₦airaland Forum

budaatum:
Definitely, cleaning toilets abroad is not easy! It's toilet cleaning for Christ's sake, why should that be easy? And it definitely don't even pay much, just about enough for daily bread and shelter, if you asked me and if you eat small, and your boss will constantly be on your case, sometimes making you clean the same toilet like 5 times because, according to them, you did not clean it to their standard.

Slavery, I'd call it, except instead of paying the pittance of a chain round the neck and a whipping on your ass they give you a few pounds or dollars they know their own people would never accept. But who in their right mind travels abroad and intends to survive on toilet cleaning? Most japas do it for the first few weeks or months on arrival and until they find something better, while they school on improving themselves so they can dump toilet cleaning and get much better jobs as I already informed SoliBayNG.



If you can not put up with the hardship of "3 jobs", please stay in Nigeria. Because anyone will tell you your first few months in England at least, will be like moving to hell as a slave, but with some use of the sweat of thy brow and the educating of your brain, not only will you eventually eat, you will feed family back home too who will be begging you for bread daily.

I say "toilet cleaning", and I include all those other hard jobs that Nigerians come to UK to initially do while they find their feet. Note.

Don't get me wrong brother. When I say it's not easy, I'm not talking about the physical aspect of the job itself. Of course no work is easy. What I meant was the pay.

CoronaVirusPro:
The cause of the race is for living. Compared to Nigeria where you can achieve yo certain extent and will maintain status quo irrespective of what happens, it’s the opposite in western world. Taxes will continue to hit you, and when you default, those things you own you will start losing. It a system that entails you to keep earning or you will lose it all. Have you heard of foreclosures and liens?

Look at Nigeria where people own homes and still able to afford to train their kids to university level WITHOUT debts, In the western world, for you to reciprocate same means you probably be working till your late 60’s if you happen not to be decimated by age. Now you ask yourself, after getting a student loan, having a mortgage debt and business debt you have serviced all your life, you won’t want a loved one to pass through it. It’s not worth it.

The system is designed to make you feel you are moving. But over time, reality will dawn on you. They keep telling you debt is good if you make good use of it, but have you ever asked yourself how long you will be able to mentally carry and service that debt. You even start thinking about an eventuality, what happens, the bank takes it back.

It’s a long story, I wish I could explain, but I am certain that overtime, after you must have maintained that life for over a decade, reality will start kicking in.

I do not agree with you. How much is property taxes? One thing I would say is that at the beginning when the household income isn't so much, it can be tough. By the time you increase your household income and you focus on where you live, you will be very fine. One of the major issues is many live abroad and want to live in Nigeria at the same time. They want to get a mortgage here and are thinking of how to build homes in Nigeria they currently do not live in because they want to prove a point to people who do not even know they are in existence.

My advice will be, "carve your niche and live within your means."

CoronaVirusPro:
The cause of the race is for living. Compared to Nigeria where you can achieve yo certain extent and will maintain status quo irrespective of what happens, it’s the opposite in western world. Taxes will continue to hit you, and when you default, those things you own you will start losing. It a system that entails you to keep earning or you will lose it all. Have you heard of foreclosures and liens?

I think you completely disregard inflation in Nigeria, which is much worse than tax, and in the long run would make all "you can achieve to an extent" insufficient at maintaining any status quo, but reason for responding is to say your description is not everyone's, and many have different realities. Basically, some succeed while some fail, aboard and in Nigeria or anywhere.

The cause of the race is not for living, least not where I live, and anyone who thinks it is is bound to fail, I'd think. Here we want your brain to help develop our nation so we can stand up to the likes of Trump and EU and Japan, and would therefore hope you will realise that the cause of the race is for you to learn so you help us rule the waves and you will live better in the long run. Okay, not you exactly, but your children whom you will send to our schools and whom we will educate properly to earn their daily bread and increase our gdp by using their brains.

I'm sorry about your personal experience, In fact I apologise, but I'm very certain you'd know lots of people abroad who have paid off their mortgage and educated their children and are not just maintaining their status quo but are enjoying their lifes too. In UK you get taxed according to your earnings, and you can't be taxed more than you are willing to put up with, because you yourself will get off your ass and go vote someone who offers to tax you less. It's the same in the whole of Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China and many other similar places, I'd bet. And we do have to tax you, don't we? Or how else do you expect the streets to be clean, and the police to stop crime, and an ambulance or fire brigade turn up when when you need one and not make you pay for educating your children so they are useful?

