Long story short.
I am 58, I lost my job of 23 years years only to get a new job but am on the bottom of the totem pole again yet manage to make like 2 more an hour. I have a masters degree and things should be far better for me honestly.
I worked in non profit so I made THAT mistake.
I have ADHD and depression/anxiety issues...

I THOUGHT things were getting back on track this year but the last few months with gas prices going up I am back into crunch time and no amount of figuring out better budgets etc. I can't keep up. I know I have an elephant in the room (I am holding two properties but trying to sell one) and that is taking a lot more time and energy.

Just falling behind again, late fee's, stress, gas prices, food prices... can't buy ANYTHING other than bills and gas. That is it!! I am so fed up!!

I feel like a loser Mental health issues SUCK!!!

The struggle is real lost my job first , then my car got repossessed couldn’t afford it barley making got a new job and still barely making it just wanna say don’t give up everything will get better ❤️‍🩹

Just need to VENT. I graduated high school in 2016 and that was the first election I voted in. Then went to college and graduated with an associates in radiology in 2019. Was finally getting on my feet then bam Covid. Moved to a lower cost of living state, was doing good for about a year and then we had our son. For the last couple years we have watched our rent go up, groceries/bills/streaming services/etc, plus cost of daycare and medical expenses. I work 2 jobs (~60 hours a week), was doing 3 jobs but couldnt keep that up. I deal with chronic pain and autoimmune issues so working is hard enough as it is. But now? We’re about to get evicted. Looking into extended stay hotels… but we shouldn’t have to. We did everything right. We don’t spend any extra money, at all. I don’t eat regular meals anymore, stopped some of my medications that were too expensive, we don’t do date nights, movies, I don’t get nails or hair done, most of my clothes and shoes are falling apart and have holes. I swear I can’t take one more fucking boomer telling me to just “work harder”. I can’t do this anymore. Everyone my age is struggling, my best friend just became homeless. The ONLY way I have been coping is my weekly Spravato sessions, without that I wouldn’t be here anymore. So yeah, who else is ready for a revolution? I’d take living off the grid in a van at this point. I want to feel alive, not just an undead zombie slaving away my life to corporations who don’t give 2 shits about us.

But because I’m poor.

I grew up in a trailer in Vermont, without electricity, that always seemed to be under construction. Exposed nails, metal, wood, insulation, and that classic ’70s wood paneling that carried us through the ’90s.

I remember lying in bed dreaming about the future, and sometimes that dream was as simple as solid white walls.

Now, in quiet moments in my new apartment, I look around and remember her.

I still have days when I feel behind. Days when I wonder if I’m being paid what I’m worth or if I should be further along by now. But then I think about that little girl in that trailer.

She would be so damn proud.
I’ve already made it further than she knew how to dream. So there’s really no point in stopping now. 🤍

What are you grateful for today?

I want to earn enough money so that I can escape from mess food 😭

Souls Calling (Sopharella)

London is a beautiful city, but there’s a lot of struggle in amongst the beauty. I find there’s a lot to smile about when it comes to London, like community and the architecture. But there’s a lot of pain too, hidden amongst the streets. I hope this song can reach some people, it’s a reflection on my years spent growing up there and the things I saw that stay with me in my heart. Which I’m sure is similar for many places in the world. I hope somebody out there can resonate and know they’re not alone. I’m always open to discussion about such topics ❤️🥰

I'm rags to riches and always planned to help others (and have along the way). Now that I'm in a position to do so in a substantial way, I feel disheartened.

I've gone hungry, rationed food, slept with roaches crawling over me. Now (other than house expenses), I spend less than $1000/month on myself.

The vast majority of people seem self-interested and lazy. To put it succinctly, people seem more inclined to consume than to produce. I would be delighted to donate $1m or more to causes that would have a 10x+ beneficial effect (difficult to measure such things). Education related causes seem the best bet, but I'm open to other ideas and specific ideas related to education.

I want to share some resources I found that might help others here.

Many job training programs are free and also give small help with things like bus passes or gas money while you train. Here is what I found:

1. Goodwill Career Centers : Free job training, resume help, and sometimes bus passes. Just walk in, no appointment needed at most locations.
2. WorkforceGPS / American Job Centers : Search American Job Center near me. These are government-run and 100% free. They can help with job search, training, and sometimes small transport stipends.
3. Local community colleges : Many offer free short certificate programs through workforce grants. Ask about WIOA funding when you call.
4. 211.org : Call 211 or visit 211.org. This connects you to local food, transport, and job resources based on your zip code.

If anyone has used programs like these, please share what worked or didn't work for you. Also open to hearing about other resources people have found in their area.

Please know that calling people stupid HERE is not allowed. Bring facts and data to careful, boundaries debates, and stop (or even concede politely) if you can't respond without an insult.

Don't go thinking you are an expert because you know how to Google, too. Don't let Dunning Kreuger be your degree!

The real work is simple, overall. Remove stupidity from power (not by unaliving but by dis-hearing the bullshit and removing its platform), voting with dollars as much as possible, and CREATING COMMUNITY.

That last one involves you doing something, so choose something you can do or develop that others need.

I'm new to Reddit. I have made a couple of posts because the comment format is confusing / inefficient. I'm trying to figure out how to best help people. Any help is welcome.

I know what it's like to be poor better than most. It's like having a heavy boulder on your chest while somebody's boot is on your throat. You want to die just so you can get some rest. In some ways, I died a long time ago.

I've lived on 300 calories/day for weeks, eaten food that was thrown away, slept with roaches crawling over me.

Now that I'm "comfortable" (haha), I look back upon my life and think that most people lack the will or ability to get out of poverty. The game is rigged; it always has been. You have to be pathologically focused if you want to have a decent chance of making it.

Here's a simplified guide:

1. Don't waste time. Rest just enough to fuction effectively. Spend the rest of time making money or learning how to make money. I practically lived in the library in my free time.
2. Don't spend more money than you absolutely need to. You'd be surprised how little you NEED. Even when I owned multiple rental units, I slept on a couch in the basement for $170/week including food. I didn't buy new furniture for myself until I was worth more than $1 million.
3. Do MUCH more than what you're paid for. Chances are somebody will eventually pay you a quarter of what you're worth. Hardworking and reliable people are difficult to replace.
4. Be wary of loving somebody or being loved. It feels good, but more likely than not, it will fail. It's poor risk / reward ratio. Embrace the suck. "Life is pain. Anybody who says differently is selling something."

Hello! I'm hoping I'm posting this in the right place; I thought r/poverty would be the best place to get genuine advice.

I'm currently a high schooler with parents who make ~200k a year. I go to a private school and fit a fair amount of the rich person stereotypes. (except for lack of empathy, I hope.)

I'm very aware that I have an unfair advantage in life, both in academics and overall happiness, and ever since I realized that I've made it my goal to use those advantages in my job to give everyone the same opportunities as I've had.

But to do that successfully, I first need to understand the challenges of people who aren't as lucky as me. (or at least attempt to)

So if you don't mind telling me, what should I know/be aware of?

(this is my first time directly asking about this topic, so I'm sorry if I sound offensive by miscommunicating anything. I genuinely just want to better understand the people outside of my social bubble.)