Our Need and Want

Many people are broke not because they earn nothing, but because they do not understand the difference between needs and wants. This confusion quietly ruins lives. When a person spends scarce resources on pleasure instead of purpose, poverty becomes a cycle rather than a phase.

A need is something essential for survival and growth, food, shelter, basic clothing, education, security, health, and the opportunity to improve one’s life. A want is everything else. Wants are not evil, but when they are treated like needs, they become dangerous. Nobody needs the latest phone, designer clothes, or weekend parties. These things may feel good, but they do not move life forward.

This is where financial intelligence comes in. Financial intelligence is not about how much money you make; it is about how well you manage what you already have. Many people complain about a lack of capital, yet they misuse the little money that comes into their hands. The problem is not income alone; the real issue is discipline.

A good example is what happened with loan apps in Nigeria. Many people borrowed money they could not repay, not to invest or solve real problems, but to satisfy temporary desires. Ironically, they accessed those loans using smartphones that could have been sold or used as tools for learning and business. This shows that capital was present, but wisdom was absent.

The economist Muhammad Yunus proved this truth through microfinance. With as little as five dollars, people were able to start small businesses and escape poverty. The money was small, but the mindset was strong. That is the power of financial intelligence.
Living below your means is not punishment; it is preparation. When you spend less than you earn, you create room for growth. When you invest in personal development, learning skills, improving your thinking, and building character, you increase your future value. Clothes do not increase your worth. Knowledge does. Status symbols fade, but skills compound.

Life is about choice, but not every choice is wise. Some people say, “Let me enjoy life now; tomorrow is not guaranteed.” That sounds bold, but it is careless. Eating your future in the present is like setting fire to your roof because you want warmth. Life has phases. There is a time to build and a time to enjoy. When you reverse the order, regret follows.

Even the wealthy understand this. The richest Black man in the world, Aliko Dangote, is known for his simple lifestyle. A phone to him is just a communication tool, not a status symbol. That mindset is one reason wealth stays with him.

People may call you stingy when you choose discipline over display. Let them talk. Only those who want to beg from you later are offended by your self-control today.
In the end, poverty is not always about lack; often, it is about misplaced priorities. When we learn to choose needs over wants, growth over pleasure, and discipline over pressure, we do not just improve our finances, we secure our future.

In the end, poverty is not always about lack; often, it is about misplaced priorities. When we learn to choose needs over wants, growth over pleasure, and discipline over pressure, we do not just improve our finances, we secure our future