We japa to countries that realise that the Wealth of the Nation is derived from the annual produce of its land and labor, not from the accumulation of gold or the profits of merchants. You are the labour part. Brains are required.

joshuaidibia:
Don't get me wrong brother. When I say it's not easy, I'm not talking about the physical aspect of the job itself. Of course no work is easy. What I meant was the pay.

Clean toilet in UK can be early morning. You start off at 4am to get the last night bus to go clean toilets 5am to 8am, then you go off to college or uni.

Uni finishes 3pm, you get some sleep, wake up by 6 to go clean toilets or be the attendant in a pub till it closes at 11pm, then you off to do the same in a club till 3am, except the person who hired you knows you don't have a work permit, so tells you the club work is tips only, after his 25% cut.

Do I mean the pay, and the effect on your mental health and your body that you can barely afford to feed and let sleep?

Trust me. It's very very hard. And compared to what I've described above, many japanians will shudder still, as it's nowhere as bad for most who come legally these days. But life, generally is hard, though we Nigerians don't seem to have figured out it is yet, or we'd be doing that work making Nigeria great instead of japaing to make great abroad.

budaatum:
I think you completely disregard inflation in Nigeria, which is much worse than tax, and in the long run would make all "you can achieve to an extent" insufficient at maintaining any status quo, but reason for responding is to say your description is not everyone's, and many have different realities. Basically, some succeed while some fail, aboard and in Nigeria or anywhere.

The cause of the race is not for living, least not where I live, and anyone who thinks it is is bound to fail, I'd think. Here we want your brain to help develop our nation so we can stand up to the likes of Trump and EU and Japan, and would therefore hope you will realise that the cause of the race is for you to learn so you help us rule the waves and you will live better in the long run. Okay, not you exactly, but your children whom you will send to our schools and whom we will educate properly to earn their daily bread and increase our gdp by using their brains.

I'm sorry about your personal experience, In fact I apologise, but I'm very certain you'd know lots of people abroad who have paid off their mortgage and educated their children and are not just maintaining their status quo but are enjoying their lifes too. In UK you get taxed according to your earnings, and you can't be taxed more than you are willing to put up with, because you yourself will get off your ass and go vote someone who offers to tax you less. It's the same in the whole of Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China and many other similar places, I'd bet. And we do have to tax you, don't we? Or how else do you expect the streets to be clean, and the police to stop crime, and an ambulance or fire brigade turn up when when you need one and not make you pay for educating your children so they are useful?

We japa to countries that realise that the Wealth of the Nation is derived from the annual produce of its land and labor, not from the accumulation of gold or the profits of merchants. You are the labour part. Brains are required.

Does paying your mortgage off means you cannot be evicted? That is the point I am driving at. You practically own nothing and can loose all if things go downwards.

Unlike Nigeria, you outrightly own everything.

Try to get into medical debts or not being able to afford your property taxes and se that house leave you.

If you want to have an idea what’s playing out, go see what’s happening in the foreclosure market, and tell me all those houses have not paid off their mortgage. You only buttressed my point.

How many Nigerians can afford send their kids to top rated schools without debt. I am not talking about community colleges and all those low rated school.

The system can NEVER make you hold wealth for long without running you.

How many westerners can point to their grand father and father’s house while they still own theirs? Less than 1%. Because the system knows how to take it away.

DiarisGodoo:
Many Nigerians living not just abroad but the coveted US/UK and struggling paycheck to paycheck barely keeping head above water will be reading this and just shaking their head😅

A lot of people are living above their means abroad.
Bro the 1m per month in savings I mentioned is just a little above 600 dollars, less than 500 pounds
Some people are paying monthly car note + insurance of up to 600, 700 every month, and complaining of living paycheck to paycheck.
People wey dey do Ikorodu to Lekki Monday to Saturday for Lagos traffic before e japa, tell am make e get small car make e dey drive 1hr go work everyday for abroad, from a city where rent is cheap, they will say NO.

