pako' until i buy toothpaste again.

To singles who live with others, let me encourage you. You are building capacity for greater blessings, by making available what you have to others, who perhaps dont deserve it. Misers are like goats tied to a stake. They cant go beyond the circumference that the rope allows.

You're hurting your future if you are living miserly at the expense of others. Generosity is an unwritten resume that's capable of selling you at places you didn't submit CV. When i met d fellow recently, i felt pity at his condition and he begged i should pass him opportunities.

Here's a person that broke d news to me he has rented a 2 bedroom flat, tastefully furnished, after living at my expense for 10 months. Few months after, d lie he got d place with a loan was exposed, when he was admonishing me to do something about living in a church house at 30.

Interestingly, i pursued a Ford funded project for him. He didnt get the role because the local trustees were told the person i referred has a terrible interpersonal relationship record, when it comes to money. Himself and myself had no clue who told them this, up till today. End