Broke Isn’t Permanent—It’s a Financial Wake‑Up Call

“Broke Isn’t Permanent—It’s a Financial Wake‑Up Call”

 

 Being broke isn’t shameful — staying broke is.

 

 Track your money.

 

 Build a mini-fund.

 

 Attack debt without fear.

 

 Don’t go it alone.

 

 Small wins lead to major breakthroughs.

 

You’re not lazy. You’re not stupid. You’re not cursed. You’re just broke — and that can be temporary. Let me tell you something most gurus won’t: being broke isn’t a financial death sentence. It’s a wake-up call. One I personally had to answer — hard and fast.

 

Money is a medium of exchange which makes the world go around. Chasing money is like a dog chasing it’s own tail, and a lot of people are in this never-ending cycle. There are a variety of reasons why, and it’s different for everyone. Lake of financial literacy is the major reason why most people work from paycheck to paycheck without any progress in life.

 

Being broke is not a curse and is not permanent. Getting out of it needs a systematic and disciplined approach that requires consistency and dedication.

 

I still remember the day I opened my banking app and saw less than $10 staring back at me. Rent was due. My phone bill was bouncing. I had just borrowed money again for groceries. And I thought…

 

“How the hell did I get here… again?”

That moment felt like failure. But looking back now?

That was the start of everything.

 

I was working, yet I had nothing to show for it. I was always broke, and I used to get my paycheck on the last day of the month, but most of the time, the money was gone before I even received it. I could only pay rent and was always left with nothing.

 

It’s not about how much you earn. It’s about how you think about money, and what you do when it's in your hands. Here’s what I’ve learned from climbing out of broke: You don’t need more motivation. You need a money system. You don’t need to hustle harder. You need awareness. You don’t need to be perfect. You need to be consistent. The “From Broke to Back in Control” Blueprint

 

Here’s exactly what I did — and what you can do — to start flipping the script:

 

✅ Step 1: Track EVERY Rand, Dollar, Cent

I mean everything. Yes, even that R12 coffee or that R70 impulse scroll purchase.

Use an app (I started with Excel or Google Sheets). Track it daily for 30 days. You’ll be shocked where your money’s bleeding out. Every cent counts. You can’t be a millionaire without 1 cent (R999,999.99). Have a budget, and write down all your expenses.

 

 

✅ Step 2: Build a Mini Emergency Fund

Forget R20,000 goals. You need your first R1,000 saved — fast. Open a separate savings account.

Automate R50–R100/week. Treat it like a non-negotiable bill. I called mine my “Life Happens” Fund — because life will happen.

 

✅ Step 3: Say Goodbye to Shame. Say Hello to a Plan.

Debt? I had it. Embarrassment? Lived there. But shame keeps you stuck. Start where you are. Then map where you’re going: List all debts. Use the debt snowball method (smallest to biggest). Automate minimums. Snowball the rest.

 

 

The Game-Changer: Accountability

I didn’t do it alone. I joined a Facebook group where we posted weekly wins and losses. I made “money dates” with myself every Sunday. I journaled what I spent, why I spent it, and how I felt. You can’t change what you don’t measure. Find someone — a friend, partner, or even me in your inbox who’ll walk it with you.

 

 Don’t Buy the Lie: “It’s Too Late for Me”

Let me be blunt: broke is not a personality trait. It’s a condition, and conditions can be treated. You are not too far behind. You are not too dumb. You are not a failure. You’re just missing tools. And I’m here to hand them to you.

 

 

Small Steps That Saved Me (And Can Save You)

 

Here’s what worked for me when I had no money, no mentor, and no map:

Cancelled 3 unused subscriptions. (Saved R400/month.) Made lunch 4 days a week instead of buying it. (Saved R1,000/month.) Set a 24-hour “pause” before buying anything over R300. (Killed impulse buys.) Tiny habits. Big difference.

 

What’s Next? Your First Win.

Today, your only job is this:

 

Track every cent you spend for the next 7 days.

Don’t fix. Don’t judge. Just watch. And then come back to this blog. We’ll build from there.

 

Let’s Talk

What was your financial wake-up call? Drop it in the comments. Your story might help someone else feel less alone.

 

Ready to take back control?

Hit share, send this to someone who needs it, and let’s change the narrative — together.