At one time, I was extremely poor. I had nothing. No money. No connections. No language skills. No family wealth. No education. Just me against the world.
But here’s the truth: being poor is not permanent. You don’t have to stay stuck. You don’t have to “accept being poor” unless you’ve given up on yourself. If you’re sick of being poor or tired of being poor, you can do something about it.
I did. I figured out how to stop being poor, and if I could do it, so can you.
My Story: From Immigrant to Financial Freedom
When I came to Canada, I had zero advantages. I worked every garbage job I could find: janitor, busboy, stocking supermarket shelves. I traded my time for peanuts.
But I refused to stay there. I studied. I invested in myself. I practiced extreme frugality. I worked like hell and I started investing my money. Eventually, I built capital. Today, I’m no longer poor.
I didn’t wait for the government, for society, or for some miracle. I decided to stop being poor — and I did it.
So, if you’re asking yourself, “How do I stop being poor?”, here’s the formula.
Why Most People Stay Poor
Here’s the blunt truth:
- Some people get comfortable with poverty. They accept being poor as if it’s their destiny.
- Others pretend they’re rich. They dream big, spend big, and stay broke because their lifestyle outpaces their income.
If you’re wondering how to not be poor anymore, you have to stop lying to yourself. Poverty is not romantic. Poverty is not destiny. Poverty is a trap you either climb out of, or die in.
Step 1: Cut Every Useless Expense
If you’re broke, stop acting rich. Here’s how to get out of poverty:
- No fashionable clothes.
- No expensive gadgets.
- No car if you can survive without it.
- No eating out. No drinks with friends.
- Buy at thrift stores, dollar stores, food banks.
- Live with your parents or share a crappy apartment with roommates.
When you’re tired of being poor, your first job is to cut costs to the bone. Stop bleeding money you don’t have.
Avoid Legal Issues
If you are trying to avoid spending too much money then you need to be avoiding any sort of legal troubles. This could be in your personal life or your professional career. You may use public transport or taxis to get from A to B if you don’t drive. If you do find yourself involved in a car accident then you may need to consult a Lyft accident attorney. They will be able to reassure you when you need it most and give you advice on where you stand.
Step 2: Increase Your Income
Once expenses are slashed, you need to attack the income side.
- Get two jobs. Drive Uber after your day shift. Work weekends. Whatever it takes.
- At one point, I was teaching dance, managing three Airbnbs, driving Uber, and studying finance. With hustle, I went from low-skill jobs to earning over $100,000 a year.
If you’re asking “how to not be poor”, the answer is simple: work harder, longer, and smarter than everyone else — at least in the beginning.
Step 3: Build Skills (Stop Trading Time for Pennies)
Being stuck in low-skill work forever is financial suicide. The only way out is learning.
- Use YouTube, Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning.
- Take free or subsidized courses from employers like Starbucks, Amazon, Walmart.
- Learn skills that make you valuable in the market.
If you’re still working the same minimum-wage job five years later with zero new skills, stop blaming capitalism. Blame the person in the mirror.
Step 4: Start Investing Early
You don’t need to be a financial genius. Put your money in the S&P 500. Historically, it returns around 8% per year.
At first, it’s peanuts. But with time, it snowballs. One day, $1,000,000 invested means $80,000 a year — without working. That’s how to not be poor anymore: you stop trading time for money, and let your money work for you.
Step 5: Start a Business (Think Bigger)
Want to get out of poverty faster? Start a business with high upside. Leverage digital platforms, mentors, partnerships, and systems.
Look at how you can leverage other assets, like people or digital platforms, not just financial capital. Work with specialists, like mentors and gurus who can help you identify opportunities in the market. Get an IT and a PPC company to launch the digital side of your business and explore how to generate volume.
This is not for the lazy. But if you’re serious about wanting to stop being poor, business ownership can take you further than any job.
Who You Surround Yourself With Matters
If your friends are broke complainers, guess what? You’ll stay broke too.
- Cut out the losers. Yes, even family if they’re dragging you down.
- Surround yourself with people chasing success.
- Choose your partner wisely. If you’re saving and they’re spending, you’ll stay poor.
If someone doesn’t support your grind, let them go. They’ll come back when you’re successful.
Choose your partner carefully. One of the best financial decisions a person can make is to find a partner who have similar goals and ambitions. If one person wants to save and the other person wants to spend, it’s just not going to work out, you will stay poor much longer than you want to. Discuss the importance of having a prenuptial agreement in place to protect both your assets and financial futures.
Change your personal image. Start thinking about how people perceive you. Book headshots, update your wardrobe, and even look into changing how you speak. Figure out how you can come across differently and what you can do to move from where you are now, to where you want to be.
Mindset: Don’t Accept Poverty
If you’re searching “how to accept being poor”, here’s my answer: don’t. Poverty is not a life sentence. It’s a challenge.
Yes, life is unfair. Yes, some people start ahead. But the only thing worse than being broke is accepting it and doing nothing.
The Harsh Reality
Here’s the ugly truth:
- If you’re sick of being poor, change your habits.
- If you’re tired of being poor, stop wasting time.
- If you want to know how to not be poor anymore, stop living above your means.
- If you’re asking how do I stop being poor, the answer is cut costs, build skills, work harder, invest, and never give up.
It’s not easy. It’s not glamorous. But it works.
Final Word: You Don’t Have to Be Poor
I know what it’s like to be broke, hungry, and invisible. I know what it’s like to feel like you’ll never get ahead.
But listen — being poor is not permanent unless you make it permanent.
If you really want to know how to stop being poor, here’s the final formula:
👉 Cut your expenses.
👉 Increase your income.
👉 Build valuable skills.
👉 Invest consistently.
👉 Surround yourself with winners.
It’s raw, it’s ugly, but it’s the truth.
You don’t have to be poor. You just have to decide you’re done with it.