By Roberta Edu
Unless you were born into wealth, building something tangible and extraordinary requires more than just hard work; it demands smart financial decisions. For those of us raised in average families, our journey to success involves making sacrifices and taking a different approach to money. It’s not just about hustling differently but about spending and investing with the future in mind.
Take a look around you. Many of your peers may be living a certain lifestyle, indulging in luxuries that seem tempting. But if you want financial stability, sometimes you have to step back, reduce your expenses, and make room for saving, planning, and investing. That’s the strategy that builds lasting wealth.
Recently, I had a chat with our financial manager, and he shared an interesting observation with one of my colleagues. He said, “I saw Madam Roberta walking to the market last weekend with her bagco bag. If someone saw her, they wouldn’t know who she is!” His wife, he said, wouldn’t even consider such a thing—she’d take an Uber if their car was unavailable. But that’s my life; I’m not one for unnecessary stress or excess.
This mentality extends to how my husband and I manage our finances as well. When my husband was ill, his colleagues visited him at a hospital near our home. They were surprised to learn we lived in Ojodu, asking, “Why would you live so far away?” It amused them because, in their minds, success meant living in Lekki. In fact, they once pushed him to buy a house there. After careful consideration, though, we decided to rent it out for better financial management. My husband jokes that our landlady has bewitched me, but the truth is, we know where to cut costs for the sake of our long-term goals.
Listening to successful entrepreneurs like Tony Elumelu has taught me that temporary sacrifices are essential to building something substantial. Every entrepreneur who has scaled a small business into a big one has echoed the same sentiment: comfort must be sacrificed, at least in the beginning, to achieve lasting success.
To all my fellow women, particularly those aiming for financial independence, this message is for you: I’m not saying you should dress poorly or compromise your appearance. We all want to look good, and that’s fine. But maybe that 3-million-naira wig isn’t for you right now. Maybe paying 10 million for rent, even though you can afford it, isn’t the smartest move. Maybe that luxury car with high maintenance costs can wait. Think long-term, and give yourself the space to grow financially strong.
The luxury and lifestyle you’re compromising today will become effortless for you in the future. Build a foundation for tomorrow by investing in your future today. The rewards will come, because today’s sacrifices are the seeds of tomorrow’s success.
