Why Poor People Stay Poor

[chervilant]

68. I grew up in poverty,

Last edited Wed Dec 2, 2015, 03:30 AM - Edit history (1)

but I was doing pretty good -- until, that is, I found myself working for Countrywide, where I refused to sell sub-prime loans. You can guess how that ended. I then tried to become a teacher, without realizing that the corporate megalomaniacs had already succeeded in vilifying teachers and privatizing schools for enormous profits. Now, I'm overqualified to teach, which simply means school districts would have to pay me more (have a higher degree and teach math) than they'd pay a newbie college grad.

I am struggling to recover from seven years of under- and unemployment. The job I have currently (which I love), pays less than $9 an hour, and I've only gotten close to a forty hour week once. No bennies, it goes without saying. On November 2, I experienced a severe back injury, resulting in severe sciatica. I have been bedridden for almost a month. Actually, it'll be a month tomorrow. I will have to have an MRI, and possible back surgery.

I have had no income for a month, but I had been squirreling away my paychecks for my middle of the month expenses, and those two meager checks paid my bills for December. How lucky is that, given that we poor are such bad money managers?

January is a different story, though. I will have no way to pay rent, utilities, medical, etc. I've started a GoFundMe campaign, but I am one of MILLIONS of people who need help. Plus, it's Christmas.

Oh, and I grew up in an alcoholic home, with lots of abuse, including sexual abuse. I've had to establish boundaries with most of my family, to shield myself from the toxicity.

Happy, happy; joy, joy.

I just keep telling myself: "this, too, shall pass."