Have you ever heard of leeches? The Cambridge Dictionary defines it as a type of worm that lives in wet places and fastens itself onto the bodies of humans or animals to feed on their blood. Those who have ever taken livestock for grazing in the villages would better understand how this thing is a nuisance to its victims.
Charlie Gilkey of Productive Flourishing describes financial leeches as people who drain your money, especially without working for it or doing anything to deserve it. There would be many other types of leeches in life, however.
Unfortunately, there are so many money leeches in our communities that smoothly operate in our midst without many of us actually noticing they are being leeched. They may be found within our families, in our neighbourhoods, in places of worship, in our villages, at the workplace or even others in very good suits and ties.
For many of us, we carry along many leeches without even noticing or understanding what we are. Sometimes the amounts involved would be small per transaction or individual, but cumulatively this can highly undermine your financial goals over time.
As I always say, it is very possible to be busy looking for money (and actually getting it) but end up dying poor out of the choices that you make. Over time, any money carelessly or undeservedly lost amounts to something in the long term. The same logic of small savings here and there applies to small money losses or leaks, albeit in the opposite direction.
Here are some ideas to detect money leeches and free yourself from them:
- If you have a person who keeps on bringing all their money problems to you or keeps adding you to all manner of fundraising activities then you have a leech there – may they be close family/people to you or not, anyone who keeps on inviting you to their activities have leeching tendencies. Do not shy away from declining any further invitations from them;
- Accept that no one individual can solve all the money problems of any other person – no matter how much you give, leeches keep on coming for more, and you will never be able to solve their problems or satisfy their greed. Money leeches can only understand the language of you saying no with finality;
- Be careful with leeches from places of worship – every religion has an established order of giving towards God’s work. Unfortunately, many of the places of worship have been turned into all manner of fundraisings, mixing religious activities with private individuals’ money problems of the religious leaders and congregants. Religious leeches use religion for emotional deception and coercion for you to yield to their leeching venture, while you continue to shout Amen. If you are in such a place where every day is fundraising and giving towards anything and everything, then find yourself a better place for worship or educate yourself on the Scripture teachings on giving;
- Attach work into your giving if you notice leeching behaviour – for some people who ask for money from you and can work, give them work in exchange for the money. If they are in genuine need, they shall be willing to earn their bread for the work you give them. Once you notice they do not want the work you give, just cut them off;
- Be alert to leeches in social circles – do you have people who always wait on you to pay bus fare if travelling together? Or do you buy lunch every day you out with them for work? Or will always want to take drinks on you every time you are out together? This can really be a drain on you while they hang on to their money. Social capital is built through give and take, not one-way giving that translates into leeching.
As a concluding thought, the idea of African socio-cultural set-ups in many ways allows leeching in the name of the need to belong. This need not be the case, it is one thing to give towards worthy causes but it is totally different when this cultural practice is used to rob you in the name of community generosity.
Never be afraid to cut off leeches by declining their invitations or politely and firmly explaining their habit is unwelcome. They will eventually respect you for your firm decisions and choices.
Make your money, enjoy it and give to unlock the wonders of giving, but while in all this, do not allow leeches to drain your blood!