I know some are really struggling for real and not doing above their means, but for most people, na follow follow, dem wan buy house because their friend dun buy house, their friend dey drive 2025 car, dem too must join the club.
Their friend wey go US in 2004 dey tell them say na house ownership be American dream,
Them wan compete with person wey buy im house in 2015 at less than 4% interest rate. who just start 3 years ago wan compete with person wey dun get 1million for retirement savings.

Maxymilliano:
https://punchng.com/why-we-dont-regret-moving-abroad-nigerians/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwK6PN5jbGNrAro80mV4dG4DYWVtAjExAAEecQ7Poe7MkhQXJxAstSaThA66zI5Uw1W36K_nDVMm4YbDzqXJLFpdx5-Dn6M_aem_G7erHxB9UGCslaw2XaFM4A#google_vignette

no regret

No worries of gen noise, bad roads n polluted air

chidiokay:
dont cry ! keep your opinion its no use here

mr i live in america,

Because you are the owner of Nairaland? You are on a public forum and you asking me to keep my opinion to myself. You are very slow! What I said is not an opinion but facts. If body dey 🌶️ you say I dey America you fit go embassy go try your luck.

HEAVEN4444:
bro I seriously doubt you have smelled muritala Mohammed airport in your life. Because if you have you will know the average wage in the UK is just under 30000 pounds and everyone is surviving on it. 40000 per year in UK is what managers and top guys are paid. So for you to come here vomiting this trash is mind boggling

You are better off doing conductor in Nigeria or driving Keke than earning $40k yearly in the US. Fact!

sonnie10:
You are better off doing conductor in Nigeria or driving Keke than earning $40k yearly in the US. Fact!

bro pay attention, we said 40000 pounds in UK

HEAVEN4444:
bro pay attention, we said 40000 pounds in UK

Go back to all my responses to you, check to see if I have been using pound or dollars.

CoronaVirusPro:
Does paying your mortgage off means you cannot be evicted? That is the point I am driving at. You practically own nothing and can loose all if things go downwards.

Unlike Nigeria, you outrightly own everything.

Try to get into medical debts or not being able to afford your property taxes and se that house leave you.

If you want to have an idea what’s playing out, go see what’s happening in the foreclosure market, and tell me all those houses have not paid off their mortgage. You only buttressed my point.

How many Nigerians can afford send their kids to top rated schools without debt. I am not talking about community colleges and all those low rated school.

The system can NEVER make you hold wealth for long without running you.

How many westerners can point to their grand father and father’s house while they still own theirs? Less than 1%. Because the system knows how to take it away.

you are very right... You can't be rich a roach or be comfortable

sonnie10:
You are better off doing conductor in Nigeria or driving Keke than earning $40k yearly in the US. Fact!

Earning $40,000 per year in the USA is not officially classified as poverty, but whether it's considered low income or struggling depends on several factors:

chidiokay:
No be say being Poor is good anywhere, But being poor abroad doesnt deprive you of basic needs unlike Nigeria everything is a luxury to poor man

Malaria drug is a luxury, dstv , air condition, 3 meals, iphone, stable power, police protection are luxury for the poor man in Nigeria.

Poverty in West! hmmmmm who no go no go know !

People often say, “At least you’re in the UK or America, things can’t be that bad.” But the truth is, poverty in Western countries is real, just often quiet and hidden behind closed doors.

Being poor here doesn’t always mean sleeping on the streets (though many do). It can mean working full-time and still not being able to afford decent food, rent, or even proper healthcare. It means avoiding the doctor because you can’t pay the bill. It means sending your child to school hungry or unable to buy a school uniform.

Imagine raising children in a neighborhood with failing schools, broken elevators, and gunshots at night — not because you want to, but because you can’t afford anything else. Or having to choose between heating the house or paying rent in the middle of winter. That’s the kind of quiet suffering many low-income families in the West face every day.

And let’s talk about education. They say school is free, but if you’re poor, your child might miss out on computers, field trips, or after-school programs. University? For many, it’s a dream that dies early because of tuition costs or the fear of lifelong debt.

