Happy weekend,

Doing too much often backfires!

Human psychology has a dirty secret: the harder we try to control everything, the more likely we are to fail spectacularly. What psychologists call the "restraint theory," it explains why 95% of diets fail, why over-scheduled productivity systems collapse and why your last three budgeting attempts ended in financial chaos.

Consider extreme dieting: the more you restrict calories and eliminate entire food groups, the more your brain fixates on forbidden foods. Eventually, willpower crumbles, leading to binge episodes that often leave you worse off than before. The same mechanism operates in financial behaviour.

Just as extreme diets lead to binge eating, extreme budgeting often leads to reckless spending when the pressure becomes too much. Research shows that restrictive financial planning causes “decision fatigue,” eventually making people abandon their budgets entirely. For instance, Nobel Prize-winning psychologist Daniel Kahneman's research reveals that our decision-making capacity is finite. Every choice—from what to eat for breakfast to whether that ₦5,000 expense fits your "miscellaneous" category—depletes your mental energy. Naturally, even the most disciplined person starts making impulsive financial decisions, from exhaustion.

The Flow State Alternative

Positive psychology research suggests that we perform best when systems align with our natural tendencies rather than fighting against them. Athletes call this "being in the zone" or that effortless state where performance feels natural and sustainable.

What if financial management could feel the same way? What if instead of forcing yourself into rigid spending categories, you could work with your psychological tendencies?

Enter the Anti-Budget Revolution

This is where conventional wisdom gets turned upside down. Instead of trying to control every financial variable, smart money management focuses on controlling just one: how much you save first. Everything else flows naturally from there.

We spoke with a Lagos professional earning ₦1.3 million monthly who has mastered this approach. His secret is working with human psychology, with his own personality, not against it.

His method eliminates decision fatigue, removes perfectionist pressure and respects the natural ebb and flow of life's financial demands. It does not invite guilt or complicated tracking and the feeling of blaming ourselves for our ‘indiscipline.’

We invite you to discover the Anti-Budget or No Budget Budget

Also: Tips to get yours

Last Saturday, we shared stories of Nigerians and immigrants building successful businesses abroad and in Nigeria. We curated materials to help those seeking to build their own success.

We wish you the best of the weekend.

The SimplVest Team

Anti-Budget: Inside the No-Budget Budget that Somehow Works

For most people, following a strict budget often fails, leaving us with feelings of guilt and fatigue that reinforce our bad spending habits. We share the story of a 24-year-old who earns ₦1.3M monthly but refuses to follow traditional budgeting rules and explore why his ‘anti-budget’ style works.

👉 Full Story here: Anti-Budget: Inside the No-Budget Budget that Somehow Works

How to Gain Customer Trust as a New Business

Trust is the force that brings customers and businesses closer. It fosters loyalty, encourages patronage, and sparks referrals from returning customers. According to 88% of consumers, trust in a brand influences their purchasing decisions, especially when trying a new company. New businesses must earn customer trust to leverage early adoption strategies and achieve growth.

Discover how to establish your customer’s trust by enhancing your startup’s credibility and effective branding. Use the strategies highlighted in this article to create a strong standing for your brand.

👉 Full Story here: How to Gain Customer Trust as a New Business

Proven Ways to Gather Customer Feedback

Customer feedback encompasses any information customers provide about their experience with your product or service. This includes insights, opinions, reactions, preferences and complaints that collectively paint a picture of your customer’s journey.

The key is implementing a systematic approach that captures both solicited feedback, that is, directly requested, and unsolicited feedback or organic comments from social media, reviews, and spontaneous interactions.

This guide covers proven and practical ways you can gather customer feedback to guide your product iteration strategies.

👉 Full Story here: Proven Ways to Gather Customer Feedback

How Do I Set a Realistic Profit Margin for My Startup?

Setting a realistic profit margin is not optional. Your survival as a business depends on it. By understanding your costs and business income, you can make informed decisions about pricing and budgeting.

You need a realistic profit margin to avoid being busy with sales that yield no profit at the end of the day. To learn how to set a realistic profit margin for your startup, read this post where we discuss how you can set a profit margin that works.

👉 Full Story here: How Do I Set a Realistic Profit Margin for My Startup?

10 Wrong Money Mindsets You Should Discard

Having a healthy money habit requires discarding wrong mindsets you have about money. As humans, we often hold certain beliefs about wealth, spending, or saving that hinder our pursuit of financial freedom.

This guide shares positive habits to overcome wrong money mindsets and build financial security. These money mindsets, often the result of childhood traumas, societal pressures, or past mistakes, can keep you stressed and hindered from opportunities.

👉 Full Story here: 10 Wrong Money Mindsets You Should Discard

The Beginner’s Guide to Setting Financial Goals

“Can you spare me 2K?” If you live in Nigeria, you are most likely familiar with that question. It often appears as the month draws to a close. You don’t have to find yourself in such situations before setting financial goals. Mastering how to plan finances will save you a lot of stress and embarrassment.

Setting financial goals requires your consistency and discipline. You can achieve your goals by tracking your progress and developing healthy habits.

We all understand what this feels like, so we will show you actionable financial steps that will help you stay afloat. This will be easy to understand; beginners can master it with ease.

👉 Full Story here: The Beginner’s Guide to Setting Financial Goals

Till Next Saturday,

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