What are some of the mindsets of poor people that keeps them poor?

[Rushgeekgirl]

Thank you Fionn and Monstro. Especially thank you for recognizing my intent here.

This thread has really disturbed me. I really wanted to be completely honest about my life here (with this and the immigration threads) because I do feel like I have something to share. Of course I should have known better than to bring it here. I was starting to feel as if I had something to be ashamed of here but I talked about it with my daughter and she reminded me of something important. I personally will never be rich because I really don’t give a shit about being rich. I have never really needed much beyond the basics. It’s just how I am. Don’t care about tv or other electronics, don’t need much more than the fridge and stove, although I do like the dishwasher Mig found on the road and fixed. I don’t mind washing clothes in the tub and hanging them out, and if my car is running, I don’t mind using a screw driver to get it started. I won’t miss the internet that much when it’s gone as long as I have my library card I’ll have something to do.
I’ve never known anyone else like this except Mig, so I guess we’re double-doomed now. Whenever we have extra money he’s likely to give it away. Now THAT drives me crazy but I know it’s just his nature. That’s why HE will never be rich.

I recognize there’s a big difference in being poor and having enough money to save for the future, pay all the bills, and have a few vacations. I may never be that way again either. That bothers me a bit more. I had no problems with this when I was working. I’ve been applying, have a current resume ready, and now I have my daughter situated in a school with adequate after-school care.

So there you have it. Poor people remain poor because we just don’t give a shit about being rich.

Or, to put it nicely, there are just other things we find more important than money.

For me, it’s obviously being there for my family. Clearly the decision made things rough for me financially, whether it was caring for my mother or staying at home with my little girl so she doesn’t have to be shuttled off to daycare. I do have some pretty bad phobias, enough that it’s getting harder to leave the house, but it hasn’t gotten to the point where I refuse to do the regular things like pick up groceries. I have seen by various psychiatrists, therapists, and counselors since I was a teen about ongoing depression and anxiety issues. I’ve been through therapy twice and tried four different types of medication for it. I don’t think it’s ever going to help. I mean, I have hope that something will help me. I’ve honestly read and done all the self-help books, workbooks, websites, etc. I have a huge folder of bookmarks directly related to phobias and anxiety. But what do you do when some of the top phobias you have will make it near impossible to GET the help you need. But I have tried. And tried and tried and tried.

To hell with calling me a victim. I’m not a victim. I’ve survived a lot more than many have. Yeah some people DO make it out of a shithole childhood and exactly the right formula of luck, hard work, and natural talents make awesome overcoming-the-odds stories. But they’re so awesome because it’s so rare. Fuck you for calling me a victim when all I’ve done here is share a part of my life. I did not come here begging for money. I didn’t come here to make excuses for my own life or ask a single one of you for pity. I was trying to HELP YOU UNDERSTAND instead of letting you wallow in your ignorance on the subject. Oh no that can’t happen. That ruins your little piss on the poor festival. I’m clearly someone’s dysfunctional mother. They couldn’t possibly be projecting their issues could they? I mean really, what the hell is wrong with people? Just shit on anyone, don’t you, just so you can feel superior?

And yes, Balthisar, I chose to live my life in a way that made being rich or even somewhat comfortable near impossible. I said that from the beginning. What I did not do is doom my life to poverty by having a child early. That child helped me. She was not a mistake. This is what I objected to; someone hearing about my life and then smacking a label on me like I’m a case he’s solved. Scroll back up and check it out for yourself. I said I do not play the lottery, I do not go to casinos, I do not have a fear of direct deposit, and **then went on to explain MY reasons for remaining poor.
**

[TriPolar]

@msmith537

In this thread asking Why Would an African American Dislike Direct Deposit? people described a number of habits of people that tend to keep them poorer than they need to be, either by incurring hidden costs or failing to take advantage of things that would get them more money:

• Believing that money in the cookie jar/under the mattress is safer than in a secure FDIC insured bank.

If that amount is only a few hundred dollars that you will spend on necessities before the end of the month, it hardly matters. It can be stolen, but banks charge fees, and screw up accounts, and make it difficult to withdraw money when you need it, unless you leave yourself open to more fees.

• Incurring huge fees at the check cashing place.

See above. Banks have fees too.

• Going to the casino or playing the Lottery…period.

If you only have cash, that is all you can spend at a casino. If you have a bank account, you can give them access to that, and lose all your hard earned savings. If your saying that lotteries and casinos are a waste of money, then add going to the movies, eating out, and most other things that people in all economic conditions routinely partake of.

• Not reading/understanding the terms and fees of their credit/debit cards.

Who does? They change on the fly even if you have a microscope to read the original agreement. And you are arguing that they don’t have those things in the first place.

• Not saving at least some money in an interest bearing account. (Yes, I know it’s hard. But guess what? However poor you are, I bet there is someone else 10% poorer than you. Live like them and put the 10% difference in the bank.)

If you are spending all your income every month, and still not making ends meet, you have nothing to save. And current rates probably don’t even cover the bank fees for small accounts. If your children are already doing without, it is irresponsible to put 10% aside for others worse off than you, especially when there so many who have more than enough who should be doing that in the first place.

Some others I’ve witnessed:

• Failing to recognize the value of an education. “College is a waste of time and money” and such.

College is a waste of time and money in many senses. But we do have a society where it pays off through a system of substituting time served and money paid for actual merit. But poor people don’t usually say that. They say they don’t have money or time for college, and the poor education they have recieved doesn’t prepare or qualify them for college.

• A general lack of understanding of the basic accounting principles of
  Net Worth = Assets - Liabilities
  Net Income = Revenue - Expenses

I have never seen this deficiency corelating to economic status.

