The January Hangover: Why You Feel Broke (And Why It’s Not the Economy’s Fault)
By Itoro Sunday Uwah | The King’s Verdict
The Myth of the "60-Day" Month
Right now, all over Nigerian social media, the jokes have started. "January has 60 days." "I have eaten all my savings." "Who can loan me urgent 2k?"
It is funny on Twitter, but it is tragic in reality. Why does a nation of intelligent people collectively go broke every 30 days? Is it the government? Is it the exchange rate? Or is it a fundamental misunderstanding of The Compulsory Marketplace?
The truth is simple: You are not a victim of the calendar; you are a victim of your positioning.
The Diagnosis: You Ate Your Seed
In December, many entered a "Consumer Coma." You bought clothes to impress people you don't like and traveled to the village to show off "wealth" that was actually just a salary advance. You chose vanity over Visibility—the kind of visibility that actually matters in the marketplace.
"You cannot sustain a lifestyle of Output (Spending) with a mindset of Consumption."
January is not "hard." January is just Truth. The Marketplace is simply balancing the books. You tried to cheat the system by consuming more value than you created in 2025. Now, the bill has arrived.
The King’s Verdict: The Illusion of "Detty December"
"Detty December" is a trap designed for the poor. The rich do not "spend" December; they position for January. While the masses were dancing, the Kings were strategizing. While you were buying tickets to concerts, the Suppliers were selling them.
If you are broke today, it is because you chose to be a Customer instead of a Merchant. You worked in the dark all year and failed to create the professional Visibility required to command higher value when the season changed.
The Cure: How to Sober Up
At BEFOCUS, we teach that reorientation begins with action. To fix your finances before February, you must do three things immediately:
- Stop the Bleeding: Do not borrow to maintain a fake standard. If you must drink Garri this week, drink it with dignity.
- Audit the Binge: Stare at your bank statement from Dec 15 to Jan 5. That total is the "Price of your Ignorance." Let it pain you until you change.
- Switch to "Supplier Mode": Stop asking "Who can help me?" Start asking "What can I sell?" Liquidity is created by Exchange and market Visibility, not by prayer.
The Year Starts Now
Do not waste this pain. Let the hunger of January teach you the discipline of the rest of the year. The Marketplace is open, but it is indifferent to your struggle; it only cares about what you have to sell.
What value are you bringing to the table this week? How are you making your skills visible to those who have the capital you need?
© 2026 The King’s Verdict | A BEFOCUS Initiative
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"Sentencing you to a life of value and visibility."
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