Dear Richard,
You wrote to me a few days ago, saying you are a single 28-year-old man staying at a family home in Budiriro. You work as an accountant in Msasa and earn a net salary of $650 per month. You have managed to save $10,000 over the past 3 years, and now you are considering buying a Toyota Aqua for $9,000 instead of the 200-square-meter high-density stand in Harare which is also going for $10,000.
Let me tell you some truths—truths that very few will tell you, but ones I have come to know through the painful but powerful lens of hindsight. They are uncomfortable, they are raw, but they might save you years of regret if you take them to heart. If someone had told me these things at your age, I would have made far fewer mistakes. Let me be that someone for you.
Savings
First of all, congratulations. You have done what most of your peers have failed to do. Saving $10,000 on a $650 salary is no small feat. That level of discipline is rare, and you should be proud. Many people earning far more have nothing to show for it. But, Richard, this is not the time to reward yourself with comfort. It is the time to build.
Starting a Business
Ideally, I would have encouraged you to start a business. You may have seen the inDrive business idea and figures we recently shared in the ZimLedger WhatsApp Channel. A car can be both a tool and a liability—it all depends on how you use it. If you had the mindset to put it to work and generate daily income, that could be an option. But you were honest enough to say entrepreneurship is not in you, and I respect that. Entrepreneurship is not a journey meant for everyone, it can be tough. You know yourself better than anyone else. That said, if business is out of the picture, we must focus on what brings long-term value and stability to your life.
Why the Car Matters to You
Richard, I completely understand where you are coming from. Wanting a car at this stage in your life is not just about transport—it is about dignity, comfort, and a sense of progress. You are tired of squeezing into overcrowded kombis, enduring long queues and unpredictable schedules. You dream of driving yourself to work, sitting in your own space, listening to your own music, and arriving without the stress of public transport. You want the freedom to visit friends and family whenever you choose, without having to explain yourself or wait for a lift. More than that, a car feels like a symbol of success—like you have finally arrived. In a society where image matters, you believe it will bring you a certain level of respect and validation. These feelings are valid, and many young men like you feel the same way. I understand that deeply. But I want to challenge you to zoom out and look at the bigger picture—what will this decision mean 3 or 5 years from now?
A Car is a Liability
Let me repeat this truth, not just because you have heard it before, but because sometimes hearing something twice makes it stick. A car used purely for convenience is a liability, not an investment. It brings ongoing costs: fuel, servicing, insurance, license renewals, breakdowns, parking fees, and even the pressure to always have money when someone asks for it.
Right now, your monthly expenses are low because you are living at a family home. That is how you were able to save so much. Once you introduce a car into the picture, those small, manageable costs become a monthly leak in your finances. You may not feel it immediately, but 3 years from now, when you look at your bank account and see no progress, it will make sense.
Car Depreciates Daily
Today the car is worth $9,000. Drive it home and its value drops to $8,000. Give it a year and it may be $7,000, even without accidents. 3 years in, it is just another worn-out Toyota Aqua on the road. It will demand more from you than it gives.
A Stand is an Asset
Now let us talk about land. Land is not exciting. It does not roar to life with an ignition key. It does not make your friends say “wow.” But it grows in silence. It appreciates quietly. A stand bought for $10,000 today could be worth $15,000 in a few years. Unlike a car, a stand never breaks down, never needs fuel, and will never go out of fashion. It is patient wealth.
You say it will take years to build. That is true. But you do not have to build it all at once. Start small—dig the foundation, pour a slab, raise two rooms, put a roof. Then rent it out. Even if it brings you $120 per month, that is income. That is momentum. That is growth.
Rental Income is Freedom
If you build even two rooms and rent them out, you start to shift your financial life. That is passive income, Richard. You wake up and someone else is helping you build your future. That kind of income is what frees you to think bigger, to save faster, and to breathe easier.
