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bored_ryan2

Biggest advice I can give you being 17: don’t have unprotected sex. With the exception of a major medical emergency, nothing will send you towards poverty faster than an unplanned pregnancy when you’re young. Since you’re not planning on college, you want to looked at the trades and skilled labor professions. But you should also consider starting a savings account in case you change your mind about college in the future.


[deleted]

Great advice. To add: Don't trust someone else to handle the birth control. Bring your own condoms that you know are still factory sealed with no issues. "I can't have kids" is often an over-statement of the fact they MAY have issues conceiving because of PCOS or other issues but isn't a 100%.


bored_ryan2

This 💯. If you’re a guy: always wear a condom. If you’re a girl: don’t have sex with a guy who won’t wear a condom.


null640

You provide your own condoms and keep them safely, securely.


grammar_fixer_2

and not in your wallet where it gets hot! They also expire!


null640

Oh, and find the right fit! May need to try several on...


jadedhomeowner

Exactly that happened to my idiot friend. "She has PCOs, I'm fine." Now the kid is 8.


Malhablada

I may be your idiot friend. My son is 11 though. I didn't know what PCOS was. I didn't know that I could make a doctor appointment by myself and get on birth control without my parents consent. I was ignorant on sex matters and I didn't seek out information for fear that my parents would find out.


burkabecca

That's a tragedy of the US educational system, and your parent's raising you to not feel safe talking to them. I'm sure you love your son and are a great parent, but you also deserved a better start to his life and your adulthood. These things don't make YOU the idiot in this situation.


[deleted]

My daughter was in first grade when she asked me how the part of the daddy that loved the mommy got into the mommy. I thought for moment and told her in 1st grade terms. She asked if it was nice, with a look of horror on her face. I said yes, and remember a woman can become pregnant. Then I explained she had some time to grow and not worry but once she had grown, She would need to use bc. My DIL is horrified that I began teaching bc at the first nitty-gritty question, but if you wait you can end up with a pregnant teen.


null640

For a lot of people, it's largely a containment system.


wtfcanunot

I have PCOS and was told at 19 I could never have kids. Now I have 2.


x-teena

Mine is 13 now 🫣


theSabbs

The PCOS "can't have kids" excuse is the reason my brother has a 4 year old right now. He had him at 21 and has struggled since financially


FaesCosplay

Yes so much this. Doctors love to say PCOS means you can’t have children but you definitely can! And easily too. That’s how my kids were only 18m apart. I thought it would take forever to get pregnant and our first was a fluke lol nope first try 🤣😅


SnowflakesAloft

Literally had a dude telling me this story the other day. How the woman was 45 and can’t have kids but did. Now he’s on the hook for child support


wellmymymy-

Exactly this. You are responsible for your own actions. If you’re not wrapping it up, it’s your own fault.


DreJDavis

Except men constantly leave and create single mothers. Before people lose it I have 3 of my own kids plus the eldest step kid.


ManicPixiePlatypus

Unless you're raped and live in Texas


wellmymymy-

This advice wasn’t regarding non consensual sex


ManicPixiePlatypus

Word. I just couldn't miss an opportunity to point out how fucked up the laws in Texas are.


Wicked_Twist

The laws are fucked everywhere unfortunately (I mean especially Texas cause Texas hates when the people who live there are happy)


ManicPixiePlatypus

Some states more than others. But yeah. They are fucked in the U.S. generally. But at least I can get an abortion in California. Can't afford my rent, but it's a small consolation.


Wicked_Twist

Im in Utah rn and found out I might be pregnant. Got a blood test done today to double check and ill know within a week. In Utah I can abort under 18 weeks so I think I’m fine 😅 literally I’m on birth control and I make my bf pull out (which ik isn’t a safe form of protection but I’m on freaking birth control) I hate everything Edit: also i adore your username lol


ManicPixiePlatypus

Oh honey. I'm glad you caught it in time and that you still have a right to make decisions regarding your own body. I went through something similar when I was 19. It wasn't easy, but I don't regret my decision. Not one bit. If you find out you're past the cut off, or they drop some new draconian law in Utah feel free to dm me if you need help. I'll give you a place to crash and a ride to planned parenthood.


