Why Your Salary Is Not the Problem

Why Your Salary Is Not the Problem

Your salary is not the enemy. The silence around money is.

Williams Omodunefe

The first thing many of us say when money gets tight is,
“If only I earned more.”
“If only this job paid better.”
“If only I could leave Nigeria.”

And yes, sometimes you really do need more income.
But here’s the part nobody tells you: more money won’t fix what poor money habits break.

I’ve seen people go from ₦70,000 to ₦300,000 and still stay broke. I’ve seen folks get contracts worth millions and still call their parents to borrow money by month end.

So if your salary keeps vanishing, maybe the problem isn’t the amount. Maybe it’s what’s happening around it, and inside you.

1. The Real Cost of Silence

We don’t talk about money enough.
Not at home. Not in school. Not even with our friends. So we move in silence, but not the good kind. The kind that leaves us guessing, confused, and ashamed.

You can’t manage what you’ve never been taught to understand.
You can't grow what you're too embarrassed to face.

2. Lifestyle Creep Is a Silent Thief

When you earn more, you start spending more. Subtly. Slowly.

• You order shawarma twice a week instead of once

• You start taking Bolt even when the sun is out

• You stop checking your bank balance because you assume it’s “better now”

Before you know it, the new salary is gone, and your problems remain, just wearing better shoes.

3. You’re Carrying Too Many People... Quietly

Let’s be real: for most Nigerians, a salary isn’t feeding one mouth.
It’s feeding younger siblings, helping parents, supporting cousins, and sometimes patching your partner too.

And we rarely talk about it. We just do it. Silently. Proudly.
Until we break.

This doesn’t make you irresponsible, it makes you human.
But it also means you need a different kind of planning. Not just for yourself, but for the weight you carry.

4. The Stress Tax Is Real

If you’re spending too much on food delivery, random outings, or “I deserve it” purchases, that might not be greed. That might be emotional burnout.

You’re tired. You’re overwhelmed. And sometimes, a ₦6,000 meal feels like the only control you have over your life.

This is called stress spending, and it’s more common than you think.

5. Income Without Awareness Is a Trap

It doesn’t matter how much you earn, if you don’t know:

• Where it goes

• What you owe

• What you want

• And what matters most to you

You’ll always feel like it’s not enough.
Because the goal isn’t to make money, the goal is to master it.

What You Can Do Differently

• Start tracking every naira, no shame, just truth

• Audit your automatic deductions and emotional spending

• Write down your real financial priorities, not society’s expectations

• Save first, not last. Even if it’s just ₦1,000

• Stop comparing your path to people who don’t carry your burdens

Final Words

More money is a blessing. But it’s not a magic wand.
What changes your life is not just the amount, but the awareness that comes with it.

So before you fight for more, pause. Look within. And ask yourself:
“What am I doing with what I already have?”