My First Job Felt Like a Dream—Until the Rat Race Swallowed Me

 Stuck in the Rat Race.

When I landed my first job at a TV station, it felt like the beginning of something beautiful. From having nothing to earning a monthly salary of K2,500, life suddenly seemed promising. The feeling was electric. I was motivated, proud, and full of hope. But a few months down the line, reality slowly started to creep in—and that’s when I realized I had unknowingly stepped into the rat race.

Let me break it down.

Expenses Begin to Creep In.

My rent was K550. Fair enough. Every day, I spent K20 on transport to and from work. That’s K600 in a month. My mornings were always a rush, and since I had to be at the office early, there was no time to prepare breakfast at home. So, I’d grab a quick breakfast—usually a drink (K8) and two or three fritas (K2 each). On average, I spent about K12 a day, which totaled roughly K420 a month.

At this point, my total monthly expenses were already around K1,570—and I hadn’t even gotten to lunch, supper, or other essentials.

Stretching Every Kwacha

Lunch at a nearby restaurant usually cost K30 to K50, but I tried to be smart about it. Most times I’d go for the K30 meal and split the bill with a friend. That brought it down to about K15 per day, translating to another K450 a month.

As for supper, I ate at home. But even that came with its own cost. Groceries—mealie meal, cooking oil, salt, soya pieces, eggs, water, bathing soap, washing soap, and all the basics—set me back another K500.

So by the time I added it all up, my monthly spending hit K2,520.

And remember, I was only getting K2,500.

The Cost of Looking Presentable.

I hadn’t even bought new shoes or clothes for work. I couldn’t afford a simple outing. Treating myself to a drink? Out of the question. Taking a girl out? Not even close.

That’s when I started borrowing money from friends just to stay afloat. And from there, the vicious cycle began.

The Endless Loop

Every month looked the same.

Work.

Get paid.

Pay rent.

Pay transport.

Buy food.

Settle debts.

Broke again.

Wait for the next month.

It never ended. I was stuck in a loop. A cycle. A rat race.

And no matter how much I tried to cut down or strategize, the system was rigged. The salary looked okay on paper, but life was eating through it faster than I could earn.

What Is the Rat Race?

The “rat race” is a term used to describe the endless, exhausting cycle of working just to survive. It’s when you work hard every day—often at jobs that drain you—only to barely make ends meet. You pay your bills, maybe cover your debts, but you’re left with nothing to grow, save, or enjoy. You’re stuck chasing money in a loop that never changes. You run and run… but stay in the same place.

Final Thoughts

It’s not enough to just have a job—especially when the numbers don’t add up. True freedom starts when you can break the cycle, create margin, and start building something beyond survival.

Have you ever felt stuck in the rat race? Let’s talk in the comments below.