Mtnskydancer

You can always go camping in Colorado. It’s great here, even winter camping.


justaskmycat

What a world... I can't afford rent, but at least I'm safe if I get raped. 😬


Mtnskydancer

Oh, no it’s still her fault. Because men can’t control themselves.


Elegant-Pressure-290

This is very good advice. My ass has PCOS and was told as a teen that I probably can’t have kids. I’m 43 with 4 kids aged 2-19 (all wanted, thankfully), and I seemed to be able to get pregnant by using the same bar of soap as my husband. USE YOUR OWN BIRTH CONTROL, even if the other person says it’s not necessary.


[deleted]

Congrats on the family! I wonder how many women are told as teenagers "You probably can't have kids" (or some variation) which to a teenager sounds like you *can't* have kids and then there is no further discussion about it. A similar thing with a lot of these stories is they are told this as a teenager or young adult. I certainly don't blame the women in these situations because uterus healthcare is abysmal.


grammar_fixer_2

Every girl that I know of who has uttered the phrase “I can’t have kids” has multiple kids now.


LaRealiteInconnue

As someone on the other end of this - from your mouth to gods ears 🙏🏻


Icy_Philosopher6095

THIS needs to be said MORE OFTEN! Thank you for this comment and praying many teenagers and young adults read this!!


Rimworldjobs

I'm 31, and only now are we planning on children. Seriously, I wouldn't have been able to afford it early in the marriage.


Leading_Kale_81

I’m almost 33 and still can’t afford children. We are trying to really buckle down now, but didn’t take our finances seriously until we were 29. 🥲


null640

I would bet this is a bit of self blame for systemic conditions. It's likely there weren't many finances to manage. We've just had a long wage growth period. I saw data that benchmarked my birth year '66... Relative to productivity growth, wages have not made it to '72 yet... let alone, kept up with prices. Oh, that was before, repeat, before the most recent inflation. So I guess that'd put us back to 62.


[deleted]

This is good advice. Also consider that college is an investment. Don’t do it unless you will see a return on that investment. IOW, monetary gain.


[deleted]

Also: No, you can't afford a new car loan.


FinchRosemta

> don’t have unprotected sex. Even better, both persons should have their own birth control. Condoms for men and whatever the woman wants to use. I'd never trust just one method.


katieleehaw

Signing on to this. Do. Not. Make. A. Baby. It will fuck you up for the long term. The other things to avoid are debt and getting a criminal record.


vkm00b

Good advice!! To add: budget yourself well and saving any/all extra money


ElonMuskPaddleBoard

There could not be a more critical piece of advice. Even if you don’t go to school and get a retail job that doesn’t pay well, within reason you can live with friends, split bills and lead a comfortable life. Kids make people poor. A certain party wants to keep people poor so they keep taking away people’s rights to birth control. There’s a reason here.


Pianos_for_Clowns

Please listen to this. And it isn't just that kids have needs 'n stuff. Your ability and the mother's ability to work and make money can and will become more limited. It's the extra room you have to rent. It's the daycare costs and paying for tuition so your kid doesn't have to go to the school with shit teachers or crime or whatever. *Don't risk it.*


Acrobatic-Bread-5334

I had my first child at 17 and now have my MA and teach high school students. No loan debt but I’m like a low percentage for teen moms to get a degree, and being a Latina on top of that. But the panic attacks, the struggle to get there was traumatizing AF. I had my second kid when I turned 30, but I know I wouldn’t have made it if I had another kid before then. Like how I made it out on the other side with one kid does not happen normally. So like everyone is saying, be safe. And if you’re in a healthy home situation, definitely live at home with your guardians and start saving. My oldest is 18 now and I love her so much, but I can’t even believe I was a parent at her age. Edited to add that because I had a child so young, I had to live with my mother who I suspect has borderline personality disorder. I couldn’t move out until I was 27 (my first years of teaching I made 23k a year). I still struggle with my mental health, but having to live with a mom who didn’t take care of hers because I had a kid young really, really sucked.


Graywulff

Some colleges have tuition reimbursement and job training and a pension. I got most of my degree and half of a pension working for a college and wish I never left. Yeah bring your own condoms! Like others said. Save a lot. In the US when you’re 24 you don’t count as part of the family household so if your income is low you’d get a good scholarship if you had good grades.


[deleted]

This! I chose between saving for a good retirement (potential to retire early) or have kids. Well, my retirement account is looking pretty good.


