In Kenya today, a side hustle is more than just a way to earn extra income—it’s a lifestyle, a survival strategy, and a path toward financial independence.
Whether it’s a boda boda rider in Kisumu or a mitumba seller in Gikomba, many Kenyans are juggling more than one job to make ends meet. In fact, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reports that 40% of Kenyans engage in multiple income-generating activities (2023).
But here’s the truth: hustling alone isn’t enough. If you want your side business to grow and actually make money, you need more than energy—you need a smart budget. That’s where people like miss_gorrl, a 27-year-old spice entrepreneur from Nairobi, come in.
Her story is full of practical lessons on how to manage your money, grow your business, and turn your passion into profits. Let’s break it down and see how you can apply her smart budgeting strategies to your own hustle—with a little help from Zenka’s instant loans when you need a boost.
Why Budgeting Is the Secret Sauce for Hustle Growth
Side businesses like miss_gorrl’s spice brand depend heavily on creativity, energy, and consistency. But if you’re not keeping track of where your money goes, you might end up spending it all on daily snacks, unexpected expenses, or that tempting new outfit. In Kenya’s informal sector—where more than 83% of the workforce operates (KNBS)—income can be unpredictable. That makes budgeting essential.
Budgeting helps you monitor your earnings and spending, focus on your most important business needs, and save up for expansion. Whether you’re buying saffron, new containers, or advertising your products online, a proper budget keeps your hustle on track.
Step 1: Separate Business Money from Personal Money
Mixing your business money with your personal spending can lead to confusion and losses. Think of it like mixing chapati with pineapple—it just doesn’t work. miss_gorrl learned this the hard way after she used her spice profits to buy a bottle of expensive perfume. Lesson learned!
Now, she keeps things organized:
- Uses Lipa na M-Pesa Till Number: All spice payments go through her business Till. With 96% of Kenyan businesses using M-Pesa (CBK, 2024), it’s the easiest way to manage transactions.
- Splits Profits Wisely: Out of her weekly income of KSh 12,000, she puts 50% back into buying stock, 30% for personal expenses, and 20% into savings.
- Tracks Everything: She writes down every sale and expense in a notebook and checks her M-Pesa records weekly to avoid surprises.
Step 2: Focus on What Your Hustle Really Needs
Every side hustle has things you must spend money on, things that are nice but optional, and things you can totally skip. Here’s how miss_gorrl prioritizes:
- Must-Haves: Spices from Marikiti Market (like cumin and turmeric), jars and labels for packaging, and daily matatu transport (about KSh 200).
- Nice-to-Haves: Online marketing like WhatsApp status ads or new tools like a grinder.
- Skip/Reduce: Fancy coffees in town—she now does most meetings from her stall or online.
Example Budget (Monthly):
- Spices: KSh 10,000
- Packaging & Transport: KSh 5,000
- Marketing: KSh 3,000
- Savings: KSh 2,000
Step 3: Reinvest in Your Business to Expand
Instead of spending her profits on luxuries, miss_gorrl puts them back into her business—and that’s what helped her move from cooking in her kitchen to running a stall in Kawangware.
Here’s what she reinvested in:
- Packaging: She upgraded to customized jars, which made her spices stand out. Sales increased by 30% just because customers loved the new look.
- Inventory: She added premium spices like cardamom, attracting more upscale clients like restaurants in Westlands.
- Learning: She watched free YouTube tutorials on food photography, which improved her Instagram page and brought in more customers.
Step 4: Shop Smart and Save More
With inflation pushing up food and transport costs (8–10% increase in 2024, according to CBK), miss_gorrl makes sure every shilling goes further:
- Buys in Bulk: At Marikiti or Toi Market, she gets better deals—like turmeric at KSh 500/kg instead of KSh 800 in supermarkets.
- Bargains with Suppliers: Negotiates a 10% discount on big orders.
- Sources Locally: Gets her packaging from Kariobangi craftsmen, cutting weekly transport costs by KSh 1,000.
Example: By buying 10kg of cumin in bulk, she saved KSh 2,000 a month—enough to pay for Instagram promotions that doubled her orders.
Step 5: Save for Slow Seasons
Hustles don’t always boom. January school fees or rainy months can slow down sales. So miss_gorrl plans ahead:
- Saves KSh 1,000 weekly in her M-Shwari account, building up KSh 12,000 by March.
- Stocks Early: In November, she buys extra for January and September when customers are short on cash.
- Zenka to the Rescue: During the rainy April season, she took a KSh 15,000 Zenka loan to keep her stall fully stocked. She repaid it in 30 days and unlocked a higher borrowing limit.
In 2024, a Zenka loan helped her buy a spice grinder, which reduced prep time and tripled her output. Now, her Instagram has over 5,000 followers and she supplies two cafes in Nairobi!
Step 6: Review and Improve Your Budget Monthly
To stay on top of things, miss_gorrl checks her spending every month:
- Scans M-Pesa Statements: Found she was wasting KSh 1,500 on unnecessary data bundles for TikTok.
- Cuts Costs: Replaced costly cafe meetings with video calls.
- Sets New Goals: Her goal is to save KSh 5,000 monthly by June 2025 to rent a bigger space for her stall.
🛠 Tool Tip: She uses the Money Lover app to sync with her M-Pesa and view her budget through colorful pie charts. It’s free on Google Play!
Step 7: Promote Your Business Without Breaking the Bank
Marketing doesn’t have to be expensive. miss_gorrl uses smart, low-cost ways to build her brand:
- WhatsApp Marketing: She shares daily status updates and runs a group chat with 200 customers—no extra cost beyond data.
- TikTok Magic: Posting spice videos between 7–10 PM using trending audio helped her hit 10,000+ views.
- Loyalty Rewards: Gives free samples to regular customers who promote her on Instagram.
Pro Tip: Use natural light when filming and add hashtags like #KenyaHustle or #SpiceVibes to reach more people.
Why Zenka KE Is the Hustler’s Best Friend
At Zenka Kenya, they understand the hustle life. Their instant loans are designed to support small businesses—no collateral, no paperwork, just your ID and M-Pesa. Their loans are approved by CBK, and when you repay on time, your loan limit grows. Whether you’re in Kawangware or Kitale, Zenka is there to fuel your grind.
Final Word: Budget Like a Pro, Hustle Like a Boss
Your side hustle is more than a side gig—it’s a dream with the power to change your life. And a smart budget is the engine that keeps it running.
Just like miss_gorrl, you can separate your finances, cut waste, reinvest wisely, and market creatively to grow your hustle in 2025. And when you need a little help, Zenka’s instant loans are there to give your business the push it needs.
Start budgeting today—and let your side hustle shine brighter than ever before!
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