[STORY] Personal finance isn’t just about investing—it’s about controlling emotions

Last week, I sat at a café in Yaba with my laptop open, trying to convince myself that my so-called personal finance strategy wasn’t a complete disaster.

I had just checked my trading app, and boom—my stocks were down 15%. My “safe” ETF was looking shaky, and the little I put into gold? Well, it looked more like I had bought costume jewelry.

I sighed, sipping my coffee, when my friend Kunle pulled up a chair.

“Guy, why do you look like someone just told you Bitcoin is banned again?” he asked, grinning.

I tilted my screen toward him. “Bro, I’ve been trying this investing thing—stocks, ETFs, even gold—but my account looks like it’s fasting.”

He laughed. “Welcome to the real world of investing. But tell me, why are you panicking? Are you investing for short-term flex or long-term freedom?”

That question hit me like a slap.

I leaned back in the chair, staring at the street outside—the danfos honking, the street hawkers balancing goods on their heads, life moving fast.

“Honestly,” I admitted, “I wanted quick returns. I see people on Twitter talking about financial freedom, buying stocks, living soft life, and I thought—me too.”

Kunle shook his head. “See, that’s the mistake. Investing in stocks, ETFs, and even gold isn’t about quick money. It’s about discipline, diversification, and patience.”

I frowned. “But I don’t even know if I’m doing it right. I feel like I should just pull out and save cash.”

Kunle leaned in. “No, don’t quit. That’s how you lose twice—once from the dip, and again from your fear. The game is about budgeting, consistency, and not chasing vibes. Even when it feels bad, that’s when you stay.”

As we spoke, my phone buzzed. A notification from my trading app lit up: “Tesla up 12% today.”

I blinked. “Wait, what?!”

Kunle smirked. “See? That’s exactly what I’m saying. You were ready to quit, but look at that. One green day and your entire story changes. Imagine if you had sold yesterday.”

I laughed nervously. “So you’re saying I almost fumbled the bag?”

He nodded. “Exactly. Personal finance isn’t just about investing—it’s about controlling emotions, budgeting smartly, and thinking long-term.”

I stared at my laptop again, but this time, instead of anxiety, I felt something different—clarity.

I took a deep breath and said, “Okay. From today, I’m done chasing quick returns. I’ll budget properly, invest consistently in stocks, ETFs, and maybe some more gold for balance. No more panic-selling.”

Kunle raised his cup. “Welcome to the club of long-term investors, my guy.”

We clinked mugs, and for the first time in weeks, I felt at peace.

Later that night, I tweeted:

“Personal finance isn’t about flexing. It’s about discipline. Investing in stocks, ETFs, and gold has its ups and downs, but the real win is patience. Don’t quit when it gets tough.”

To my surprise, the tweet blew up. People were retweeting, commenting, even thanking me for being “real.”

And that’s when it hit me—the biggest return on investment wasn’t just my portfolio. It was the lesson that patience, discipline, and a little faith were worth more than gold.