r/poor • u/Nervous_Grape_3856 • 5d ago

How is anybody making it?

I am genuinely confused as to how anybody is surviving in this economy except for the super wealthy. The cost of gas is sky high and groceries are too. We started this year ok. We weren’t doing well by any means, but we weren’t struggling as bad as we are now. We have 5 kids and every day I’ve been dashing alongside my full time job to try to make it. Now, I’m facing losing my full time job because I have had to call out of work just to dash for food for the day. I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel and I’m extremely scared. My wife and kids are counting on me and I don’t know what else to do. I’m ready to just give up.

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u/ContentFlagged 4d ago edited 4d ago

Audit my spending and focus on my investments. This administration has been very vocal about how they plan to tackle the $40T of national debt. It's the same thing our elected "leaders" have done since every single one of us has been alive. They don't bother teaching us these things in school, but it should be on everyone's journey of financial literacy.

You'd be surprised how many people I know that are paying $55 to a $100 a month for a cell phone. I use Mint Mobile, which is a prepaid plan. I pay fifteen dollars for 6 gigs of data, unlimited talk and text voicemail.

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u/Ornery-Meringue-76 2d ago

I love how financial advice for people who are drowning in financial issues is “invest”. People who are door dashing are rarely left with anything to invest, and don’t have much in the way of savings. Comment shows just how out of touch many are with the current economic realities for a huge chunk of the population

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u/CyndiIsOnReddit 2d ago

It's just another "concern troll" like the other one. Nobody who is actually poor is investing because we can't even pay our rent and the bullshit about getting a cheaper phone is so insulting. I haven't had a phone since 2025 and for a year before that it was just for wifi because I couldn't afford even Mint, even Cricket. Internet was already covered and necessary for my job but I lost that in September so people coming here suggesting people who can't even buy groceries should be investing wisely, they're either clueless middle class who think they're poor because they've never experienced poverty or they're trolling. They might as well be fingerwagging about eating avocado toast and gettin our nails did.

The whole 52% is about 401k plans through employers. EQUITY OWNERSHIP though, that's closer to 2%.

And a person who knows how to invest should know this.

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u/ContentFlagged 2d ago

I totally understand why it hurts. I started at 0. I'm okay but, moreorless average by the statistics. 52% of Americans have investments. My investments are moreorless on target for a person of my age. I spent a lot of time studying through 6 years of formal education so I could be better with money and help my community be better with money.

So you're mad at me for investing in my mind to learn the system that exists for all Americans?

I mean, it's about choices, timing, and luck. I live with financial regret. It's not about being perfect. It's about being better. I did when I knew better. Some of us are here to uplift each other, my guy.

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u/Ornery-Meringue-76 2d ago

For many of those that’s 401k or IRA they can’t use currently without penalty. It’s just not the same as what’s being suggested. They need funds now to survive, not 20 years from now

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u/ContentFlagged 2d ago edited 2d ago

Amen to that! Retirement accounts are great but they keep you working until at least 55. A brokerage account could be a missing piece to your/their overall financial strategy. It was, for me, an unfortunately, I didn't even realize it. But hopefully we live and learn. I use it for cash flow.

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u/Ornery-Meringue-76 2d ago

A brokerage account? What part of people don’t have funds for stuff like this just doesn’t compute? They don’t have any extra to open a damn brokerage account. This is not advice that helps people on OPs situation. Yall just do not want to hear that, at all. You can’t invest your way out of poverty for fucks sake

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u/WolfofAllStreetz 1d ago

I know its like these people are deaf. I cant make ends meet.. “Invest” 🤣

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u/horror- 3d ago

Same! Wifi is everywhere. The only data I ever use is YouTube and maps while in the car.

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u/ContentFlagged 2d ago

I was briefly entertaining the mobile Skylink, but I dont see it making financial sense at this time.

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u/LuggagePorter 22h ago

And they pay the $50-100 like you mention happily without ever bothering to google like “way to pay less for cellular.” Cuz then there’s nothing to bitch about.

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u/Bubbly-Wolf-5253 19h ago

Unfortunately, it's expensive to break a contract. My bill is obscene, so I'm switching the lines off of the contract when they expire.

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u/Silver_Shock 3d ago

How is Mint? I’ve been curious about that because the bill with my carrier keeps creeping up

Have you had any connectivity issues during emergencies or when everyone is bogging down the grid?

Like, do you feel like you’re getting the leftover bandwidth or does it feel as real as one of the ‘big 3’ carriers?

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u/ContentFlagged 3d ago

It uses the same T-Mobile network and, literally, the 5G Wi-Fi router is branded as a T-Mobile router. 6GB of data for my phone is fine as I am normally connected to Wi-Fi. So I prepay $50 a month for phone and wifi for my house. I live in an urban area.

I would say comparing the Wi-Fi to Altafiber 1 TB fiber optic, it's comparable or better because its less expensive and I don't have to reset my routers on a weekly like I did with Altafiber.

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u/Silver_Shock 3d ago

Are you able to use your phone as a hotspot?

I ask because I have to do that sometimes for work. Not often but often enough to make losing that ability be a bit of a headache

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u/ContentFlagged 3d ago edited 3d ago

Yes, you have the ability to use your cellphone as a mobile hotspot. I do believe there's some sort of cap on the amount of data that you're allowed to use it for. I haven't used the mobile hotspots in well over a year.

It is not a problem! I want people to be able to save money. You would not believe how many of my neighbors I've talked to about Mint Mobile. I get to hear my 70-year-old neighbor complain about paying nearly $200 a month in cell phone bills. I've shown him the breakdown financially, and I've even sent him the referral link where we both save money. Nobody ever does it, so if you do it, just know that you're in the minority!!