Mental health? Often ignored. Living in constant survival mode drains your soul — and therapy isn’t free.

Poverty here is lonely. It’s being surrounded by wealth you can’t touch. It’s knowing your kids are falling behind while others move ahead simply because of where they were born or what their parents earn.

So no — poverty in the West may not always be loud or obvious. But it’s deeply painful, and it robs people of opportunity, dignity, and peace. And worst of all, it’s made to feel like your fault, even when the system is stacked against you.

Let’s stop pretending it doesn’t exist just because the buildings are tall and the streets are clean. Poverty has many faces — even in the most developed nations.

ariesbull:
Earning $40,000 per year in the USA is not officially classified as poverty, but whether it's considered low income or struggling depends on several factors:

There are certain things you don't want to wish anyone in US. Earning $40k a year is one of them. I don't care what the official figure is because lived experience says otherwise.

sonnie10:
There are certain things you don't want to wish anyone in US. Earning $40k a year is one of them. I don't care what the official figure is because lived experience says otherwise.

will thy want to tell themselves the truth

tunapawizzy:
A lot of people are living above their means abroad.
Bro the 1m per month in savings I mentioned is just a little above 600 dollars, less than 500 pounds
Some people are paying monthly car note + insurance of up to 600, 700 every month, and complaining of living paycheck to paycheck.
People wey dey do Ikorodu to Lekki Monday to Saturday for Lagos traffic before e japa, tell am make e get small car make e dey drive 1hr go work everyday for abroad, from a city where rent is cheap, they will say NO.

I know some are really struggling for real and not doing above their means, but for most people, na follow follow, dem wan buy house because their friend dun buy house, their friend dey drive 2025 car, dem too must join the club.
Their friend wey go US in 2004 dey tell them say na house ownership be American dream,
Them wan compete with person wey buy im house in 2015 at less than 4% interest rate. who just start 3 years ago wan compete with person wey dun get 1million for retirement savings.

If it were only as straight forward as it appears to you. Life happens and before you know it you're caught up in the same wheel that caught others - the same thing you swore will never happen to you!

ariesbull:
Why contradiction...you said 98% at the begining and at the last you said Pepe wey dey that table no plenty ....

Are you a RONUIST?

You read faster than you comprehend.

At the begining I said 98% of people wey japa will not be doing better if them still dey naija.
At the end I said people wey follow crowd who may have regrets now, no plenty.

Relax,
drink water.
Breathe in,
breathe out,
now read again and slowly this time
Do you get the gist now

ariesbull:
Poverty in West! hmmmmm who no go no go know !

People often say, “At least you’re in the UK or America, things can’t be that bad.” But the truth is, poverty in Western countries is real, just often quiet and hidden behind closed doors.

Being poor here doesn’t always mean sleeping on the streets (though many do). It can mean working full-time and still not being able to afford decent food, rent, or even proper healthcare. It means avoiding the doctor because you can’t pay the bill. It means sending your child to school hungry or unable to buy a school uniform.

Imagine raising children in a neighborhood with failing schools, broken elevators, and gunshots at night — not because you want to, but because you can’t afford anything else. Or having to choose between heating the house or paying rent in the middle of winter. That’s the kind of quiet suffering many low-income families in the West face every day.

And let’s talk about education. They say school is free, but if you’re poor, your child might miss out on computers, field trips, or after-school programs. University? For many, it’s a dream that dies early because of tuition costs or the fear of lifelong debt.

Mental health? Often ignored. Living in constant survival mode drains your soul — and therapy isn’t free.

Poverty here is lonely. It’s being surrounded by wealth you can’t touch. It’s knowing your kids are falling behind while others move ahead simply because of where they were born or what their parents earn.

So no — poverty in the West may not always be loud or obvious. But it’s deeply painful, and it robs people of opportunity, dignity, and peace. And worst of all, it’s made to feel like your fault, even when the system is stacked against you.

Let’s stop pretending it doesn’t exist just because the buildings are tall and the streets are clean. Poverty has many faces — even in the most developed nations.

Bros come home to better side then, i am in Nigeria everywhere soft, security 24/7 ... i am sure your kids would wish you had them here once they land at muritala airport feel lagos natural air

DiarisGodoo:
If it were only as straight forward as it appears to you. Life happens and before you know it you're caught up in the same wheel that caught others - the same thing you swore will never happen to you!

