It’s been a good day; my to do list is fully ticked. Everything has just fallen into place. No one stepped on my white ngoma shoes, my lunch was served hot and I found my sandals right where I left them. That to me is too good a day to be true.

I am just relaxed on the couch, going through my instagram feed and suddenly I get a new email. Friends don’t send emails, at least mine don’t…they send long WhatsApp messages with a million laughing emojis, am glad they do, so an email definitely catches my attention.

This particular email is from a reading app that I subscribed too out of boredom and now demands that I start paying monthly subscriptions to enjoy reading the novels I already started. Let me give you a fun fact, I am very attached to my hard earned money, so paying subscriptions is usually not on my budget not unless I am subscribing to going straight to heaven. Just incase I am tempted to agree to the terms of the subscriptions, I revisit the app to find out if the service is worth my pennies. Actually I am not looking for reasons to pay, I am looking for reasons not to pay. Every coin matters!

The app takes longer than the second it should to open. I choose not to overlook that. What if I pay and it never opens? On opening the novel I am reading, it takes me 3 pages back, I note that too.
I choose the book I read last week and it seems to have disappeared, noted. I also don’t like the graphics, blue in whatever shade is not my colour. So far I have almost 5 reasons why not to pay that subscription. Mind you, I have overlooked all that for the 30 day free trial. Let’s just say, since they now want my money, they have to be good enough.

I ask a friend who I know uses the same app and they say, ” si naeza nunua novel tao na 100 bob ama ata 30 bob nikibargain poa nibaki na fare “
You don’t argue with that. 5 star review right there.

If it were free would you pay?

We all agree that we’ve subscribed to applications and websites to just enjoy the 30 day trial then disappear on the 11th hour. Free is too tempting to let go. If a telecoms company was to offer free unlimited internet for a 30 day trial, I would renew the trials till eternity. I also love free things, who doesn’t?

Let’s talk about the bargaining obsession. I like to call it an obsession because how do you bargain in a restaurant? Last week my friend and I went on a thrifting haul in an attempt to revamp our closet with a cheap Western look. I like to tag her along because her sense of fashion is better informed than mine and she can spot a small hole on a presumably new shirt from a mile away. We all have such or should have such, they keep us informed on the trends least your are left in the 80’s as the world moves to the 20’s The sun is out, threatening to scorch our scalps so we decide to take some cold juice to cool our burning tongues. We don’t bother to check the menu for prices and we order for a glass of what I assume is orange juice and a slice of cake.
A few minutes in, our faces are brighter, our lips lose their cracks and we are ready to walk back to the stalls and conduct some business. It’s time to pay up. The bill is brought our way, and my friend calls back the waiter.

“Hii glass kidogo mnauza 150”

The glass in question is about 100ml engraved in Chinese on something I lack knowledge on. Maybe that right there is the reason for it’s pricy nature. My friends continues to interrogate the helpless waiter on every penny that contributes to the 150Ksh. They don’t seem to come to an agreement and everyone is turning our way, disgust clear on their faces for disturbing their peaceful lunch. Emotions are running high as my friend and the waiter engage in an exchange of not so calm words and this draws the attention of a well dressed gentleman who I assume is the manager or supervisor. His dressing tells more. To save ourselves from the impending embarrassment, I give the waiter a 500ksh note and drag my friend out least we drag our names in the mud and become the talk of town. Two well dressed ladies who can’t afford a mere glass of juice. On our way to the stalls, my friend can’t stop the banter on how expensive that place is and that we should have just bought a piece of pineapple from the vendor across the streets. Pineapples are very quenching on hot days but believe me that was not her view as she sipped through the cooling juice.

Who bargains in a restaurant?

We all know of someone who can bargain from 1000ksh to 200ksh and give a 1000ksh note and still demand for change. Bargaining is a gift, a talent and an art. One that should be used with caution. The bargaining skill is meant to create a win win situation for the buyer and the seller. Everyone gets something to keep in their pockets. Neither pockets should be dented deep enough to remain empty. For some, that profit margin is the string on which their survival hangs.

However, if it were free I wouldn’t pay a cent!

Heeeeey 😊
Hope you enjoy today’s post.
Leave a comment below, if it were free, would you pay?
Like, comment and share with those friends who have bargaining prowess😅