A Nigerian woman has sparked conversations online after revealing how the rising cost of living forced her to choose between buying shawarma for her family and refilling her cooking gas cylinder.
The woman, identified as @ahmedhalimah02 on social media, shared that her children had been craving shawarma, and she was also interested in having the treat. According to her, her husband suggested she buy shawarma and drinks for the entire family.
However, before making the purchase, she decided to calculate the total cost.
Shawarma More Expensive Than Gas
After doing the math, she discovered that buying shawarma and drinks for her family of five would cost more than ₦35,000.
She explained that a 12kg cylinder of cooking gas cost ₦24,000 and would last the family for at least four weeks.
“Gas finished last night and the kids were craving shawarma. I was too. Hubby said I should go out and get it for all of us with drinks for dinner. I punched my calculator to see how much it would cost for a family of five.”
“I arrived at over ₦35,000. Twelve kilograms of gas now costs ₦24,000 and we would use it for at least four weeks. I chose gas over shawarma.”
See her post here.
Economic Reality Hits Home
The woman noted that even families with two working parents are finding it increasingly difficult to afford what were once considered simple treats.
According to her, many households now have to carefully calculate every expense before making purchases.
“That is for a family where both partners work and earn decently. We couldn’t even afford a basic treat without punching the calculator. Everything extra is now considered a luxury.”
She added that the situation could be much tougher for families struggling with unemployment or low incomes.
“Everyone deserves a treat once in a while. Unfortunately, things have become so expensive that even small pleasures require serious financial consideration.”
Social Media Reactions
Her post generated mixed reactions from Nigerians.
Some users argued that snacks such as shawarma should not be considered luxury items in a functional economy, while others shared similar experiences of having to choose necessities over non-essential purchases.
Several commenters suggested preparing homemade treats as a more affordable alternative, while others lamented the rising prices of food items, cooking gas, and household necessities across the country.
The story has reignited discussions about the increasing cost of living and the difficult financial decisions many Nigerian families face daily.