We were also on the other side
we have experienced it, we were indebted
we toiled, we laboured, we are not the biggest
earner and we are not living paycheck to paycheck, hasnt stopped us from living a quality life too
If you're waiting for me start living paycheck to paycheck, you go wait tire.
Here's why, I have no problems lowering my living cost if income drops. And yes it's no problem for me if standard of living drops too.
I have bo problems building slowly and steadily.
I follow my timeline, I no care who dun buy Bentley or Lambo before me.

chidiokay:
dont cry ! keep your opinion its no use here

mr i live in america,

Do you realize that this is a public forum? Mr slow if America dey hngri you go embassy.

baratech:
In the "mass killings" you've stated, just show me one that 200 people were killed?

You don't have an argument...

There's no place in Europe or USA where 200 people will be killed and security forces won't show up....

The mass killings you showed, police still showed up and killed the shooters...

Na wah nothing wey I no go read for NL...! ! !!

sonnie10:
I will give you a breakdown of expected income if you decide to do Uber. No matter how you hustle, even if you put in 12 hours daily, you will hardly cross $300 -400 daily in most busy metropolitan areas.
Now expect to pay fees of about 25% and also income tax of about 15%. Total is 40%
less 40% of $300 = $180

Less petrol (gas) full tank $40
feed twice while on the road $10 x 2= $20

At the end of the day you go home with $180- 60 = $120'


Do you think working that hard for 12hours with a take home $120 is "flexing"?

My point is, if you don't maintain a regular job abroad, you are a in for a long thing, even with your $1M. That is how the system is set up, to only reward working people.

Bro, you were wrong in your computations.

Taxes are not before your expenses but after it.

Let's take your computation for illustrative purposes:

If your turnover is 300 USD, less your fees 25% (75), full tank (40), feeding (20) net income before tax = 165usd. Tax @15% = 24.75
Net income after tax = 140.5.

A 6day week = 140.5 ×6 = 843. Per month is 3,372 usd.

Here, I have used your numbers.

You cannot exhaust a full petrol tank in a 12 hour drive because for Uber, there are stops time.

The truth is, you may not be rich living abroad but good life and peace of mind if guaranteed even if you earn minimum wage.

obaidan:
We were also on the other side
we have experienced it, we were indebted
we toiled, we laboured, we are not the biggest
earner and we are not living paycheck to paycheck, hasnt stopped us from living a quality life too
If you're waiting for me start living paycheck to paycheck, you go wait tire.
Here's why, I have no problems lowering my living cost if income drops. And yes it's no problem for me if standard of living drops too.
I have bo problems building slowly and steadily.
I follow my timeline, I no care who dun buy Bentley or Lambo before me.

You don't understand. For example, why would you be paying rent when you can "buy your own house" (it's not actually your house; it belongs to the bank that loaned you money😆. But the exorbitant taxes and maintenance and fees belong to you!) Or why would you be riding train when you can buy your own car (once again the bank actually owns the car!). Your phone too, why not have the latest when you'll only be paying $30 a month. Slowly it catches up with you like it catches up with most people and calculator will be your friend every month!

Dereformer:
Bro, you were wrong in your computations.

Taxes are not before your expenses but after it.

Let's take your computation for illustrative purposes:

If your turnover is 300 USD, less your fees 25% (75), full tank (40), feeding (20) net income before tax = 165usd. Tax @15% = 24.75
Net income after tax = 140.5.

A 6day week = 140.5 ×6 = 843. Per month is 3,372 usd.

Here, I have used your numbers.

You cannot exhaust a full petrol tank in a 12 hour drive because for Uber, there are stops time.

There is nowhere you will not get in trouble if you deduct lunch from your gross income before tax.
You are expected to feed normally like everyone else who goes to work. Government cannot shoulder that responsibility.

DiarisGodoo:
You don't understand. For example, why would you be paying rent when you can "buy your own house" (it's not actually your house; it belongs to the bank that loaned you money😆. But the exorbitant taxes and maintenance and fees belong to you!) Or why would you be riding train when you can buy your own car (once again the bank actually owns the car!). Your phone too, why not have the latest when you'll only be paying $30 a month. Slowly it catches up with you like it catches up with most people and calculator will be your friend every month!

