Instead of spending 100k for cow meat on Christmas like last year I have these formula for my contribution to be less and economyable

Sometimes you look at something small and laugh because it brought you more joy than all the big things you used to chase. That’s how it was for me from October to December — three simple months that brought laughter, fresh eggs, and one of the most peaceful holiday seasons I’ve ever had, all from 15 Noiler chickens I got in August.

Each Noiler cost ₦4,500 back then. I didn’t even pay for them all at once. I saw the chance to pay bit by bit and took it. No noise, no pressure. Just a quiet plan that I hoped would save me from repeating that Christmas mistake — spending ₦100,000 on meat for just one day. You know how it is, everybody trying to outdo last year’s menu. But deep down, I knew I wanted something different.

By late September, the chickens were big enough to start showing signs. Then in October, the eggs started coming. Not all at once, but little by little. One laid today, two tomorrow. Then suddenly, it became normal to collect 7, sometimes 9 eggs in a day. Some days, I would find 11. It felt like small blessings packed inside shells.

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From October to the end of December, those hens gave me over 400 eggs. I didn’t count them like money, but I noticed something funny — I wasn’t buying eggs from outside anymore. And eggs were expensive then, around ₦120 to ₦150 each in some places. But mine were warm, fresh, and from my own backyard.

There’s something about eating your own eggs that makes the food sweeter. We started adding eggs to more meals. My little cousins that came over during midterm loved fried eggs with yam. On Saturdays, we made pancakes. Sometimes we boiled eggs just to chew with bread and hot tea. It didn’t feel like a luxury — it felt like joy.

In November, when visitors started coming around more, the eggs still didn’t stop. I gave some away, not because I had too much, but because I was proud. “These ones came from my chickens,” I would say with a smile. The response was always the same — surprise, followed by excitement. People loved it.

When December came, the mood was already festive, but what made it special was how light I felt. I didn’t worry about rushing to the market for Christmas meat. I didn’t need to fight anybody over frozen chicken or cry over beef price. My birds were still laying eggs, still looking fresh, and I knew one or two would be enough to turn into stew meat when the big day came.

One Sunday before Christmas, we used 5 eggs to bake a soft cake. My younger sister, who had been learning how to bake, said she’d never made one that fluffy. And when I told her those eggs were from the pen, she laughed and hugged me.

I remember sitting on December 24th, looking at my table — fried rice, chicken from the backyard, and a bowl of chopped egg salad with tomatoes and onions. All this came from a plan that started quietly in August, without noise or social media updates. Just me and 15 Noilers that gave me more than I expected.

It wasn’t just about saving money. Yes, I saved a lot. If I had to buy over 400 eggs outside at ₦130 average per egg, that’s more than ₦50,000. And I still had eggs coming. But more than that, it was the peace. The fact that I didn’t panic when Christmas approached. The joy of seeing people eating something you raised yourself. The pride of having a contribution that didn’t come with borrowing or overdoing.

Even the fun was different. Children played near the coop and called the chickens by name. We laughed at one that always tried to escape, and there was one with feathers that puffed like a chief. All these little moments built a holiday that was full — not just with food, but with memory.

I realized that sometimes, the most festive thing is peace of mind. That’s what the eggs gave me. That’s what the chickens gave me. I didn’t throw ₦100,000 away in the name of Christmas meat. I built value slowly, and it returned to me steadily. Egg by egg.

By the end of December, the chickens had slowed down a bit — it’s normal with the cold — but I had already gotten so much from them. The stew pots had danced. The oven had baked. The bellies had been full. The memories were rich. And most importantly, January didn’t start with regrets.

So if you’re thinking of how to make your festive season less expensive but still special, try this. Get a few Noilers. Raise them slowly. Watch them lay eggs. Count your blessings not in cash, but in shells.

I used to think the only way to celebrate was to spend big. But this time, I celebrated with eggs that came from my own backyard and meat that didn’t need a fight at the market. That’s a holiday I’ll never forget.