Illness Can Equal Poverty.

             
       Image courtesy of Pixabay
I touch on this subject from time to time because most of you know by now that I have a chronic illness.  I have been sick for a very long time and people sometimes don't understand what you go through.

 Since this blog touches on the subject of saving money, I had to speak on this subject about how illness can equal poverty.


Image courtesy of Pixabay

 Over the years, I have seen many people who have great careers and they seem to be on top of the world and all of a sudden an illness will compromise their well-being.

  It is something very personal that can throw you into a world of uncertainty. At this point, you may not be able to do the same kind of work that you did in the past.

  Bills are due and you may have small children that you are responsible for. There is a chance that you may not be able to ever work again and this is the scenario that is very troubling.


Image courtesy of Pixabay

I have actually seen people who have lost everything because they are so sick.  At this point, life presents a picture that is very bleak.  It is very easy for depression to take hold of you and you are ready to give up because you don't know what else to do.

 There are some services available to people who are disabled but there aren't enough and they just provide the bare minimum.

We deal with being chastised, belittled, and judged on a lifestyle that we didn't ask for.  Your children also may not understand fully what is going on and they may act out because of the misfortune that has severely impacted your family.

  There isn't any real prediction that one day you will be sick and disabled.  Poverty takes place because if you are sick, you can not continue to build up your resume, to get a higher-paying job.


Image courtesy of Pixabay
Family can be helpful but sometimes they can scoff and talk negatively behind your back.  We sometimes deal with a state of loneliness that only another sick person knows.

 We have a tendency to smile through our pain, so we don't have to constantly talk about being sick.

 I pray that one day, someone will take an active stand against the mistreatment of the disabled and also put some new laws into effect that will help the disabled live a good lifestyle without being impoverished because illness shouldn't equal poverty.

The Truth About Poverty And Its Effects.

The Truth About Poverty And Its Effects.

A poverty mindset begins at a very young age.  We eat, sleep, and breathe its effects.

Poverty breeds contempt, greed, desperation, and instability.  If you have ever been poor, you will never forget the grip it has had on your life.

Even if you are no longer poor you will still wake up in a cold sweat from dreams you have had about your childhood.  The chipped paint, the times you probably have seen your parent cry because they are wondering where the food and the school clothes will come from.  Scenes of children going to bed hungry and their cries are something you will never forget.

Being poor is shameful, especially to children because they are usually teased and picked on in school.  They wear the badge of scorn that shouldn't be theirs. 

Sometimes you will see young mothers wearing designer duds while their babies are in a soiled shirt and diaper, most of the day.

Some fathers will avoid coming home because they don't want to face the reality because they are unemployed and a non-contributor to the family. Most of the time they will disappear or drown their despair with alcohol.

Some people will borrow money from a neighbor or friend to buy food and then the next month they will have to pay this person back and revisit poverty once more.  This is a never-ending cycle that will hold you in the prison and grip of poverty.

The problem with poverty is, we escape through spending money that we really don't have.  We run away through alcohol, gambling and sometimes drugs and do not hold the other parent accountable for the responsibility in our children's lives.

How To Escape Poverty?

Educate yourself.  If you cannot go to college, go to your local Library and read self-help books and money management books.  Get a job and find other legal ways to supplement your income.  You can take low-cost courses through your local high school. If you do not have your high school diploma, study and get your GED.

If you or your children need clothing, go to a clothing bank, participate in clothing swap meets so you can get bigger size clothing for your kids if they are outgrowing their clothes.  You can also volunteer at a local thrift store to get skills and free clothing.  Also, try Freecycle.org to get free clothing.

If you need furniture, there are thrift stores and also organizations that donate furniture.  Contact social service organizations again Freecycle or ask family and friends for furniture they no longer want or using.  You can also get furniture from the curb but be careful you do not want to bring bedbugs home.

For food, only buy generic brands and learn how to cook with inexpensive ingredients.  Watch YouTube videos for good, cheap, recipes.  If you are really desperate contact social services for help with food and if you are really in dire straights consider dumpster diving and if you live near a lake or stream learn how to fish and read books on how to cook and clean it correctly.

Live beneath your means, pray, and don't borrow what you cannot pay back.

  

Never Forget Where You Have Come From

I ran across this video and i was so amazed at these wonderful women washing clothes for their families.  One woman has a child on her back, but she will not let this deter her from getting the job done.

This video is such an eye opener because there are many countries besides her own, that still wash clothes this way.  She has a lot of pride and she wants her clothes to be so clean and fresh.  They have to actually stand in water to get this chore done.  She doesn't have time to complain because this is something that she must do and it must be done in a timely manner.

I have never lived this way, but, I can remember when our washing machine broke down and my Mom had to wash our clothes in the tub and it was a lot of work but she did it and our clothes were so clean  and i have done it many times in my life since.

This video teaches us to never take things for granted because we could be in the same situation. I read some of the comments on this video and some were outright hateful because people who have plenty cannot understand why these women are doing this.

This video teaches you to be resilient because if i was in this situation i would be doing the same thing because, if you have been through hard times in your life, you can do anything.

God has made us so strong because we can carry babies and go through childbirth which is very hard and we still run our homes and work and he put something in us to not only carry our burdens but to help others with their own.

Can you please leave a comment to share what this video or experience mean to you?