Rich Kid, Poor Kid
When I thought about writing this article, I remembered the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”. If you’ve read the book, you should have had your first child if not the second one. 😂 😂 Just kidding.
Back then in secondary school or Uni, it felt like if you didn’t read this book you are not serious about your life. If you felt like that, I want you to know that you are not alone, we are in the same WhatsApp group.
I still haven’t read the book, and my gist today is far from it.
The Rich Kid and The Poor Kid are two different people, and the thin line between them is knowledge and exposure.
Wait, before you come for my head, hear me out. The knowledge you have is a catalyst for your mindset, if your mindset is not corrected, your exposure will do you zero favor and you will realize that though you live in the wealthiest part of the city, you are still as poor as the church rat if there is anything like that.
When I was younger, let’s say between 5–10 years, I use to envy people on my streets or my neighbors whose parents or relatives could afford to get them Mr Biggs Meat Pie, yes, Mr. Biggs was the Chicken Rep of that time. I dreamt and hoped that one day my parents would consider doing the same for us.
My parents were not poor as in poor, it just wasn’t a priority for them and they considered it as a luxury they can’t afford. As of then the money for meat-pie for 4 children could possibly cover 3-square meals, so why waste money? I still have that mindset though I’m grown up and financially independent.
In my world, the people who got Mr. Biggs meat pie were wealthy while we were not, but what I would later discover was that wealth is relative.
Follow me.
The first scenario I want you to see was when Shoprite started spreading across Nigeria, there is a branch close to where I grew up, and on Sundays, you will see different people walk through the streets with plastic bags labeled SHOPRITE.
I longed for when I could afford to go and visit the mall. My first time there made me realize that it wasn’t that deep. I could purchase candy or ice cream for #200, and still enjoy whatever benefits people who spend #1,000 upward.
Scenario 2:
I used to envy people who talk about taking Uber or Bolt, to the point of thinking they are wealthy. Fun fact, while I had this thought and held onto it, I never attempted to find out how it works, because well, I believed I was poor and won’t be able to afford it. Imagine my shock when I realize that I could take a trip for as low as #500, depending on my destination.
Scenario 3:
Last year, I was with a friend who had relocated to the UK but was home for a family function. While my friend lamented about the increase in the cost of a return ticket, I wondered why or how a flight ticket could cost 2 million naira, in my head, only wealthy people can ever travel out of Nigeria.
A few months after, I started working with a Travel Company and this time around, I know better. Why? I had a changed environment, and a new source of knowledge, which is exposing me to a different lifestyle and I can now see that as much as a flight ticket can be as expensive as 2m, I can still travel out of Nigeria with less than #500,000 on a return ticket.
Scenario 4:
When I was a teenager, we had a neighbor who was a hairdresser, that’s what we call them back then. She had customers who used UB Relaxer, and Dark and Lovely Hair Kit for their hair, but when it was my turn, my mummy will buy me Ozone, and even when I grew up (got into the university), I still stuck with the Ozone because well, that’s what I thought I could afford.
Fast forward to a few months ago, I needed to relax my hair after nurturing my natural hair for about 2 years. I got a relaxer I thought and believed was good for my hair, only for me to get to my stylist and she recommended that I got Dark and Lovely Hair Kit.
The next time I needed to relax my hair, I went off to the market to get the so-called Dark and Lovely Kit and it cost #3,500. Compared to what I used previously or what I’m used to, that’s expensive, bruh.
It wasn’t expensive based on my income and expenses, cause I’ve used that same amount to give myself a food treat, movie hangout, etc, but it felt too much for just a hair relaxer.
I didn’t buy it because my stylist recommended it or because I could afford it, but because there was a change in my mindset. I have grown from not seeing the need to spend so much on hair relaxers to spending what is needed and important. As long as I will get healthy hair with lesser scalp burns, why not.
I now see value in going window shopping at ShopRite, booking an Uber or bolt to my destination (not everywhere I go to, please 😂 😂), paying #3300 instead of #900 for a relaxer kit, etc. The first vendor told me #3,500 and the second vendor sold it for #200 lesser.
As I mentioned earlier, the difference between the rich and the poor is first their mindset which would in turn affect their pocket. If you value and appreciate taking an Uber everywhere you go, and you know you can’t afford it at the moment, you can put in the work and simply delay gratification.
It all boils down to what we see as value and our commitment to it.
I hope with these points of mine, I’ve been able to convince you that the difference between the rich and the poor is first their mindset and then their pocket.
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