In a world where instant gratification is the norm, patience can feel like an outdated virtue.
But if there’s one lesson life has taught me, it’s that waiting, choosing to delay a want, can sometimes be the best financial decision you’ll ever make.
Some time ago, after getting a promotion, I decided I deserved a lifestyle upgrade. My trusty Jetta no longer felt enough. I wanted a Jeep. A big, bold, Lagos Engineer style Jeep.
Without much thought, I applied for a car loan, fully relying on my steady income to make the payments. No backup plan, no second source of income, just confidence that my salary would cover it.
On the day I went to pick up the cheque from the bank, something didn’t sit right with me. As I held it in my hands, a quiet but firm thought echoed “don’t do this” in my mind.
It wasn’t fear, just a deep realisation that I was about to commit to years of debt for a car that would only lose value over time.
Right there in the bank, I made the call to cancel the transaction. That was in November.
Two months later, I lost my job.
I watched as colleagues, also laid off, panicked. Not just because they had lost their income, but because they had loans to repay. Their severance packages weren’t enough to cover the debt, and the pressure of financial uncertainty hit them hard.
That moment reinforced what I had felt months earlier. Delayed gratification isn’t about denying yourself forever. It’s about making choices that protect your future.
I could have had the Jeep, sure, but at what cost? Instead, I chose financial freedom.
If there’s one piece of advice I can give, it’s that, while you have a job, be mindful of debt.
The future is uncertain, and even your employer doesn’t know what’s ahead. Learn to wait. Choose financial security over temporary pleasure. Your future self will thank you.
Leave a Reply