Marilyn’s New Chapter: Saving Smart, Dreaming Big

Before joining the Buzz Women training in 2023, Marilyn Minja was running her hairdressing business without any understanding of financial management. “I didn’t know anything about customer care, business relationships, or even how to keep financial records,” she recalls. As a mother, she would often withdraw all the money from her business sometimes up to TZS 100,000 and spend it at the market without any plan, often buying things she didn’t need. “I realized I had no budgeting skills, and it affected everything.”

Things changed after she attended the Buzz Women sessions, where she learned about business skills, financial literacy, capital management, profit tracking, and even how to pay herself a salary. “I used to think that because I own the business frame, I didn’t need to set aside rent—but now I save for it,” she says proudly. Marilyn now keeps clear records of her finances, saves regularly, and has even started paying herself a salary.

The impact of this transformation goes beyond her business. “I don’t struggle with my children’s school fees anymore. I pay on time without borrowing. These trainings truly opened my mind and gave me a bigger vision for my life,” she explains.

Marilyn’s proudest achievement? She is now building her own house. “Next time you visit, you’ll find it already painted!” she says with a smile.

She encourages other women to take the training seriously, no matter their income level. “Even if you don’t have much, start small. Save even TZS 2,000 a week. It adds up. Life has changed, and waiting for someone to give you money no longer works. Buzz Women helped me stand on my own.”