What Broke Teenagers and Broke Adults Have in Common

 

Have you ever noticed that being broke as an adult feels just like being broke as a teenager—just with bigger problems?

Same struggle, different age. I discovered some shocking similarities:

1. Salary is Just Pocket Money 2.0

Remember when your parents gave you ₦2K and you felt like a boss? You’d buy suya, data, and a little shawarma—then boom, your wallet is empty.

Fast forward to now: salary enters, alerts sweet you, small flex, one or two bank debits—and you’re broke before mid-month.

✅ Lesson: If you don’t learn money management, your paycheck will always disappear like teenage pocket money.

2. No Budget, Just Vibes

As a teenager, you never planned your spending—you just spent until your money finished. Now, you’re doing the same thing, but this time, it’s rent, transport, and bills taking your money.

✅ Fix it: Start budgeting. Not the strict, boring kind—just tracking where your money actually goes. You’ll be shocked.

3. Buy First, Regret Later

Teenage, you saw a fine sneaker and spent all your money. Adult, you sees a Jumia Black Friday sale, and suddenly, your savings vanish. We call it impulse spending, but deep down, we know it’s just poor money habits.

✅ Trick: Before buying, ask yourself, “Do I really need this, or is future me going to regret it?”

4. Zero Savings Mentality

As a teen, you didn’t think about saving—there was always another allowance coming. Now, you treat your salary the same way, like another one will always come. But what if it doesn’t?

✅ Start saving NOW. Even if it’s just ₦5K a month, the habit matters more than the amount.

5. Waiting for Big Money Before Taking Money Seriously

As a teen, you thought, “When I start making real money, I’ll be smart with it.” Now, you have a job, and you’re still waiting. The truth is, if you can’t manage ₦100K, you won’t manage ₦1M.

✅ Solution: Learn money habits now—small discipline today will save you from big struggles tomorrow.

The Takeaway

The difference between a broke teenager and a broke adult? Bigger bills, bigger stress.

If you don’t change your habits, nothing else will change.

💡 Good news: It’s not too late. The Young Millionaire Initiative (TYM) is literally here to teach young Nigerians how to stop the paycheck-to-paycheck life and actually build financial security. 

So, be honest—which of these struggles is your biggest weakness right now? 🤔

Drop your comments below.