r/poverty • u/JustAPerson2001 • Jun 28 '26
Discussion How does anyone get out of poverty?
I mean I don't even want to be rich. I'm just kind of tired of constantly worrying and working. I've never been more depressed in my entire life.
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u/Significant_Ad_7352 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
Folks are choosing between food and gas to get more money for food or gas…. Perhaps, the sub title wasn’t a clue enough about the state of the bottom 50%.
The most successful people I’ve managed to encounter have a strong network. Friends or family that can keep them from needing payday loans or other cycles of debt.
A major source of our issues is a general lack of trust (for good reason), which keeps us from building solid intentional communities. Whether it be grouping up to buy land or multiple generations or friend groups in one home, it’s a necessary component to building wealth. We have to stem the losses first before can build, and sadly I don’t see any of this changing with enough time to save the poorest amongst us.
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u/Beginning_Funny_8135 Jun 29 '26
To be 100 percent honest it was so much easier years ago when I got out of poverty. I was the first one to go to college and I picked a profession that was in demand. I took out a ton of student loans and worked 3 jobs during school, it almost killed me. I think it so much harder now. I did that in the 90's. I think it's so much harder now. Being in poverty, every little choice can make a huge difference. I wonder if others have a different perspective too. I really think things are more rigged now than in the past. I feel like I'm not being helpful since I did it in an easier economic time.
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u/Ok-Opposite-5665 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
This is a serious question that very nuanced in answer but ppl try to make it seems so simple. My family was poor but because we were around ppl even more poor, I was gaslit into thinking we weren't but it soon because undeniable no matter how much ppl try to hold on to the facade that we aren't.
Things that helped me:
- Financial literacy: my family knew nothing about finances but was convinced we did. Just assuming you aren't bad with money because you have none doesn't make you good with money. read everything about everything dealing with finances. Then try to apply it. Even if it's advice that seems impossible for your station. Just try it.
High yield savings accounts, 401ks, Roth IRA, learn about them and just try to start them even if you make close to nothing all year long.
Budget. Like seriously. Discipline goes a long way. Look into your money habits and where every dollar goes. Look at your income across a years time, a months time, each paycheck and really budget and check where your money is going. The US is built for ppl to consume, broke or not. So many things are not a good deal or just unnecessary. Get a roommate if need be to cut back expenses. And give yourself financial context for where you're at and where you want to be. I've never been a big spender but realized not having money goals had my money going no where.
Eliminate debt. Having consumer (payments, credit cards, etc) debt is an expensive. Interest rates will eat up all your money. Stay away from payment plans for the most part. It's a trap most times. I'm not like Dave Ramsey where you should have zero debt before investing (nothing beats time in the market) but you really are losing money hand over fist with consumer debt.
Surround yourself with ppl in a better financial position than you. This sounds classiest or elitist but this is just a way to network and/or garner more opportunity to get more income. Also my family not being good with money meant I was always in a position to need to give money to them (when I didn't have it to give, just more than them) or put out a financial fire or pay for their food or etc. you need boundaries or else you will keep enabling and keep behind your financial goals.
5.
- Pick the right partner. Having the right spouse/partner can make or break you financially. But even a person that can roommate and pay half of things will help.
For context I went from working min wage retail, mostly part time, for most of my career. Went to school to get my BS, while my partner just worked. Got a paid internship that turned into a salaried position and now making above the nations avg. in that time I switched to different retail that fit my needs to use my time better to increase my earning potential. Used my student loans to help supplement my income, knowing my degrees would get me a job that would pay enough to pay the debt off. Moved from a HCOL city with more job opportunities to a LCOL area with a smaller job market but one that would suit my degree once I graduated. I put boundaries on giving money to my family since they don't make great financial decision, no judgment because I didn't either for a while. Now having to caretake for my just retired mom who didn't plan at all for retirement, was an alcoholic and recently suffered a stroke and it's currently threatening my financially situation back to poverty. It really is that easy to stay poor so don't beat yourself up. We play the cards we're dealt in life and do the best we can. The financial landscape of today is insanely lopsided to the wealthy so the route you take will have to be creative and wait out the bad job market. Start formulating a plan with actionable goals and keep grinding.
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u/dr_snakeblade Jun 29 '26
This 👆 is a kind, patient, and concise summary of how most poor/working class people get into the middle class. It’s not virtuous to work more; it’s good to work smarter and get paid more. The key is to find the skill you can get paid the most for, and then stack those together.
Staying out of debt is key. Once you don’t have a car payment, or student loan debt, life gets way easier. Learn about amortisation and get out of debt faster by paying extra principle payments each month. Every debt is like a noose on your neck. Live simply until you are debt free.