Marriage and Independence
You are 28 now. Marriage is not far. Right now, you are sharing a room with your younger brother Joshua. But once you marry, you cannot continue living under your parents’ roof. Rent will become part of your monthly burdens, and you know how expensive rentals are in Harare. Would it not be better if, by then, you already had your own piece of land—your own space to start life with dignity and confidence?
Temporary Shelter is Still Progress
Even if you cannot build a full house before marriage, you can put up a cabin or build just two functional rooms. That alone gives you independence. You are no longer a tenant, but a property owner—even if it is modest. That difference is everything.
Peer Pressure is Loud but Empty
Yes, Leo drives an Altezza and Jonathan is cruising in a Mercedes. But Richard, your life is not a race against theirs. You are not behind. You are simply on a different path. Stop living for applause. None of those friends will pay your rent when things go south. They will not pay school fees for your future children. They will not build you a house. Your life is yours—own it.
Cars Do Not Impress for Long
Today people will talk. They will say, “Ah Richard now drives!” They will admire. But give it two weeks and they will move on. The car becomes old news. What remains are your monthly expenses, the fuel tank that is always empty, and the pressure to maintain an image.
Ama2k Girls Who Only Want Cars
Yes, some girls will ignore you because you walk. But do not be fooled. Some of them expect you to drive while their own fathers and brothers do not even own bicycles. You do not need that kind of partner. You need someone who believes in your vision—someone who can see a stand and imagine a home. That is the kind of woman who builds with you, not drains you.
Societal Pressure is a Lie
Yes, during the rainy season people will laugh and say, “The buy a stand first crew are suffering today.” But those same people will clap for you when your house is complete. Do not listen to seasonal voices. Rain ends. Laughter fades. Land remains.
Survivorship Bias
Yes, you may buy a car and still be successful, Richard. You may buy that Aqua today, get a promotion next year, and end up buying a stand and building your house within a few years. Some have taken that path and it has worked out for them. Life can unfold favourably, and there are indeed stories of people who balanced both comfort and progress. But there is something called survivorship bias, Richard. Society tends to highlight and amplify the few success stories—those who bought cars and later acquired properties—while quietly ignoring the many who never made it past the car stage. For every person who progressed, there is another who remains stuck, still paying rent, still chasing the next payslip, still convincing himself that the car was a good decision. The money that could have laid a foundation became fuel, repairs, and depreciation. You do not hold the keys to tomorrow. Circumstances change. Jobs are lost. Priorities shift. So why gamble with an opportunity that may not come again?
Job Security is a Myth
Your job is not guaranteed. Zimbabwe’s economy is unpredictable. What happens if the company closes or downsizes? What happens if politics or economics shift overnight? A car cannot save you. A stand gives you options. You can build. You can sell. You can rent. It is a cushion when life throws you off balance.
Life Can Change Quickly
You have heard it before— Hupenyu ivhiri. Life turns. Today you are employed. Tomorrow you might be job hunting. People you started with might surpass you, or fall behind. It is all part of the journey. But when you own land, you are not completely at the mercy of the wheel.
Do Not Waste This Opportunity
Very few people are in your position. You have $10,000, you are not paying rent, and you do not have dependents. This is the perfect time for building a future. A stand is a foundation. Miss it now, and it may take you many more years to reach the same place again.
Buy the Stand
Buy it, even if it means sacrificing your dream of driving for now. Delay the comfort for a greater reward. Own something that grows. Build something that stands even when your salary stops.
The Final Decision is Yours
At the end of the day, Richard, the choice is yours. We can advise. We can guide. But you will live with the consequences—good or bad. Choose wisely. May your future self look back and thank you for this decision.
Wishing you wisdom,
ZimLedger Admin
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ZimLedger is the all in one business and finance platform for Zimbabwe. It generates quotes, invoices, payslips and financial statements, manages business ledgers, tracks income and expenses, and builds shopping lists. ZimLedger offers a simple yet powerful solution tailored to local needs. Whether you are budgeting in ZiG or USD, managing business accounts, converting Ecocash statements, or tracking household expenses, ZimLedger empowers you to stay organised, make informed financial decisions, and grow your wealth—right from your phone or computer.
