Escaping poverty is a challenging journey that requires hard work, perseverance, and sometimes a stroke of luck. Recently on an online platform, several people shared honest insights from individuals who broke free from poverty. Reading their stories, you can’t help cheering them on.
1. CDL License: Escaping Poverty and Building a Better Life
According to the first user, obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) allowed them to escape poverty. They could pay off their debts within a year and build small savings. They expressed satisfaction with their life’s direction after making this career move.
2. From Zero to Hero: Insurance Jobs and Financial Transformation
Transforming their financial prospects, a person divulged how securing a job with an insurance company became a turning point in their life. They mentioned that their salary doubled within the first year, and their bonuses and overtime increased to over $30k. They recommended others consider property insurance instead of auto and noted that a degree was not a requirement for the job.
3. Off-the-Grid Living: A Story of Frugal Homesteading
Somebody shared that they purchased raw land for $15,000 and took out a mortgage for $99 a month. They found a single-wide trailer for the cost of moving it to $400, cut down the trees, removed stumps with rented equipment, and hauled gravel to make a driveway. They went off the grid, generating power to avoid power bills, and drilled a well to eliminate water bills.
They purchased used cars for $1000 or less and fixed them themselves. The individual learned how to make their diesel to reduce fuel costs and started growing, gathering/hunting, and fishing to save on food expenses.
4. Mind Over Matter: Breaking the Poverty Cycle
Amidst the tales of overcoming poverty, one individual’s story stood out. They recounted their journey of liberation from the claws of poverty by learning a trade.
However, what truly intrigued the listeners was their introspection on the role of mindset in their past struggles. They humbly acknowledged how their thought patterns had trapped them in a cycle of deprivation, but they also emphasized the power of changing one’s mindset to break free from it.
5. Web Development: Unlocking High-Paying Jobs
A user in the thread expressed that they taught themselves how to do web development, which they found to be an easy skill to learn. They explained that plenty of free online resources are available to help learn HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are the fundamental skills needed to create websites. They mentioned that with web development skills, they were able to land some high-paying jobs and increase their income-earning potential.
6. Beans and Bills: Humble Tips for Saving Money
A savvy individual shared their practical tips for surviving paycheck-to-paycheck. They recommended a humble yet hearty diet of beans and rice, saving money and nourishing the body. Furthermore, they advised a thorough review of phone bills to spot unnecessary subscriptions like insurance, which could be canceled to save some extra cash.
7. Small-Scale Communism: Sharing for Stability
Some advised that adopting small-scale communism helped them escape poverty and attain financial stability. By working with their community and sharing resources, they could obtain a house and afford the expenses of caring for their child.
8. Side Hustle Success: Breaking Free with Business
Escaping the grip of poverty could be a potential game-changer, as revealed by one person who vouched for starting a small business on the side. They suggest starting with something simple, like cutting grass with a push mower. This person started their lawn company and found success, giving them newfound confidence in their abilities.
9. Military Training to Factory Work: Escaping Poverty
Tracing their path to financial freedom, the user revealed how enlisting in the military to acquire skills became their first step in escaping poverty. They then went to work at a factory where they faced some challenges with unpaid wages but persisted by working hard. With the gained experience, they could move to different factories and eventually triple their income from what it used to be.
10. Shifting Perspectives: Pursuing Lucrative Jobs
By shifting their perspective and striving for lucrative jobs, someone imparted their wisdom on breaking free from poverty’s grasp. They advised others to know their worth and not settle for less, which includes applying for jobs beyond their experience level and avoiding minimum wage.
They also mentioned the importance of attitude, acting as if they belonged in their desired position. The individual emphasized the need to step outside one’s comfort zone and believe in oneself to escape poverty.
This thread inspired this post.
This article originally appeared on The Cents of Money.
Hi There!
With a passion for investing and personal finance, I began The Cents of Money to help and teach others. My experience as an equity analyst, professor, and mom provide me with unique insights about money and wealth creation and a desire to share with you.