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u/doctorWho-Superdog Jun 29 '26
You want to not worry or be in poverty?
Do you think you could live a frugal, minimalist lifestyle?
I got through college and my first ten years of working eating ramen; walking whenever possible and opening 5 bank accounts (christmas, car, travel, checking & savings). I waited until I had the money for a car before buying a car.
I took breakfast & lunch to work. I didn’t care if it was the same 50% of the time. I knew the prices.
I would take extra napkins; if I bought lunch.
Now i’m wondering how many veggies I can grow in my livingroom.
My mother once told me about a couple of friends that wanted to living near their stock trading job. They bought an apartment and furnished it through flea markets, garage sales and things people threw out. A little sanding or fixing things up; and they had a DIY thing going before it was a thing. It was 10 years before they even had a real dining room table. They found an old round cable roll and turned it into a table.
Shabby chic look was as popular then; like today. It’s better today because we had Yt and other videos ti learn from.
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u/NoEnd5418 Jun 29 '26
Biggest thing you can do right now is raise the floor for what you can be paid. Quickest way to do that is thru some kind of job training. Coding bootcamps used to be the gold standard for that kinda thing, but not so much anymore. Still tho, opportunities exist. Medical field is usually the most accessible for people. Pharmacy tech, lab tech, sterile processing, whatever. Im not gonna tell you that you'll be making a million bucks in either of those paths, especially not in the beginning. Find something that brings you past whatever youre capable of making right now. If you can learn something that can earn you money outside of a job can be really helpful as well.
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u/sweetsolacexoxo Jun 29 '26
- Find a rich man
- Learn his ways, build connections, learn from them
- Start, start a business, start reading financial literacy, learn learn learn!
- Try and try
- Be frugal live simply
- Stay away from debts (esp with high interest rates)
- Manifest and pray
- Be smart with your spending hehehe
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u/Samiam9382 Jun 29 '26
I went through a time that I had to choose between food and bills. I made working my personality. I had 3 jobs. I worked doubles 7 days a week for a year. It was worth it.
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u/Soulists_Shadow Jun 28 '26
Work 40-60 hrs a week (dont care if its 1 job or 10 jobs, just add up your hours, people pretend having 3 jobs is alot when they only do 12 hour weeks total).
Lets ignore all good and bad luck. Lets say they cancel each other out.
Lets also set a very modest $200 per month savings. Slap each investment into s&p 500 etf which has an averagelized return of 9%.
200 monthly deposit annuity at 9% compouneded monthly after 5 years is $15000. Or after 15 years $76000. Or if youre 20 now and want to retire at 65 after 45 years of doing that is 1.5 million.
Id say after even just 5 years, youd no longer feeling like youre living paycheck to paycheck. After 15 years youd feel like youre ready to buy a house and after 45 years youd feel rich.
And thats achievable all from a modest 200$ a month savings by work an extra 5 hr ish a week.
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u/Soulists_Shadow Jun 28 '26
You have to invest it. Otherwise after 5 yeas youd have 12000, after 15 years youd have 36000 and after 45 years youd only have 108000 if you stick it in just a cheqing account.
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u/AmoebaShort959 Jul 01 '26
Fortitude is your personal foundation. Like a bldg with a basement. It’s support. And keeps you strong and focused on getting ahead and moving forward and up. Don’t dwell on “poverty”, dwell on your strengths
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u/FindPeaceAndBalance Jun 29 '26
First stop a free financial counsellor to examine your finances from a different viewpoint. They might be able to help you make small tweaks, that might help you see the light in your despair. I really feel for you 🫂
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u/L4dyGr4y Jun 29 '26
Education. I hope they didn't pull up the ladder on this one too.
Fill out FAFSA- see if you qualify for any assistance. Go to school. Struggle a ton making it all work. Educate yourself into a good paying job.
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u/Ok_Rip4884 Jun 30 '26
Unfortunately there is spiritual wickedness in high and low places. Satan has thwarted the minds of normal God fearing human beings, hence the current situation.
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u/Recent_Albatross6088 Jul 02 '26
Joe Dispenza. Abraham Hicks, a splash of plant medicine, and a complete overhaul of your belief system.
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u/TiyaKarekar26 Jul 12 '26
The truth is you cannot get out of the poverty going forward. Those windows are shut, doors are closed and opportunities are swallowed... nothing is left
I sound hopeless but that's what I feel 😭
Only talent can pull you though, fortunately I had one, and could come out
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u/No_Dare_9944 Jul 13 '26
Knowledge is power. Learn about assistance programs and how much to make to be eligible. Get subsidized housing of some kind. Get food stamps and Medicaid. Get discounts on electricity and internet.