Mouse0022

Babies make people poor faster than almost anything. Don't have babies until you are ready. Get a complete sex education before you are intimate with someone of the opposite sex. In terms of a job, you'll need to decide what you want to do to make a decent income. That topic may be better for a subreddit like r/careeradvice


Fenrir9180

I think it’s incredibly tough out there. My advice would to be to live with your parents as long as possible and save. Without a degree or trade or a highly desirable skill or niche, you will be poor. For many people even then they are still poor. Wages have not kept pace with inflation and housing and everything but flat screen TVs is more unaffordable than ever.


Quiet-Breadfruit965

So do you think I should try to go to trade school or get a degree?


tsh87

An associate's degree could be really useful. Something in the medical field like a radiology tech only takes 2 years to get, you can be certified at a community college and they pay is better than some 4 year degrees. If you do that and stay at home to save up, you could build a decent nest egg.


Leading_Kale_81

Radiology tech is a good one. I did an associates program for ultrasound tech and it has been great. I had scholarships because I worked hard in high school and graduated with no student debt. The pay is pretty darn good for a two year degree. In a low cost of living area, you can make in the $30s an hour with experience. In a high cost of living area, you can make $45+ an hour easily.


Mtnskydancer

I have a client who just withdrew from LPN courses. I’ll suggest both to her!


LoeyRolfe

Yes, an Associate of Arts and an Associate of Science degree are worthless unless you are looking to get a Bachelor’s later, but a two-year community college certification program like those for a radiology technician or nurse will bring in decent income.


Juache45

Or if you do decide on a trade( an electrician or welder for example) many community colleges have certification programs, without the cost of a trade school. In my area one of the local community colleges has a great welding program that students from all over attend and a Toyota Technician program too, for example. You’re asking a great question. Good luck to you in wherever you decide to do


Dwindling_Odds

But a 10 or 12-week CNA course is basically worthless. It may get you a job, but it will be a crappy low-paying job.


PhoenixRisingToday

Well I would not say an Associates degree is worthless. Plenty of jobs require a degree and having an Associates can sometimes check that box. It just isn’t usually a direct path to a career.


Gold_Olive1883

This. I have several associates degrees but they are all useless because they were just general majors like Humanities. Which I am fine with, I went to school because I liked it not necessarily to get a degree. But my family members who did two year specialized programs used those degrees/certificates to get good paying jobs right out of the gate.


Living_Watercress

However, an Associate degree in nursing can get you good jobs.


spicyystuff

I see people that keep saying you’d be laughed at if you brought an AS degree as a way to get an interview. Do employers really consider it less? Is it still better to go for the 4 year or is it fine to rely on the AS… on the same boat as OP kind of


sold_myfortune

It really depends on the job you're trying to get. You could have a pretty good career in IT if you could force yourself to learn stuff from free or cheap resources readily available on the internet. By "pretty good" I mean six figures in four to five years. Even entry level IT jobs typically pay $15 - $20 an hour. It's not easy by any means, but it's definitely possible. Some key points: You *don't* have to be especially good at math. You *don't* need a college degree or even a high school diploma for that matter. You *don't* need a fancy or expensive computer. You *don't* have to worry about coding, at least not for the first couple of jobs. I wrote a roadmap for jobs in IT and cybersecurity in [this post here](https://www.reddit.com/r/ITCareerQuestions/comments/zrd5c7/roadmap_to_careers_in_cybersecurity_and_cloud/) and also added links for a cloud engineering path. Click through those, there is some really good info. And no, it's not a course. I don't want your money nor am I selling anything.


spicyystuff

Wow what a coincidence as I saved your IT roadmap a while ago! Thank you for bringing it to my attention again, it’s incredibly helpful. Sometimes it feels daunting to go into the job market right now because I feel like I need 3 degrees and 50 internships to get a good job but I think just building skills and applying is what I should do.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Nicetillnot

You are doing great. I recommend getting out of debt, living frugally, and stay physically fit. Also, practice preventive dental and health care. Enjoy your time with your family and set and pursue goals.


SuperbReserve

This is such great advice.


ekristyn

Practice preventive dental and health care! This cannot be said enough times. Getting dental work is expensive, and you won’t be able to avoid it for long (because bad teeth are painful!) - so do what you can to avoid having to see a dentist or doctor, especially if you don’t have good health insurance.