A friend of mine bought a house of $280k in 2020 before the pandemic with a down payment of 5% ($14k). At an interest rate of 2.8%. Today, the same house is worth $580k . Should he decide to sell the house now, he will walk away with $300k in cash. It is called equity.
Credit is not often a bad thing if it used as leverage to propel you to your ideal position. Most people have dreams of a better future but because resources are scare, they never fulfill those dreams.
Credit used wisely, makes your tomorrow happens today!

DiarisGodoo:
If it were only as straight forward as it appears to you. Life happens and before you know it you're caught up in the same wheel that caught others - the same thing you swore will never happen to you!

Between roughly half to nearly three‑quarters of Americans (depending on method/income) are living paycheck to paycheck.

While 53–57% self-report this status, spending data suggests about 26–30% have little to no buffer.

This phenomenon spans income levels—even high earners can be paycheck‑to‑paycheck due to expenses.

Younger generations and lower incomes are most affected.

Honestly, I think a lot of Americans live paycheck to paycheck because the system just isn’t built to help the average person get ahead anymore. Even if you're earning what used to be considered a "good income," it often barely covers the basics — rent or mortgage, food, bills, car payments, and maybe childcare or student loans. Once all that is paid, there’s little or nothing left.

One of the biggest issues, in my opinion, is that the cost of living keeps rising while wages stay almost the same. You go to the grocery store and spend \$150 on what feels like two bags of food, yet pay hasn’t moved much in years for many people. Add to that healthcare costs, which can wipe you out overnight if you don’t have strong insurance, and it's no wonder so many people are just trying to survive one paycheck at a time.

Debt plays a huge role too. Most Americans rely on credit cards, buy-now-pay-later services, and car loans just to stay afloat. But it’s a trap — the interest adds up quickly, and you’re always playing catch-up.

And I also believe part of it is cultural. In the U.S., there’s this constant pressure to "keep up" — nicer cars, better clothes, bigger homes — even if your income can’t really support it. Social media makes it worse, because you’re constantly seeing the highlight reels of other people’s lives.

At the end of the day, it’s not just about bad money habits. It's about a system that rewards wealth but punishes working people. Most folks aren’t careless — they’re just doing what they can to survive in an economy that no longer favors the middle or lower class. That's my take.

Our ancestors should be restless in thire graves with embracement. Time was, JJC behaviour meant a thing of shame not pride. Apart from not wanting to disgrace your race and culture, JJC behaviour singled you out as probably of "Common" stock among the Nigerian, African and general emigrant community abroad. You knew better than to fall on your knees, on arriving abroad, gawping, bug eyed and raving at so-called first world standard even if you arrived barefoot from the village wearing grass skirt and leaning on a spear. But now Africans wear this behaviour with pride, pointing ignorant fingers at people back home as though going abroad is akin to heaven. Absolutely no shame. Inferiority complex as an aspiration.

sonnie10:
A friend of mine bought a house of $280k in 2020 before the pandemic with a down payment of 5% ($14k). At an interest rate of 2.8%. Today, the same house is worth $580k . Should he decide to sell the house now, he will walk away with $300k in cash. It is called equity.
Credit is not often a bad thing if it used as leverage to propel you to your ideal position. Most people have dreams of a better future but because resources are scare, they never fulfill those dreams.
Credit used wisely, makes your tomorrow happens today!

Well, read advice from people in the know below about buying a home. IMO there's a lot of disadvantage to owning a home, plus, any slip and the bank will foreclose!
I believe debt is one of the reasons suicide is higher in these countries. Nigerians are lucky in that respect because Nigerians are show-off kind of people. We'd use credit for bigger weddings, funerals, cars, and such and before you know it become trapped in debt. Even loan apps are dealing with some of us. Credit is very good for the overall economy but NOT good for the average person. Especially credit cards - when you're using them to buy it doesn't feel like you're spending real money and they make the monthly payments so low. The whole system is designed to trap the average person and it's very hard to resist.