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How much does it really cost to be poor?
2258 sats \ 10 comments \ @guerratotal 4 Jul AskSN
Being poor is expensive. I learned it the hard way, without theories or lectures. I lived it.
When you have a child with Down syndrome, you discover that life is not only more complex, but much more expensive. Love is never lacking, but neither are expenses: healthcare, physical therapists, a speech therapist, a pulmonologist, therapies, medications. Everything adds up. Everything weighs. And when you're poor, every penny counts.
My wife and I migrated in search of a future. And although she hasn't been able to work as she would like (because she's almost entirely dedicated to caring for and supporting our son), she always finds ways to help: she teaches Spanish to Brazilians, advises friends, and collaborates however she can. Her dedication inspires me to continue studying and fighting for our family.
Crises have not been lacking, but amidst the chaos, we learned to bond more. To not break. To support each other. Our marriage has been strengthened through tears, sleepless nights, and difficult decisions. But also with hope.
Today, in addition to working hard to cover the basics, I'm building something for the future: a small Bitcoin account.
It's for them, for my two children. I want them to have something I didn't have: a starting point. But more than leaving them money, my greatest responsibility is to help them grow by understanding how the world works, to learn to be truly free, and to value every small step, every decision.
It's not easy being poor. It's not easy raising a child with special needs. But here we are. Living, resisting... and sowing something for tomorrow.
I think that since I wrote my redemption, I also feel freer to share my stories, to open up, to talk about my dreams and desires. I think that thanks to those blows, I began to know myself better, to understand what really matters, and to stop being afraid of vulnerability.
What good things have come out of you in the midst of difficulties?
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30 sats \ 1 reply \ @Undisciplined 4 Jul
This was a very different post than I expected. I loved this part:
Our marriage has been strengthened through tears, sleepless nights, and difficult decisions. But also with hope.
To me, if you have that, you can get through pretty much anything.
I was only really poor when I was young and had no dependents. It's really not that hard being poor in those circumstances, if you're willing to stick to a budget.
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42 sats \ 0 replies \ @guerratotal OP 4 Jul
Having a wife by your side who inspires you, supports you, and fights alongside you really makes a difference.
When we were just the two of us, we valued money and things, but not as much. When our first child was born, we started to think more carefully about what we spent, and then our second child, who has Down syndrome, was born, and then we really started to value every penny.
I think it's because when we're young, we don't think much about the future, or about the possibility of an illness, accident, etc., coming into our lives.
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30 sats \ 1 reply \ @Scoresby 4 Jul
First kid my wife and I had was not planned. I had a really crappy part-time job at a salvage yard, my wife was unemployed. We had no clue how we were going to support a kid, much less raise them to be a good human.
I'm so grateful because I don't know that I would have ever been brave enough to choose to have a child -- but it turns out they are pretty awesome (and incredibly frustrating).
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102 sats \ 0 replies \ @guerratotal OP 4 Jul
It really is hard work having a child and sometimes it is exhausting, but at the same time it is very comforting and beautiful, especially when they come and hug you and tell you that they love you.
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23 sats \ 0 replies \ @hasherstacker 5 Jul
It was once said that "cheap stuff really costs more than one can imagine". There's a fine distinguishing line between affordable and cheap.
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23 sats \ 1 reply \ @deSign_r 5 Jul
The greedy poor people are those who have little ambition, work 9–5 jobs, go home and sit on the sofa, complain about how the “little man” can't get ahead, haven't read a book since high school, and feel like the world owes them something... And if they don't make enough money doing it, then someone else should step in and take care of them.
The guilty rich people are those who work like crazy, are mentally engaged in business, think about new and creative ways to service others, know how to turn $1 into $100, fully fund college accounts for their kids, read a book a month, build up a large retirement account—and then feel guilty about it.
Keeping aside the guilty people, the truth is that, until one continues seeing oneself as a victim of life living in scarcity, there's no way for the subject and the surrounding loved ones to get out of it. Even with all the money that could be collect, this feeling will persist. It's not about money, that's purely a consequence.
What does bitcoiners often say? Cry harder and have fun staying poor... the first, you can easily avoid, it's just your decision. Staying poor is a detail, have fun is what matters... focus with your laser eyes! Everything you see is simply a projection of your thoughts.
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @guerratotal OP 6 Jul
I totally agree: changing your mindset is the first step, because without it, neither money nor opportunities make a difference.
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23 sats \ 1 reply \ @cryotosensei 5 Jul
Such a lovely tribute to your wife and testament to the things that really matter.
Honestly, my life has been pretty smooth sailing - thank goodness! As I sit smugly in middle age these days, I have become more mindful of streamlining my life. Declutter, say nope, whatever helps to enlarge the white space in my being. I feel that it’s good to travel light
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @guerratotal OP 6 Jul
Excellent article, and a very good reflection as well..!!
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0 sats \ 0 replies \ @d680ecaa8e 5 Jul
Even bitcoin accounts have direction to set monthly fees if banks like bankera starts apply 5 euros per month so this free mode will go forever.
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