• The sort of jealous “crabs in a pot” mentality that resents any coworker who aspires to advance themselves in their career. Oh “so and so is looking to become ‘management’” or “why is he working so hard?”.

See prior statement.

• The general notion that someone should “take care of them” whether that is the government, their employer, family or whoever. I mean it’s nice if it happens, but you can’t plan you life by it.

This is a common attitude. But I don’t see anyone expecting it to happen. There are plenty of people who are poor because they rely on this idea. I think their children readily see the folly of the notion. Also, this is a common attitude from the plethora of previously well paid people who are now out of work, seniors, and Wall St. bankers.

[QUOTE]

[msmith537]

@TriPolar

If that amount is only a few hundred dollars that you will spend on necessities before the end of the month, it hardly matters. It can be stolen, but banks charge fees, and screw up accounts, and make it difficult to withdraw money when you need it, unless you leave yourself open to more fees.

This notion that banks exist to screw you out of your hard earned money is ludicrous. Unlike getting robbed or simply losing your money, banks specifically spell out their fee structures if you take the time to read it. They are legally obligated to straiten out your account if they mess it up. And what could be easier than taking money out of an ATM or an electronic bill transfer?

You are correct that if you keep less than a certain minimum in some banks, you will typically incur fees.

@TriPolar

See above. Banks have fees too.

Not 1-5% of your paycheck.

@TriPolar

If you only have cash, that is all you can spend at a casino. If you have a bank account, you can give them access to that, and lose all your hard earned savings. If your saying that lotteries and casinos are a waste of money, then add going to the movies, eating out, and most other things that people in all economic conditions routinely partake of.

That’s right, genius. I’m telling you that the casino and lottery are a waste of money. Going to the movies and eating out an drinking are also luxeries you shouldn’t partake in if you are living paycheck to paycheck, but at least you get something out of it besides a vague hope of getting rich for doing nothing.

@TriPolar

Who does? They change on the fly even if you have a microscope to read the original agreement. And you are arguing that they don’t have those things in the first place.

Anyone who is literate should understand that if they fail to make payment by the due date each month, they will incur the interest rate plainly stated on your monthly statement.

@TriPolar

If you are spending all your income every month, and still not making ends meet, you have nothing to save. And current rates probably don’t even cover the bank fees for small accounts. If your children are already doing without, it is irresponsible to put 10% aside for others worse off than you, especially when there so many who have more than enough who should be doing that in the first place.

You are not putting aside the 10% for others who are worse off than you. You are adjusting your lifestyle so you live like someone who makes 10% less than you and putting the difference away for a rainy day.

@TriPolar

College is a waste of time and money in many senses. But we do have a society where it pays off through a system of substituting time served and money paid for actual merit.

I used to hear this incredibly arrogant attitude from the working class people who lived in the town where my college was located. AFAIK, they are still wallowing in their burnt out steel town while my college educated coleagues are making six figure salaries in places like New York and Boston.

@TriPolar

But poor people don’t usually say that. They say they don’t have money or time for college, and the poor education they have recieved doesn’t prepare or qualify them for college.

Yes. They focus on a little money now in lieu of more money later on.

[TriPolar]

@msmith537

This notion that banks exist to screw you out of your hard earned money is ludicrous. Unlike getting robbed or simply losing your money, banks specifically spell out their fee structures if you take the time to read it. They are legally obligated to straiten out your account if they mess it up. And what could be easier than taking money out of an ATM or an electronic bill transfer?

You are correct that if you keep less than a certain minimum in some banks, you will typically incur fees.

Where did I say that banks exist to screw you out of your money?

Not 1-5% of your paycheck.

I have no idea what a check cashing service charges. I don’t recommend using them. And I think employers should be required to pay in cash if people want that. I’m not even recommending against using a bank, but you don’t seem to know anything about what life is like for the poor.

That’s right, genius. I’m telling you that the casino and lottery are a waste of money. Going to the movies and eating out an drinking are also luxeries you shouldn’t partake in if you are living paycheck to paycheck, but at least you get something out of it besides a vague hope of getting rich for doing nothing.

What do you get from going to the movies? People don’t go to casinos to win money, no matter how much they make. You don’t have a clue.

Anyone who is literate should understand that if they fail to make payment by the due date each month, they will incur the interest rate plainly stated on your monthly statement.

They don’t need to be literate to know that. And they don’t need to read their agreement either. Why don’t you just admit you have no idea what the terms of your credit card agreement are either.

You are not putting aside the 10% for others who are worse off than you. You are adjusting your lifestyle so you live like someone who makes 10% less than you and putting the difference away for a rainy day.

Yes, good idea. Live on the streets to save money. Or should they give up eating. Oh, I forgot poor people are poor because they spend all their money on luxuries.

I used to hear this incredibly arrogant attitude from the working class people who lived in the town where my college was located. AFAIK, they are still wallowing in their burnt out steel town while my college educated coleagues are making six figure salaries in places like New York and Boston.

You heard this from someone who makes more than you in someplace like that. You pipsqueaks are all the same. Proof that a college degree doesn;t offer an education, just a coupon for people who need an expensive car to impress the ladies. And by the way, I don’t have a college degree, and you couldn’t shine my shoes.

Yes. They focus on a little money now in lieu of more money later on.

Again, brilliance. The colleges are all free for people with a substandard education and no money. Poor people are just too dumb to take advantage of that I guess.

You are pathetic. What is it with you? Just the small penis, or does it go much deeper. I know you’re afraid of the dark. And I doubt many of your colleagues consider you highly. Weakness of spirit is a tatto on your forehead. Too bad you couldn;t make it in the Ivy league. You’re lack of self confidence can’t be overcome with a paycheck, or any amount of money you save. Stop hating poor people. They can’t help if they’re better than you, without even trying.