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The short answer
Leisure is worth budgeting for, but it is rarely worth borrowing for unless the amount is small, the outing is planned and the repayment comes from income already on its way. The better approach is a monthly fun budget paid from income, with credit used only to smooth timing inside that budget, never to go beyond it.
Why a fun budget matters
Budgets that leave no room for enjoyment tend to fail. When every naira is assigned to rent, food, transport and school costs, the first cinema trip, concert or weekend out gets paid for with money meant for something else, or with credit. A small, deliberate fun budget protects the rest of the plan by giving leisure its own place.
With living costs rising, as the National Bureau of Statistics' monthly Consumer Price Index shows, leisure is often the first line people cut. Cutting it to zero for months usually ends with one large, unplanned spend. A modest, steady amount is easier to keep.
How much to set aside
There is no single right figure. A practical method is to work from what is left after essentials and savings:
- Add up fixed costs: rent, transport, school costs, bills and groceries.
- Decide your savings amount and move it on payday.
- Look at what is left, and assign a share of it to leisure, with the rest kept as a buffer for surprises.
| Line (example) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Monthly take-home pay | ₦280,000 |
| Essentials | ₦205,000 |
| Savings | ₦25,000 |
| Left over | ₦50,000 |
| Fun budget (40% of left over) | ₦20,000 |
| Buffer | ₦30,000 |
These are illustrative examples only. The point is the order: essentials, savings, then fun.
What counts as leisure
- Cinema, concerts, comedy shows and events.
- Meals out with friends or family that are for enjoyment rather than need.
- Day trips, beach outings and amusement parks.
- Spa days, hobbies and sports.
- Subscriptions for streaming and games.
Put them in one line of the budget, so you can see the total. Leisure spread across many categories is harder to control.
When credit for leisure is reasonable
Most of the time, leisure should be paid from the fun budget in cash. Credit can be reasonable in a narrow set of cases:
- Timing inside the budget. The outing is this weekend, your pay arrives on Tuesday, and the amount is within this month's fun budget.
- A booked event with a deadline. Tickets for a show you have planned for go on sale before payday, and you have the money coming.
- A small amount. The cost of credit is small compared with the outing, and you can see the full cost before you agree.
When it is not
- When it takes leisure above the budget you set.
- When you are behind on any other repayment.
- When the repayment would fall before your next income.
- When it is a regular pattern, such as every weekend.
Social pressure and spending
A lot of leisure spending is driven by other people: a friend's birthday at an expensive lounge, a group trip planned in a chat, or the pressure to match what others post online. These costs are hard to refuse in the moment and easy to regret later. A few habits help:
- Decide in advance how many paid social events you will join this month, and say no politely to the rest.
- Suggest a cheaper alternative rather than declining outright, such as lunch instead of dinner, or a home gathering.
- Ask about the expected cost per person before agreeing to a plan.
- Do not borrow to keep up. If an event does not fit the budget, it does not fit.
Friends who value your company will usually accept a cheaper option. The ones who do not are rarely worth a loan.
Subscriptions count too
Streaming, music and gaming subscriptions are leisure, even though they feel like bills. They renew quietly every month and are easy to forget. List them, total them, and include them in the fun budget. Cancel any you have not used in the past month. Paying them from savings or credit makes even less sense than an outing, because they repeat.
Cheaper ways to enjoy the month
- Choose off-peak times. Many venues price weekday or early sessions lower than weekend evenings.
- Plan group outings with a fixed spend per person.
- Alternate a paid outing with a free one, such as a park, a free event or a home film night.
- Review subscriptions every few months and cancel what you do not use.
- Save towards bigger treats, such as a concert or a trip, in a separate pot over several months.
Saving for the bigger treats
Large leisure costs, such as a concert, a holiday or a milestone birthday, are best saved for rather than borrowed for. If a treat costs ₦60,000 and you set aside ₦10,000 a month, you have it in six months, with nothing to repay. A dedicated savings pot also stops the money being spent on something else along the way.
Where Pryme fits
A Flexible Savings Box can hold your monthly fun budget or a fund for a bigger treat. Pryme customers may also be offered Loans on Spaces, lent by Solid Allianze Microfinance Bank and spendable only with merchants in Spaces, which includes cinemas and eateries; the amount, cost and repayment date are shown before you accept. For specific outings, see cinema trips on credit and planning a family outing on a budget. The general guide to saving when inflation is high helps with the rest of the plan.
Questions people ask
Is it wise to take a loan for enjoyment?
Rarely. Leisure is best paid from a monthly fun budget, with credit used only for small timing gaps inside that budget.
How much of my salary should I spend on fun?
Set it from what is left after essentials and savings. Many people use a share of the remainder and keep the rest as a buffer.
How do I enjoy life on a tight budget in Nigeria?
Use off-peak prices, fixed group budgets, free outings and a small, steady fun budget rather than none at all.
Should I save or borrow for a concert or holiday?
Save. A few months of setting money aside avoids repayment and the cost of credit.
Sources
- NBS: Consumer Price Index and Inflation · accessed Oct 2026
- FCCPC: Digital lending regulations issued · accessed Oct 2026
- CBN Consumer Protection Framework · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.