Escaping the Pressure of Looking Rich (But Being Broke)

If you live in Nigeria especially in cities like Lagos, Port Harcourt, or Abuja, you’ve probably felt it: That pressure to look like you’re doing better than you actually are.

The unspoken rule that if you don’t “show something,” people will assume you’re not “doing well.”
The flex culture. The packaging. The silent competition.
And you know what? It’s exhausting.
Worse still, it’s dangerous.

Why So Many People Are Pretending

Let’s not lie, social media has amplified it.
But the pressure didn’t start there. It’s rooted in:
Insecurity: We want to prove to others (and ourselves) that we’re not “failing.”
Survival Flexing: In Nigeria, people treat you based on how you appear. If you look broke, you’re treated like trash.
Comparison Traps: That old friend from uni posted a car. Another one just dropped pictures from Dubai. You start thinking: “What am I doing with my life?”
And before you know it, you’re borrowing to “pepper them” on the ‘Gram.
You’re buying clothes you can’t afford.
You’re splitting bills with rent money.
You’re stuck in a race you never planned to run.

The Cost of Packaging (Fake Life)

This isn’t about judgment, it’s about what this mindset is doing to people:

📉 The Flex	💔 The Fallout
Buying iPhones on credit	Can’t fund actual business ideas
Borrowing to party or travel	Stuck with debt, zero return
Wearing N250k designer shoes	But no emergency fund, no plan
Chasing lifestyle photos	Losing focus, missing growth

Reality Check: Nobody Is Thinking About You That Much

Yes, you heard that right.
That stranger you were trying to impress with your “rich look”?
They scrolled past and forgot in 3 seconds.
Meanwhile, you’re the one stuck with the pressure, the debt, the self-doubt.
This is not shade. It’s love.
We need to start living for ourselves again not for the gram, not for opinions, not for social approval.

So What’s the Alternative?

Here’s what’s actually “rich” in 2025:

Real Flex	What It Looks Like
Peace of mind	You sleep without owing anyone
Financial freedom	You’re not pressured to impress
Purpose-driven living	You know what matters to you
Slow but steady growth	You’re building real wealth quietly
Self-respect	You say “No” to what doesn’t serve you

No filter. No fake designer.
Just you, doing you — with purpose and peace, and if you have the resources? by all means enjoy yourself. Not for show, Be real with yourself.

What I Started Doing (Maybe It’ll Help You Too)

Let me share my shift:

I stopped trying to look rich and focused on building capital.
I cut back on “appearance spending” and started saving small but consistently.
I bought courses and books instead of things I’d only wear twice.
I stayed lowkey and put the work in.

Is it boring? Sometimes.
Does it pay off? Absolutely.

A Quick Challenge (If You’re Serious)

Next time you feel that urge to “show off”:
Pause.
Ask yourself: “Why?”
Use that energy to build something that’ll still matter in 5 years.

Final Words

This fake life pressure? It’s not worth your future.
There’s no shame in starting small, living real, and growing quietly.
You don’t have to “look” successful to actually become it.
The people you’re trying to impress?
Most of them don’t even care.
So care for yourself instead.

Want My Personal Capital-Building Framework? Read: How to Turn Your Savings Into a Capital Base — Not Just Emergency Funds