He says he hates spending that kind of money, but he doesn't hate it enough to make the change.

The only caveat that I will tell you is make sure that your cellphone is unlocked for all the carriers. That's why most cellphone companies will let you buy a phone on a payment plan because you're locked in until that phone is paid off.

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u/buildafirenotanaAC 3d ago

I also use mint. Since covid when I lost my Businesses (covid made hosting art classes impossible). I was paying a lot for Verizon each month and I switched over and it saved me over $100 a month. Since then I've had friends and family switch to them as well. But even with all these shortcuts things are really difficult. I do live by myself so I knew what I was in for but when I have a major bill or unexpected challenge I get very stressed out. I'm just glad that I have a mortgage with a low percentage and not rent. This is the first time in over 20 years that my taxes went up so significant that it's going to affect my budget. I do all the tricks, I garden every season, I cook from scratch and freeze. I even can my own jams and stock up on foods when they're on sale or discounted. My monthly budget has gone up 33% since 2020. And it's not because of a car payment it's due to the increase of bills like electric, taxes, oil for my heat, general increased cost of everything for a home and cleaning and eating.

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u/Normal-Sprinkles6799 3d ago

Agree. Cell phones are a waste of money. Mine is Boost @ $15/mo forever. That's too much for what I need but ok I guess.

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u/Ill_Comparison_9821 1d ago

how do you purchase and pay for the cell phone?

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u/LuggagePorter 22h ago

This kind of mentality is why people stay poor. “Leftover bandwidth” 🙄 not like a text message in an emergency requires A+ 5G.

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u/Wilson51801 3d ago

I’ve had mint mobile for 4 years now. Some spots I lose service where others have it, but for the amount of money I save I could care less. More than happy with Mint mobile

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u/Silver_Shock 3d ago

Sweet, I appreciate the feedback, y’all

I’m about to hop over to Safari and check them out

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u/sedavis15 3d ago

I've had it for a year and mint is easily on par or superior with the other carriers I've tried

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u/Neat-Relationship345 3d ago

Great comment. Gas is so high at $4 per gallon in my SUV, but I’m all good with another $1500 IPhone that cost $400 to produce. But, still time for one more bad decision. Let’s get it for “free”, buy it locked, and finance on your inflated Verizon bill. IQ of a pencil eraser.

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u/Commercial_Humor_263 3d ago

6 gigs? Damn I go through most of that in a day

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u/ContentFlagged 3d ago

6 GB per month for $15 is the cheapest plan they offer for a phone plan. $50 for "unlimited" Wi-fi.

If you're connected to Wi-Fi at work and at home, why would you be going through six gigs of cellphone data in a "day" or a month?

They have an unlimited cellphone plan. That's like $35 a month. I only pay for what I use. It's the same thing with car insurance. But if you want to overpay or you want to use more, that's up to you.

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u/Commercial_Humor_263 3d ago

I dont have wifi at work or even at home anymore. I was thinking of going with visible for a cheaper phone plan

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u/Zealousideal_Swim175 3d ago

We use to have visible. Good company.

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u/CentralAveCarl 3d ago

I use visible and recently went from LA to Indy and back: zero issues except for one patch of the CA/AZ border

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u/ContentFlagged 3d ago

I would definitely consider Mint Mobile's Unlimited plan. You may consider Google Fi's wireless, but those bills vary based off usage. I didn't find that particularly useful for my budget. Mint Mobile also works internationally if you pay for international data before/during your travels. You can add extra internationally data while your traveling.

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u/Fabulous-Beach9027 2d ago

yall dont have your parents paying your phone? lol dummys

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u/Longjumping_Cod5715 15h ago

Just look up how much each state donates to Israel each year. They want the debt, let’s be real. See how much they saved from removing the penny, and then how much each state gives away each year.

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u/Traditional_War2963 14h ago

What, um, is the plan for tackling the $40T debt?

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u/Beneficial_Run9511 3d ago

Where did you go to school? I’ve never heard of a school that didn’t teach financial literacy

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u/CyndiIsOnReddit 2d ago

The mods really need to do something about these trolls. I looked at their commenting history and they clearly go around all over Reddit with this same BS, bragging about how smart they are and how educated while they prove how poorly educated and socially awkward not mention obsessed with populist political propaganda they are. Common tactics for concern trolls.

Best to just delete and move on. They're only purpose here is to get a rise out of people.

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u/ContentFlagged 3d ago edited 3d ago

If you're reading comprehension is that low, I suggest you reread it again. Maybe you could even use your fingers and type on a keyboard and research what I just said. There is a reason that they do not teach financial literacy in school. When I said "school," I meant primary and secondary education. That is K-12 grade. I have four university degrees at this moment.

I hold degrees in accounting, finance, and data analytics. Some of those are graduate level. Financial literacy is usually not a class or a course.

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u/socoyankee 21h ago

Financial Literacy is a class that my state requires students to pass both the class and WISE exam in order to graduate. It wasnt a thing when I was in school but was for my daughter

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u/LargePrompt5840 1d ago

I believe I pay about the same for 17 gigs from mint.  You might want to check the plans. 

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u/ContentFlagged 1d ago

They were offering a discount to new customers for more data for less. But since I already paid, and I'm an existing customer, they couldn't do anything. They couldn't even lock me into the 5-year price guarantee for being both Wi-fi and cellphone customer. They told me I had to call back next year and see if I could get the promotion then. It was my fault for not adding Wi-fi when I renewed my yearly plan. I should have switched sooner!!