Businessman Karomba Gael, popularly known as Coach Gael, has advised people who constantly complain that their salaries run out without achieving anything to learn how to manage their money instead of blaming bad luck or family curses. He shared the advice during The Business Room, a programme he now hosts with his younger brother, Kenny Mugarura. The programme was relaunched after previously operating under the name AbaVip, which focused on financial education.
In an episode published on 9 November 2026, Coach Gael discussed how people, particularly young people, can manage their income effectively and develop a saving culture, even when earning a small salary. He explained that one of the main reasons people frequently run out of money is their failure to plan how they will spend it.
he said: “Having a budget and saving money are the foundations of everything related to finances,” Coach Gael noted that some people earn money but spend it without a clear plan. Consequently, when their money runs out, they struggle to explain where it went. he said: “When you don’t prepare a budget, money disappears. Because there is no budget, people immediately call it bad luck or a family curse. That is not the case. It is simply a problem of not understanding clearly: this is how much money I have, and this is how I should spend it,”
How to Divide Your Salary and Start Saving
Drawing lessons from The Richest Man in Babylon, a book written by George Samuel Clason, Coach Gael explained how people can divide their income among different priorities, including savings, basic needs and entertainment. Using someone earning Rwf 200,000 per month as an example, he advised setting aside 10% of the salary, equivalent to Rwf 20,000, before spending on other things.
He encouraged people to treat this amount as payment to themselves and save it for future investment rather than waiting to see what remains at the end of the month. he said: “With a salary of 200,000 RWF, I first take 10% and say, ‘This is my payment to myself.’ I am investing it in my future self, Gael. Do not mix it with other money. First, set it aside as savings for future investment,”.
He further recommended setting aside another 10% for emergencies and unexpected expenses. Under this approach, someone earning Rwf 200,000 would save Rwf 40,000 and remain with Rwf 160,000 for other expenses Coach Gael explained that being accustomed to spending an entire salary does not mean someone cannot adjust to living on less than they earn.
He said.: “Now I have 160,000 RWF remaining because 40,000 has been set aside. If you were able to survive on 200,000 RWF, then you can survive on 160,000 RWF. You will not die! Do not spend more than 40% on house rent. For food, transport, water, electricity and other expenses, allocate 30%,” According to the budgeting approach he presented, 40% of income should go towards rent, 30% towards other basic needs and 10% towards entertainment, alongside the 20% already set aside for savings and emergencies. However, he noted that people with limited financial resources or several essential expenses could reduce their entertainment budget and redirect the money towards daily needs.
Managing Money Matters More Than How Much You Earn
Coach Gael’s advice is based on the idea that earning a large salary is not the only factor that determines whether someone can save or make financial progress. Learning to manage the money one already earns is equally important. He encouraged people to develop financial discipline by planning their spending, prioritising savings and avoiding unnecessary expenses.
Meanwhile, Coach Gael and Kenny Mugarura’s programme had been inactive for more than three years. It has now returned under a new name, The Business Room, replacing AbaVip. Coach Gael said they plan to release at least one episode every week, continuing to share their knowledge and experiences with followers on business, investment and financial management.
