The truth is that being broke in Nigeria is rarely a simple case of individual failure because the harsh economic reality creates a baseline level of struggle that even disciplined budgeting cannot fully overcome. While personal financial habits like avoiding impulse buys or tracking expenses certainly provide a safety net, they often serve as damage control rather than a path to wealth when inflation consistently outpaces wage growth. It is helpful to view it as a mix of both: the systemic economic pressures are undeniably the primary anchor dragging everyone down, but maintaining personal financial discipline is still essential to navigate those choppy waters without sinking entirely. Instead of blaming ourselves for a broken system, we should focus on the habits we can control to protect our limited resources while remaining realistic about the overwhelming impact of external factors like fuel costs and currency devaluation.