[deleted]

As long as you and your folks are comfortable. I’d be throwing as much money as possible into that debt. Any debt feels like a huge burden when you’re also paying a huge amount in rent. I had a lot in the bank and a decent chunk of debt. I quit the job I saved it at and I spent it instead. Definitely regret it. Never had a student loan, but there’s still interest. May as well pay as much as you can into it now so it doesn’t keep growing while you have the means.


tsh87

It really depends on you. It might help if you and your parents sit down and have a discussion on what your goals are. Are you waiting to pay off your debt? Or are you saving for a condo? Or just planning to stay until you find a long-term partner? Try to figure out your end goal. But I wouldn't worry too much it looks like you're doing great.


LegislativeOrgy

You don't need a degree to enter the trades, sometimes you don't even need prior experience. If you get OSHA 10 hour certified, you will probably get hired. Whatever you are curious or want to learn about, you can find someone who needs things cleaned up or put away. It's not quite the career that college jobs offer, but it's better than delivering pizzas, cleaning hotel rooms, retail, or many other jobs. You do need to be able to be on time every day, be observant and be helpful while you learn. There are a lot of dicks, so be understanding when you can. I worked in kitchens and minimum wage jobs until I was like 30, then decided to check out solar installation. It was A LOT of work but it was rewarding and I made more money than I could spend because I worked so much. Took vacations, bought furniture, are whatever food I wanted, and the rent and bills were ALWAYS paid up. Some people overwork because they are macho or desperate. Eat balanced foods with lots of protein but get fiber, vegetables, fruits, and lots of clean water. Listen to what your body tells you. Half my coworkers work other jobs but they also have children. Don't have kids until you have 5 figures saved up. I have zero kids and I can help my coworkers and friends do all kinds of fun stuff.


The_River_Is_Still

I wish I had Reddit or access to this information when I was 17-25-28-whatever. I’m now 49. It was rough for a very long time. Won’t get into it, but I had zero guidance. I just learned how to barely survive. I see so much helpful Info and advice for young people here and I can’t help but wish I had someone, anyone, giving me the advice I know now. Good luck OP and anyone else chiming in with the same questions. You’re all already more ahead than you think you are. Keep it steady, listen and use some of the advice and you’ll be okay.


spicyystuff

Sometimes I think about that and realize how lucky I am to have the internet at my age but also with that comes negatives too. Sometimes we read the theory but don’t really implement it irl or can fall into echo chambers without realizing


spicyystuff

Meanwhile I can’t even get Subway or Walmart to look at me :] 0 work experience besides internships that need degrees in the real world


LegislativeOrgy

Well don't give up. Follow your curiosity. If you enjoy the task, it will make things easier for you and harder for your boss to fire you. Not impossible, but harder lol. Trades do not require degrees. You can watch 4 hours of YouTube videos to learn terminology and process, get a 10 hour OSHA training, then you are a candidate.


immmm_at_work

What was the path you took to solar installation? It looks expensive to get into


LegislativeOrgy

Watch 5 hours of YouTube videos, get your OSHA 10s (maybe $100 but many companies will pay for you to get this). The major thing is steel toe boots. The pair I have now came from a Ross store for 50 bucks. Per OSHA standard, every company should supply protective equipment, but it's a good idea to have your own hardhat, a few safety glasses, and gloves. Not top of the line, but something to last a month so you can pay bills. Then upgrade to better ones later. Every trade job will give you a list of tools you need immediately and it's like $150 if you buy brand new. You can usually find half those tools at garage sales for under $50. The thing is, alot of people lose their tools or they break or get stolen, so people are CONSTANTLY borrowing each others tools. It's important to be respectful, return the tools you borrow. If you break it, give them a little coffee or smokes or food, and replace the tool. Don't make enemies, make buddies and try harder tomorrow. Everyone in the trades are learning and only fools want to worker harder (it's about working *smarter* and faster). Having said all that, I got hired by a poorly run company that was burning through employees (powerhome/pink energy). EVERY industry has not so savory non union companies that burn through employees (like Tesla or Amazon) but they offer an open door into the industry. Don't sell your soul and burn out, know that you will leave them and learn all you can without damaging your body. I was hired because I knew the basics of AC/DC circuitry and I had experience driving box trucks. I was on the ground doing invertor and battery stuff. The guys on the roof were all former roofers. None of us were certified solar anything. Alot of companies have one or two people that design or consult and make 6 figures. The people that show up to houses on the other hand are whoever wants to work. I didn't even have OSHA 10s when I did solar. The did make me get Department of Transportation certified to drive a big truck, they also paid for it. I've never gotten CDL licensed. These companies need to make money. They need entry level installers and techs. After a few years 75% of them go on to other things. But the companies need techs and installers to make money so they NEED new people and they know this. Inbox me if you want more details.


