The Truth About Saving: What They Don’t Tell You

The Truth About Saving: What They Don’t Tell You

By Marc Reflects 

We often hear the same advice: "You must save to build a better future." Financial experts, social media posts, and motivational speakers tell us that saving—even just a little—can change your life. While that may hold true for some, here’s the truth many avoid saying out loud: saving is not possible for everyone, at least not in the way it's often presented.


From my own lived experience, I’ve come to challenge this popular narrative.

Saving Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

If you have a stable, monthly-paying job, saving can feel manageable. You know what to expect and can plan accordingly. But what about those of us with irregular incomes—the freelancers, small-scale service providers, or people depending on donations and inconsistent gigs?

I've been there.

I tried to adopt the saving discipline. I created a structure for myself. For example, if I earned between 5,000 to 10,000 RWF (around $7), I would set aside 5%. For a salary or bigger income, I set aside 20%. I committed to saving from whatever source came in—donations, salaries, service payments. It sounded smart and responsible.

But here’s what actually happened.

The Reality of the Cycle

Often, just a week or so after saving, I would find myself short on basic needs. And what did I do? I withdrew the savings just to survive. It was a repeating cycle: save, withdraw, survive—over and over again. There was no progress, no financial growth, just a system that looked good on paper but didn’t work in real life.

This isn’t to say discipline doesn’t matter. It does. But discipline without a practical, personalized plan becomes frustrating.

The Shift That Changed Everything

Eventually, I learned a powerful lesson: Instead of saving cash I might soon need to withdraw, I could save in the form of progress. Let me explain.

If my goal was to build a house, why not buy materials gradually—cement today, iron sheets next month, bricks when possible—instead of hoping to save until I can afford everything all at once?

This mindset shift changed how I approached financial growth. Rather than waiting for the “right amount,” I started making incremental, visible progress toward my goals.

So What’s the Lesson?

If you have a regular salary, yes—develop a consistent saving culture. But if your income is unstable or limited, don’t beat yourself up for not having a perfect savings record.

Instead, ask yourself:

  • What is my goal?
  • What can I buy or invest in today that gets me closer to that goal?
  • Can I save in materials, skills, or tools instead of just money?

You don’t have to wait until you have everything. Start with what you have. Move with what’s possible. Every small action counts, especially when it leads to something real.

Final Thoughts

Saving is important—but it must be grounded in reality. For some of us, the smartest way to save isn’t to lock away money. It’s to convert that money into progress.

That’s how we break the cycle—not by copying financial rules that don’t fit our lives, but by rewriting our own strategy, one step at a time. 

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