Drowning Quietly: The Day I Realized Debt Wasn’t Just About Money

-

 

I never planned to owe anybody.

Not the bank. Not my friends. Not the faceless loan app that sent me daily reminders like a jealous ex.

But life, as always, had its own plans.

It started with something “small.” A ₦50,000 quick loan to sort out car repairs. I had just started a new job, the salary was still two weeks away, and I couldn’t afford to be stranded.

I told myself I’d pay it back the moment the money came in.

I did.

But then, it happened again. ₦30,000 this time, for medical bills. Then ₦15,000 to complete rent. Then ₦10,000 for a “last-minute” project. Again. And again. And again.

I was borrowing to pay back borrowing.

And before I knew it, I wasn’t solving problems—I was stacking them.


When Debt Becomes a Lifestyle

It crept in like a whisper.

At first, I still wore nice clothes, laughed at office jokes, and showed up on Instagram looking “well-packaged.”

But internally?

I was drowning. Quietly.

The kind of drowning where you’re still smiling, still functional, but your chest is tightening every time your phone buzzes because you think it’s a repayment alert… or a threat.

Debt wasn’t just eating my income—it was chewing away my peace.

The Wake-Up Call

One morning, I was calculating how to juggle three due dates on two loan apps and one pending salary.

I looked up and realized I had spent seven months living in survival mode. I had no savings, no plan, no sleep.

That’s when it hit me:
Debt isn’t just a money issue. It’s a mindset trap.

It gives the illusion of a solution, but creates a dependency. It tricks you into thinking you’re managing when in reality, you’re deferring.

What I Did Differently

I had to face the debt, not fear it. Here’s how I started digging out:

  1. I stopped borrowing—even when it hurt.
     I had to break the cycle. That meant saying “no” to short-term comfort.

  2. I listed every single debt.
     Names. Amounts. Interest. Dates. It was brutal, but it gave me clarity.

  3. I picked a repayment method and stuck to it.
     I used the snowball method: clear the smallest debts first to build momentum.

  4. I increased income, not just budgeting.
     I took on side gigs, sold unused items, and applied discipline like never before.

  5. I created a ‘Peace of Mind’ fund.
    Just ₦5000 a month at first in my mutual fund account—but it grew. And it gave me breathing space.

The Real Lesson

Getting out of debt wasn’t just about clearing numbers.

It was about reclaiming control. It taught me to stop chasing appearances, to stop defining progress by possessions, and to start choosing long-term peace over short-term pride.

Maybe you’re in the cycle now. Maybe you’re scared to admit it. Maybe you’re just tired.

Here’s what I’ll say to you:

👉 You’re not weak. You’re not foolish. You’re just human.

But if you stay stuck, it becomes your story. If you face it, it becomes your turning point.

Let this be your turning point.


At Revwise, we don’t judge debt. We help you rise from it.

Book a session with our expert and gain control over your finances today.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

“The Day the Door Closed” — A Story About Life After Retirement

-
Image
  The day Mr. Okon cleared out his desk, the office felt colder than usual. It was a Friday—ironically, his favorite workday—and the usual noise of clacking keyboards and hushed phone calls suddenly felt distant. Colleagues had signed his farewell card. There were handshakes, forced smiles, a few tears. Then, just like that, the elevator doors closed, and his 29-year career in the banking sector came to an end. He drove home in silence that evening No traffic jam could distract him from the lump in his throat. He had always joked about retirement—how he’d spend his days sleeping, gardening, maybe even writing a book. But now that it was real, he didn’t feel free. He felt… lost. The first few weeks were quiet. Too quiet. The phone calls stopped. His phone no longer rang with urgent updates or reminders. No meetings. No Monday plans. Just long hours, breakfast that lingered until noon, and a growing question in his heart: “What now?” Rebuilding Life from Scratch One morning, while wa...
Read more

"The Envelope Budget That Changed Everything"

-
Image
  Akpan was your regular guy — 29, working in a small media company in Port Harcourt, trying to make something of his life. He wasn’t poor, but somehow, by the 18th of every month, his account balance always looked like an accident had happened. It wasn't like he didn't try. He would say, “This month will be different,” but after sending money for mummy’s meds, buying one or two things for the house, attending just two weddings (how do you say no to your cousin's asoebi?), and the occasional shawarma for emotional support, the budget? Gone. One Sunday, after another unplanned “debit alert” week, he sat beside his friend Boma after church. Boma had just paid off her car loan and was planning a trip to Ghana — all on a salary not far from his. “Akpan, do you do envelope budgeting?” she asked casually. “Envelope kini? Is that a new bank app?” “No o. It’s an old-school trick. You divide your income into physical or digital ‘envelopes’ — like savings, feeding, transport, fun, an...
Read more

Pain Hustlers – A Masterclass in Marketing or a Warning Sign?

-
Image
  I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON MYSELF I WILL NOT GIVE UP ON MY DREAMS I WILL MAKE MY LIFE COUNT Pain Hustlers follows Liza Drake (Emily Blunt), a struggling single mother who gets pulled into the high-stakes, high-reward world of pharmaceutical sales. She joins a failing startup that markets a fentanyl-based painkiller and, with pure grit and clever sales tactics, helps turn the company into a multi-million-dollar empire—until the walls start to crumble under the weight of lies and legal heat. 🎯 Marketing in Pain Hustlers – A Dangerous Game of Skills, Desperation & Deceit 🧠 1. Salesmanship as a Survival Skill Liza enters the pharmaceutical world without formal experience, but her natural charisma, street-smart communication, and ability to read people becomes her currency. She is the embodiment of the self-made hustler who turns pain into profit. Her talent for selling isn’t taught in school—it’s honed through hardship. 💡 Marketing Takeaway: The most powerful marketers often come f...
Read more