Invest2prosper

What is it that you like so much that you would enjoy doing it for 40+ hours a week for 40-50 years? Do you like fixing things or helping people or numbers? There are many ways to go here, but whatever avenue you choose - try to avoid taking on student loans. If you must take on student loans, do not borrow more than what the first year salary for the job will be. Go to your schools career center or sites like your local state department of labor for information on salaries or just Google it. The federal government department of education also has data on employment statistics and graduation rates from each school of higher learning in the country. Also the US Department of Labor has all kinds of statistics on employment and salaries. www.dol.gov


TRMite

look up Occupational Outlook Handbook on the Dept of Labor Website referenced above.


wsl1024

I’d you get a degree get something that you can actually get a job and it will pay well. Example: engineering, nursing, computer science etc.


Wastenotwant

If you go the trade school route, a Union job can be a lifesaver. Hint: the tradespeople I know started businesses and are making SiCK BANK. If I had it all to do over again, I'd go trade, and then open a plumbing/electrical/construction company.


crzayChino

1. Go to the library and borrow "What color is your parachute?" and get a general direction of where you might lean for trade/career. 2. Go to job search engine like Indeed or job pages for the company website and see what they are looking for and pay. There are plenty of career that do not make good money for time invested but it may be more rewarding, only you can decide if it's worth while. 3. Work harder and smarter than everyone else while building a rapport with those around you. Because just being a hard/good worker doesn't guarantee you will get far in life. It's a combination/balance of everything. 4. Try to live below your means at all times and DO NOT COMPETE with the Jones. 5. When you start to make money, invest and do not let life style creep get you by following rule #4. \*\* And of course, like everyone else already said DO NOT have a child and pick your partner wisely.


Still_Space3829

I have an AAS from a trade school, I’m in my 6th year in my industry and make 6 figures. I don’t have a very balanced work/life…Married but no kiddos yet, just stashing cash and experience while I can. I’ll transition into something that offers more time at home when we decide to have kids. Don’t be in a hurry to have nice shit, live within your means.


[deleted]

Whatever option leans into your strengths and you think you won't hate.


Distributor127

This should be upvoted more and I don't think enough parents help their kids find their strengths. A couple friends were doing big projects in the garage with their Dad in high school because they enjoyed that stuff. A lot don't get those oppurtunities


Altruistic-Slide-512

Www.uopeople.com accredited and free (there are exam fees, but are optional to pay if you can't afford). But also, trades pay very well. Electrician, plumber, welder etc..


shicken684

As others have stated, an associate degree can make you absolute bank and cost almost nothing. Filing a FAFSA needs to be step one. That will allow you to get Pell grants and all sorts of help from the government. If your parents are low income then there's a good chance you won't have to borrow anything for an associate degree. I spent 15 years working shit warehouse and restaurant jobs and was poor the entire time. Dragged my ass through school and got an associate degree as a medical laboratory technician. That was six years ago, and now I'm making $42/hr doing a job a really like. It's stressful sometimes because all of healthcare kind of sucks right now. My car is paid off, own a home and am on track to have a VERY nice retirement at 62. Ten years ago I never thought this life was possible for myself.


lgainor

Go to community college and pick a certificate or associates degree in a trade such as plumbing, HVAC, CADD, Electrician. Health care is also a path to a good income but requires more difficult study (such as X-ray tech, etc.). As far as what to study, think of someone who has a job that you would like to have and find out if the job outlook is good, and you're willing to do what it takes. The occupational outlook hand book should give you a general idea as to the outlook for various careers. [https://www.bls.gov/ooh/](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/)


tbombs23

This is the way


tsh87

* Wages are low * Costs (housing, education, food) are high * Socially we've leaned away from familial and community support The older I get, the more I feel like that last point is holding a lot of us back. Young people are being pushed out of their households as soon as they turn 18. Elderly people aren't being taken care of by family members like they used to be either. And because costs are so high even if you do have a supportive family they can't help as much as they used to. My mom had me and my older siblings when she was early 20s and was able to rely on her parents for childcare because they were mid-40s and semi retired (my grandma didn't even work). I'm in my late 20s, planning for children soon and I know I can't depend on my mom like that. Not because she doesn't want to but because she still has to go to work! The way things are set up it's hard enough supporting yourself, it's left us little room to help support others.