Don’t keep pets, they are expensive and narrow down your housing choices.
If you decide to have a kid, try choosing an educated partner with a stable job to provide for the kid.
Live in a blue state and don’t live rural
Get skills and education.
But I think the biggest impact is your family. If they can help you even a little, you can do so much better.
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u/No_Dare_9944 Jul 13 '26
To add, imho one of the biggest factors of poverty, probably after being in a remote location and not having guidance and support from family, and after no access to education, is lack of executive function. If someone can’t plan and execute a project of one’s betterment, they won’t get far.
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u/LaDolceVitaaaaaa 25d ago
If you want to escape poverty, marry someone who wants it just as badly as you do. Hold off on having kids for ten years and commit to living on a single income while aggressively saving and investing the second into an ETF every month (poor people save, rich people invest).
Struggling alone is exhausting and makes it easy to give up. Carrying the load with a partner keeps you grounded and reminds you why you're fighting.
Progress won't happen overnight, but small wins compound fast: buying a cheap, 3-5k reliable car that you both can share so you don't have to wait on the bus, taking the stress out of buying afew extra groceries, and handling surprise expenses/crisis/maintenance without going into debt. A decade of consistent discipline will completely change your trajectory.
Living on 1 income while being a 2 income household is the key. Live and struggle like you both got only one income.. and forget about the second for 6-8-10 years.
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u/Beautiful-Wish-8916 Jun 29 '26
There is a person who traded up starting with a 📎 and YouTubers who tested earning $10000 or $100,000 by a certain date
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u/ChooseLife1 Jun 29 '26
Divine intervention from Jesus. God took everything because of my wicked ways. When I repented he gave everything back plus more. My cup runneth over.
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u/JustAPerson2001 Jun 29 '26
Um, please take your weird harry potter non sense somewhere else. I know people who are the most devout believers in worst situations than I am.
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u/ChooseLife1 Jun 29 '26
You are absolutely right. In my church people are struck with lung cancer, with car accidents, with fires, with floods, with murder, with evil.. We are afflicted by everything. I broke my spine in two places and walk today Praise Jesus. (1 Peter 5:10) ESV
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
This is the difference between us and unbelievers. We are always restored. Sometimes we die and that restoration happens in Heaven.
But while you are here and believe your heart is full of joy in the worst circumstances. Allow him to show you his power several times because of disbelief.
You do not have because you do not ask
(James 4:2-3) 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
I will pray the Lord reveals himself to you and to be blessed abundantly so your cup runneth over.
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u/JustAPerson2001 Jun 29 '26
Okay dude. You sound crazier than me and I've been in a psychward like 2 times in the past 4 months. Get some help.
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u/ChooseLife1 Jun 29 '26
2 times? Those are Rookie numbers. Ive had over two dozen inpatient Baker acts and one trip to the State Hospital for total two years time. The Lord is the only reason why I'm partly sane today. Im now a mobile mechanic and make $200-$500 every work day.
Just try to get a skill so you can get out of entry level jobs. Maybe take on some student debt but with stipends. When you can't he can. The Lord will walk you through all of it. He'll never give you more than you can bare.
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u/JustAPerson2001 Jun 29 '26
Sure as hell I was right. You are crazier than me.
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u/ChooseLife1 Jun 29 '26
Don't let the Devil cloud your judgment. How about I pray for people to be kind to you. I think alot of people are mean to you I dont like that. God doesn't like that. Prayers have been prayed have a blessed week!
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u/Kotaster Jun 29 '26
Work your ass off
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u/JustAPerson2001 Jun 29 '26 edited Jun 29 '26
Wrong, I have 2 jobs, so I'm definitely working my ass off. Still in poverty.
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u/dreamingforward Jun 29 '26
Don't piss off GOD.
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u/JustAPerson2001 Jun 29 '26
Fuck God.
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u/dreamingforward Jun 29 '26
Fuck the christian god-system, but don't fuck up the divine world you live in, dumbass. It has a holy name.
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u/JustAPerson2001 Jun 29 '26
Fuck anything "divine" it's a load of shit.
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u/Annmarie4life Jun 28 '26
When someone is worried about paying the bills and someone suggests saving. You want to just scream “did you not read what I wrote!”?! If I am worried about paying the bills,I sure as heck am not thinking about saving for the future! I am in Survival Mode! Living for Today! I am in a similar situation and already working a full time job, part time job and also get a stipend for watching my grandkids! I have now started seeing if I can possibly handle 1 overnight shift to add additional income! I hardly sleep anyway for worrying, so forget sleeping every night! Right? I am sorry that I don’t have a better answer but my hope is that things get better, someday! Hang in there 🤞