Why Your Financial Struggles Are Not From Village People

In Nigeria, it has become a common joke, and sometimes a deeply held belief, that if you’re broke, can’t seem to catch a financial break, or your money “vanishes” mysteriously, then the village people must be behind it. For many, blaming unseen forces offers comfort. But while it’s easier to shift the blame, the truth is often less mysterious and more practical.

Your financial struggles are most likely not the result of spiritual attacks or ancestral enemies. Instead, they stem from habits, decisions, and mindsets that you may have unknowingly embraced over time. In this article, we’ll peel back the superstition and spotlight the real culprits behind many people’s financial hardship, and most importantly, how to overcome them.

Basically, I believe this will be helpful to you and can change someone’s financial life. So, grab a seat and continue reading!

Also Check: The 7 Worst Money Habits Nigerians Need to Unlearn

The ‘Village People’ Mentality: A Popular Nigerian Excuse

In Nigerian culture, the phrase “village people” has become a catch-all excuse for failure, setbacks, and especially financial hardship. Whether someone lost their job, got scammed, or their business failed, the blame often lands on unseen “enemies” from their hometown. It’s a humorous concept, one that trends on social media, but it also reflects a deeper issue: the tendency to shift responsibility away from ourselves.

This mentality, while comforting, is dangerous. It encourages people to focus on external, invisible forces rather than identifying the practical reasons their finances are not improving. It prevents self-reflection and discourages action. In many cases, blaming “village people” becomes a mental trap — an excuse not to change, not to learn, and not to grow.

The truth is, while spiritual beliefs may have their place, your wallet doesn’t suffer because your uncle in the village is pressing a remote control. More often than not, your bank balance is reacting to your choices, your habits, and how well (or poorly) you manage your money.

Also Check: How to Pay Off Your Loan with a Low Income in Nigeria (Without Going Broke)

The Real Reasons You’re Broke (That Have Nothing to Do with Juju)

Let’s be honest, the reason your account balance is always on red is not spiritual warfare. It’s practical, everyday habits that silently drain your finances. Here are some of the most common culprits:

1. Poor Money Habits

You spend before you earn. You don’t track where your money goes. You swipe your card or tap transfer without thinking twice. These small, unconscious decisions pile up and leave you broke by mid-month.

2. No Financial Literacy

Many Nigerians were never taught how money works — budgeting, saving, investing, or planning for the future. So we earn, spend, and repeat the cycle without any strategy.

3. Living Above Your Means

You earn ₦150,000 monthly, but you’re renting an apartment of ₦500,000 per year, buying the latest phone, and attending every owambe with style. Trying to keep up appearances can keep you in permanent debt.

4. Zero Savings or Investment

Some people treat their income like a donation. They spend it all without keeping anything aside. No savings. No emergency fund. No investment. Then, when a crisis hits, they borrow or panic.

5. Lack of Marketable Skills

The world is changing, and traditional jobs are becoming scarce. If you don’t upgrade your skills, especially in today’s digital economy, you may remain stuck with low-paying or unstable income sources.

6. Impulse Spending

Online sales. Flash deals. Peer pressure. A lot of money disappears not because of “village people” but because of a simple lack of discipline.

7. Debt Addiction

Borrowing to fund your lifestyle is a guaranteed route to financial disaster. Apps, friends, even salary advances — it all adds up. And with interest, it becomes a cycle of borrowing just to repay old loans.

These are the real enemies, not your grandmother in the village. They’re silent, consistent, and often invisible until the damage is done.

Also Check: Top 10 Best Handwork to Learn in Nigeria

How These Financial Habits Keep You Stuck

Bad financial habits don’t just make you broke in the moment. They create a cycle that’s hard to break. When you live from paycheck to paycheck, constantly borrowing and spending without planning, you trap yourself in a system designed for failure. Here’s how these habits keep many Nigerians stuck:

1. No Room for Growth

When all your money is going to cover expenses and debt, you have nothing left to invest in yourself: no courses, no business ideas, no side hustle. You’re too busy surviving to think about thriving.

2. Constant Borrowing Drains Your Future

Loan apps and quick borrowing seem like lifesavers, but they dig a deeper hole. With every repayment (plus interest), your future income is already spent before it arrives.

3. You Become Emotionally Exhausted

Financial stress leads to anxiety, depression, and loss of motivation. You start to believe you’re under a curse — when in fact, you’re just burnt out from carrying a burden you were never trained to manage.

4. Missed Opportunities

Without savings or financial preparation, you miss out on opportunities. Someone brings you a great investment deal or a chance to travel for work or study, but you can’t participate because you’re financially unready.

5. You Stay in the Blame Game

As long as you keep blaming the village people, you never look inwards. That keeps you from making the real changes needed to escape your situation.

Also Check: How to Start a Profitable Farming Business in Nigeria (Best Guide)

What You Should Do Instead (Practical Financial Advice)

It’s time to stop blaming unseen forces and start taking control of your financial life. The good news? Change is possible. You don’t need a miracle; you need discipline, knowledge, and action. Here are some practical steps to help you regain control:

1. Start Tracking Your Spending

Before you can fix your money problems, you need to know where your money goes. Use a notebook, a simple app, or even your phone notes to track every naira you spend for at least a month. You’ll be shocked at the little leaks draining your wallet.

2. Create a Budget That Works

Budgeting isn’t punishment. It’s planning. Allocate your income into categories: bills, feeding, transport, savings, and so on. Most importantly, stick to it. A working budget brings peace of mind.

3. Build an Emergency Fund

Start small. Even ₦1,000 saved weekly adds up. Your emergency fund is your first defense against unexpected problems, not your friends, not loan apps.

4. Learn and Practice Delayed Gratification

You don’t need to buy every new phone, gadget, or outfit. Learn to delay gratification. This single habit can change your financial life forever.

5. Invest in Skills, Not Just Stuff

Learn a digital or in-demand skill — tech, design, writing, trading, data, or something else you’re passionate about. High-income skills open doors to better jobs, side hustles, and business opportunities.

6. Stop Borrowing to Fund Lifestyle

If you must borrow, let it be for productive reasons. Not to impress friends or fuel unsustainable living. Learn to say “no” to spending that doesn’t move you forward.

7. Start Learning About Money

Read books, watch videos, and follow financial educators online. Financial literacy is one of the best gifts you can give yourself.

Also Check: 6 Important Things Every Student Must Know Before Taking a Loan

Why Your Financial Struggles Are Not From Village People: Final Thought

Your financial struggles are real, but they are not spiritual warfare waged by unseen enemies from the village. They are often the result of poor habits, limited knowledge, and a lack of intentional planning. While it’s easy to joke about “village people” or believe that your problems are beyond your control, the real power lies in your hands.

Taking responsibility for your finances is the first step to lasting change. When you track your spending, build discipline, upgrade your skills, and make smarter money choices, your financial life begins to shift. It’s not magic — it’s mindset. It’s not enemies — it’s education.

So, the next time you’re tempted to blame village people for your empty account, take a step back and ask yourself: What can I do differently today to change my financial tomorrow?