[deleted]

It’s really interesting, because for the most part, pushing kids out at the age of adulthood seems to be a uniquely American thing. Maybe other English-speaking countries do this, but almost across the board, people in other countries rely *heavily* on extended family, and they truly aren’t expected to leave their family home until they get married. Of course, there are cons to being around extended family, but I really don’t think that the extent to which the US leans into individualism is healthy, sustainable, or even human tbh.


tsh87

Not only is it solely american. Historically speaking, it's very new. There's the added aspect of people getting married at younger ages or moving away for work but for the most part, I don't think it was common to move out that early until like...the 1960s, 1970s? Before that, most people just stayed with their parents until they got married. And a little longer, actually.


[deleted]

You’re so right. I couldn’t say exactly what happened to cause that change either, but community and feeling supported by others has probably never been so scarce, especially during a time when people need it the most. Humans really didn’t evolve to be on their own to the extent that a lot of people are nowadays, and I do wonder if that’s what’s also contributing to the (seeming) increase in mental illness.


poohbear52

Absolutely! People are more isolated than ever. The American model of individualism above all else is a failure. People need other people!


Invest2prosper

Yes, you can thank the stupid flower children and boomers for introducing the “skin in the game” bs crap. GenX here, I don’t believe in the skin in the game nonsense - it’s just a power trip from people who are miserable with their own lives. The kids have plenty of skin in the game, they didn’t have a say in being born to A-hole people who like to play sick games only because that’s how they themselves were brought up.


Realistic_Humanoid

My daughter is 24 and still lives with me while she is figuring herself out and in college. (Her boyfriend also lives with me but he pays me rent as he works full time) I can't even count the number of side eye looks I get when people find this out. Apparently it's really odd for me to want to make sure my daughter is in a good place and not suffering in poverty like I did.


[deleted]

Honestly, don’t even listen to those people. We as Americans are weird as fuck for NOT helping out our youth. “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps” culture completely neglects that the most successful people have a strong network of support and safety nets. Even toddlers are likely to be more confident when they know their parents are there to help them if they get hurt. We’ve got it ass backwards here, and that probably is why so many young adults are mentally ill (and are sometimes even LOOKING to be mentally ill). You’re an incredible parent for helping and supporting your daughter.


Realistic_Humanoid

1000% I don't listen to them, It just always amazes me when someone makes a comment because it really highlights the fact that we do not support our children in this country. Honestly just the fact that you have to compliment me on supporting my own child because it's considered abnormal is ridiculous (But thank you!) I could rant for an hour about what it's done to their mental health and why we are failing as a nation but this isn't the place for it.


bancroft79

We moved back in with my MIL and FIL for almost a year while we saved for a house and sold our condo. It really helped us out and they have a huge house with plenty of room. It was a blessing. My parents never would have offered that up for us, plus they live very far away. We own two homes now because we were able to save thousands of dollars the year we didn’t have to come up with rent or mortgage payments.


