By Odidika Marycynthia Chidiogo
Money struggles often have less to do with luck and more with habits, mindset, and decisions. If you’re constantly broke, it’s time to face the hard truths. And if you’re wondering why you should listen to a 23year old writer, well I will answer that at the end of this read.
- Procrastination and Laziness
You keep postponing financial decisions, waiting for the “perfect time” to save, invest, or start that side hustle.
News flash: the perfect time doesn’t exist. The people making money are the ones who take action. If you keep saying, “I’ll start tomorrow,” or “I will start when I pay off all my debt” you’ll wake up ten years from now still broke and in debt.
Honestly, it’s probably easier said than done especially if you’re struggling with discipline. Start by Setting deadlines, Automate your savings, Create an execution plan and stick to it.
News flash! Everyone has a debt, it depends on how you manage it, borrow to invest and not to spend or repay another debt. The sooner you start, the faster you’ll see results.
- You Don’t Pay Yourself First
If your paycheck disappears before you even touch it, you’re doing it wrong. Most people pay bills, buy random stuff, and then try to save what’s left—usually nothing.
Follow the 50/30/20 rule—allocate 50% of your income to needs, 30% to wants, and 20% to savings and investments. Set up an automatic transfer to your savings before you spend a dime. Pay yourself first no matter what before others! This is already a habit to Wealthy people because they always prioritize themselves first.
- You’re Stagnant—Because Money Follows Value
If you’re not learning or adding value, don’t expect your income to grow. The world pays for skills, solutions, and knowledge. If you haven’t upgraded yourself in years, why should anyone pay you more?
Read books, take courses, learn high-income skills or any other learning that would grow and add value to you. This a major investment that most People overlook. It’s simple math and common sense for people to pay for more value.
- You Don’t Invest—Or You Expect Instant Results
You hesitate to invest because “What if I lose money?”
Meanwhile, you blow cash on things like betting that mostly bring in zero profit. Or worse, you invest, then panic and pull out at the first sign of trouble.
Invest no matter how small. Be it stocks, real estate, crypto, or a business—plant the seed and give it time. Patience is a virtue that needs to be practiced and cultivated often to grow. Invest in the right places and be patient. This is not to say that all your investments will bring in profit, and you should no matter what, have a risk limit! Don’t invest more than you are comfortable losing that type of risk that deprives you of Night rest? That’s the one you should never invest in. But the beauty of investing and failures, is that You’re learning patience amongst other things, you just need to look well.
- You Don’t Know Sales and Marketing
You can have the best product or service, but if you don’t know how to sell it, you’ll stay broke. Sales and marketing are life skills, not just job roles because whatsoever value, service or product you have to offer requires a human to patronize you! The excuses of been shy, introverted, playing safe and lots more , these excuses are keeping you broke.
Many introverts stay broke because they refuse to network. No matter how cool you think you are, your closed-off nature is limiting your opportunities.
Study persuasion, branding, and copywriting. Even if you hire people later, you need to understand the basics. Example: Elon Musk doesn’t build Tesla’s ads, but he knows how to market them through storytelling.
- You’re Not Teachable
You argue instead of listening. You reject advice because “I already know that.” But if you really knew, you wouldn’t be broke. Please listen more than you talk, not everyone talking always makes sense but you get to know when you listen. If you make more with your brain( creatives, directors, marketing etc) you should listen to people and apply knowledge.
Find a mentor. Read books from people who’ve made it. There are lessons every where and anywhere. Stay humble.
- You Buy Things You Can’t Afford
You justify reckless spending with “I deserve it.” But do you? If you’re living paycheck to paycheck, that expensive phone, designer bag, or unnecessary subscription is keeping you poor.
Ask yourself, “Is this a need or a want?” Fear of missing out (FOMO) is a silent killer. Learn to say no to yourself and your future financial independent self with thank you later.
- You Are Not Working Hard
If you lack discipline, leadership, and networking skills, money won’t fix that. You might get rich temporarily, but you’ll lose it just as fast. Your mindset and habits are what sustain wealth.
Work on positivity, discipline, and self-development. Learn to say no. And above everything please work hard. Only you know when you are doing the basic, or just working to be seen or really putting in your best.
Most employees don’t learn from their jobs no more, they feel they are wasting their lives making money for their employers so they rather ignore their responsibilities and roles and only do minor and basic things when someone is watching. You are losing future money everyday you go to a job you don’t learn from, grow on or don’t challenge yourself in.
- You Have No Motivation
Without drive, you’ll always find excuses. If you’re not hungry for success, no amount of financial advice will save you.
Set clear financial goals like why you really need to make money. What’s your drive? To help family? To be free? To own your time? To make decisions without having the anxiety to worry about money? To be financial free in your 40’s?
Define your goals and work towards it. Surround yourself with motivated people and separate yourself from people, things and situations working against those financial goals you have set.
- You’re not putting God First
Just as throwing money at random things is gambling. Been successful is True risk which involves calculated decisions, and intentional steps with the creator of wealth, every other thing is blind bets.
Be in Good relationship with your God, Study the word of God and live by it. Pray before every step and even before you invest. God is the ultimate guide because everything working against your goal, his able to flatten especially when you are working with him.
Vices against money like greed, fear, laziness etc, he pulls out from the roots. His a strong tower that never falls. You’re probably still broke because you haven’t chased after God first.
Final Thoughts
Been Broke isn’t just about money—it’s about habits, mindset, and discipline. Change how you think and act, and your bank account will follow. No more excuses. Time to level up. You should listen to this 23 year old writer cause she loves Jesus and genuinely wants you to be successful!
