From Comfort to Struggle: How Financial Hardship Shaped My Perspective

I was born with what people call a ‘silver spoon.’ Life was good, and my family was comfortable. My parents worked extremely hard for my three siblings and me. We ate well, attended good schools, and had frequent outings. Most of our clothes even came from my father’s frequent trips abroad. In short, my parents ensured we got the best of everything we needed.

This was how my childhood was until sometime before I started secondary school, our story changed and our comfort changed to a struggle. 

The once predictable flow of income came to a sudden halt, and overnight, our household was thrown into uncertainty. It happened when I was still young, barely able to grasp what that change really meant for my family. Then slowly, the situation began to dawn on me when I realised I could not make requests like before; my snack money dropped, plus many other changes that came after. My mother, who had been a homemaker, had to find a job to help sustain the family. 

Adjusting to a New Reality

It was a different experience for me, certainly an unlikeable one. But life had to go on. We had to make do with the available resources to take care of our most basic needs. And our beloved country, Nigeria, did not make the situation any better.

The period where we struggled financially was a difficult one, especially for my parents. There were no more outings or trips planned. Household items had to be used judiciously. But somehow, amidst all these, I watched my parents make things work for the family. With the little they had, they still prioritised our comfort and gave us a good education. So, how could we complain about the secondary needs? Instead, we settled into the new norm quietly, the world didn’t have to know. And we turned to our creator, hoping for a breakthrough.

The Struggle for Financial Independence

I often hear that the ones who have a rough childhood tend to grow up very ambitious and with an entrepreneurial spirit. By rough, I mean they struggled financially. Not only have I noticed this pattern in my family, but the same can be said about friends and acquaintances I have met in life. You grow up lacking certain things, so at an early age, you begin to source for a means of income. You strive to be comfortable and to give your present and future family a better life.

In the same way, my siblings and I had this spirit in us. There was not much we could do in secondary school, so when we entered University, we jumped on paid opportunities—freelancing gigs, ambassadorship, internships—and used them to take care of certain needs. 

During that period, we equally watched our parents’ savings ‘rescue’ us, so we didn’t need a soothsayer to show us the importance of saving for rainy days. We learnt the importance of financial security and independence and worked towards it.

Lessons in Humility and Gratitude

Financial hardship exposed me to a reality I had previously ignored. I no longer took small things for granted, like having three meals a day, clothes to wear, a roof over my head and even a good education. I learned the true meaning of humility. Financial struggles strip away any illusion of superiority. Oh pride, where art thou?

The experience humbled me and taught me to be more compassionate toward others. I began to appreciate the value of money, and more so, appreciate those who take on menial and low-paying jobs to make ends meet. As long as the job is legal, why should a person be ashamed? People work tirelessly day and night to have a better life and to take care of their families, so we should not make them feel less.

More Lessons 

When life presents difficulties, you can either adapt or sink. I watched my parents fight to regain stability, doing business, making painful decisions, and depriving themselves to keep us afloat. Instead of dwelling on what we had lost, they focused on what could be done to improve our situation. They stood hand in hand and worked as a team.

Again, I genuinely salute those who work tirelessly to provide, people who make ends meet despite financial instability. Your efforts will never be in vain.

Though it was a tough period, this experience gave me a perspective no amount of money could buy. It taught me that comfort can be fleeting. One day you could have it all, and it could be taken from you overnight. My people will say, “ije uwa.” Things are better now, but still, I carry these lessons with me. I am more intentional about my finances, more appreciative of life’s small blessings, and even more determined to create a secure future.