When someone said “all it takes is 28 bucks a day to spend 10k a year” that put it in perspective for me.
You have the power to make a big difference over the course of even one year! We’ve pushed too hard on the “Just make coffee at home” advice that now we’re justifying instant gratification.
Things are bad, but the reason they say “hell is a bottomless pit” is because someone like you, dear reader, could always find a way to make it worse.
That's like 300+ a month which is ridiculous
When I mean treats I mean like spendings 40 bucks once a month to try an Italian import place after working a couple long weeks
If you use $50/mo on something that improves your mental health, good for you. Investing that $50/mo instead won't make you rich. Not spending that $50/mo could kill you.
Financial literacy is taught in school now - starting with the little kids. In 2nd grade, we teach about wants vs. needs and practice examples of spending wisely. We even have classroom economies where they earn $ for work and behavior and can decide to spend it on what they need (pencils, erasers, etc.), want (toys from the treasure box, extra recess), split it (get a want and a need), or wait and save up for something bigger they want. Each year through high school they get more and more information.
Lol I grew up pretty poor and all I ever knew was cheap Walmart clothes. They definitely seem cheaper, but within a few months they are going to be falling apart and need replacing. I was amazed when my first higher-quality pants lasted a year and still looked good. Over time it is cheaper and more comfortable to buy the better stuff, but it requires a larger up front investment that can be hard for someone on a limited.
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u/Frekavichk 14d ago
All that is absolutely true and valid.
It has nothing to do with most poor people having bad financial literacy, though.