Two years ago, I was the definition of Lagos hustle culture. Full-time marketing job, weekend catering business, freelance graphic design until 3 AM. My Instagram was all “grinding” and “securing the bag” quotes while I borrowed ₦20,000 from one friend to pay back ₦15,000 I owed another.
I thought I was winning. Really, I was dying.
The wake-up call? Stress-induced chest pains at 26. In the hospital, I realized my version of “securing the bag” was actually securing my destruction.
I started following different voices. People talking about “soft life” and doing things on your terms. At first, I rolled my eyes. Soft life? In this economy? But watching friends burn out while others thrived without the chaos made me curious.
The shift was gradual. I quit the catering business first. Then I became selective with freelance work, only projects that excited me and paid well. My income dropped initially, but so did my expenses because I wasn’t constantly buying quick fixes for exhaustion. But I still had the same chaotic relationship with money. Living paycheck to paycheck and borrowing when things got tight.
The turning point came when a friend recommended this app she’d been using. Credit Direct app to be specific. “Just try it,” she said. “It’s different.” I was skeptical. How many times have we heard that? but I downloaded it anyway.
The first thing I noticed was how simple everything was. No complicated forms or aggressive sales tactics. I started with their Yield feature, putting away small amounts and watching them grow steadily.
Then I discovered their Buy Now Pay Later
For the first time, a financial solution felt like it was designed for people like me, people who wanted to be smart about money without the stress.
Using Credit Direct changed how I thought about money completely. I stopped seeing credit as this scary enemy that meant I was failing. There’s actually a difference between desperate borrowing and strategic borrowing, spreading payments can help your cash flow instead of destroying it when you have a plan.
It’s not about having access to more money; it’s about controlling how I use what I have. The difference is peace of mind.
My life is less exciting on social media now. No more midnight grinding posts or payment alert screenshots. Instead, I post weekend trips I can actually afford and meals I’m enjoying instead of wolfing down between gigs.
Friends tease that I’ve become “boring,” but these same friends come to me for financial advice now. They see I’m not stressed about money anymore and actually seem to enjoy life instead of just surviving it.
The biggest change? I don’t wake up anxious about money every day. I don’t avoid checking my account balance or dread month-end. Money went from constant stress to just another manageable part of life.
I’m actually more ambitious now, but my goals are clearer: own property, travel more, maybe start another business, but this time, do it right.
True financial confidence is about how much control you have. It’s making decisions from clarity, not desperation.
Hustle culture taught me more is always better: more work, more money, more stress. But quiet wealth taught me that better is actually better. Better systems, better decisions, better peace of mind.
Honestly? My bank account and mental health are both thanking me for it.
Team loud hustle or quiet wealth? Drop your thoughts below.