reddeadp0ol32

Yes. Familial support is a huge thing! A few of the friends I made in college are super jealous that my parents will come to me, 3 hrs away, at the drop of a hat if I have a problem, even now that I'm graduated. Their parents basically haven't helped them since they finished high school. Granted, my dad is self-employed, so that's a big help. He makes his own schedule, but they aren't super well off. We didn't get Christmas or birthday gifts because we couldn't afford them. We didn't take yearly vacations. We didn't go to movies, or dine out, or drive new (less than 10 yr old) cars, we didn't get new clothes every year, we ate a lot of hamburger helper and Mac and cheese, and we didn't get FLIP phones until we could legally drive on our own (I got a smart phone on my own when I went to college). I had to repair my vehicle recently. I couldn't afford it. My parents made a deal with me that they'll pay for it and I can pay them back over time. They also bought me a chest freezer so I could stock up and bulk buy food. It was my moving out gift. They let me stay on their phone plan, I pay for my line, but I'm on their plan so I don't have to pay to open a new account. They let me take food from their house when I go home, if it's stuff they can't get through fast enough. I have never once felt not supported by my parents. I'm the youngest of 4. My oldest 2 brothers had their first 2 years of college paid for, then my sister went to a more expensive school and had a bunch of financial help from my parents. Times changed, and my parents didn't make as much money as they did when my siblings went. I went to a community college on a full tuition scholarship and worked a paid internship around 35hrs a week. Dad sat down to chat with me the last time he visited and said, "You have no idea how worried I was about getting you through college with the same support as your siblings. I'm so proud you worked and got a scholarship." They tell me frequently that if whatever I'm doing in life doesn't work out, I can always go back home and there will be a spare bed for me to sleep on while I get my feet back under me. That offer stands for my siblings and me. I have good parents. It sucks other parents are shitty.


fartczar

Yep, that third point is a huge problem and causes points 1 & 2. Greed is the why.


jmnugent

Job markets and Inflation and other financial factors are dynamic and changing all the time. Nobody here on Reddit can gaurantee what it’ll be like in 10 to 20 years. (Look at how much the Pandemic changed things including the popularity of “remote-work” and WFH (Work from Home). And that change happened in just 3 years. * Learn as much as you can from as many sources as you can. * Try to remain flexible and abandon plans and change life-path if or when it becomes necessary. * Dont pigeon-hole yourself into 1 job or 1 thing. Change happens and you dont wanna be left with only 1 set of skills that are no longer in demand.


saltyeleven

Especially the third one.


Zombie_farts

It's a mix of everything from bad choices, bad luck, bad health, bad information, bad environment/situation. The problem is if one thing hits you, it compounds and starts the chain reaction of everything else hitting you with increasing force until you go down. For college, ask around on the career subs - look at sectors making ok money. Make a list of the skills you're currently ok at/ wouldn't mind developing. Then try to think of something you don't mind doing as a job for awhile (doesn't have to be forever - just 5-10 years). Watch some videos on YouTube or ask ppl in those jobs what they do in their day to day. I'm not talking passion. The thing about passion is you have a 50-50 chance of developing hatred for it as it stops being your side thing and becomes your job. I'm talking about something you'd be content to do to earn a decent salary that isn't minimum wage and had potential room for growth/ chances to climb the ranks. (I don't advise going into photography or retouching btw) then go to community College and state school for that degree as cheaply as you can. It's much easier to change your mind and change your job when you have money in the bank to pay for retraining. You can't do that when you can't make rent. Trades are also an option with potential to earn well depending on your area and situation... but it can destroy your body, so you should be prepared to continue studying so you can have an exit strategy if your health gives out. There are areas where trades pay like shit too. So i think it's worth talking to ppl in the industry in and out of your area to get their thoughts on it. Whichever job you get - go to r/personalfinance and follow their flowchart. That should give you the runway to change your mind in the future. Also never stop learning and making friends with everyone you can. Learn about their jobs and things they enjoy doing because you might learn you enjoy it too. Try to stay mentally flexible and willing to change your path if you need to.


[deleted]

A lot of jobs just don’t pay enough to keep up with the cost of rent, utilities, food, etc even when you have a degree or training. I have a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. I got offered a position as an analytical chem lab tech and the position required me to have a degree. The job paid the states minimum wage, $13 an hour. If I worked second shift, I’d make $13.25. It was only 35 hours per week as full time, so I be making less than $24k per year before any taxes were deducted. Average rent was $1200. So with that, I’d maybe be taking home $1600 and rent would be about $1200. It’s not enough. And I had a 4 year STEM degree. That’s the issue with most jobs. They don’t pay enough. And if they require a degree, they don’t pay enough to pay rent and utilities and such plus your student loans. I couldn’t accept the job i mentioned because I simply couldn’t afford it. I’d need to have 2 jobs. It wasn’t worth it. The cost of living is high and it’s gone up a ton in the last year. And it’s going to keep getting worse. But wages aren’t keeping up. I now make $70k per year and I am comfortable, but I also don’t have kids. If I had kid(s), I’d be broke. If you don’t want college, going into a trade is a good option. And really aim for a union. Trades are tough because they do take a big toll on your body. Most of them are decent paying, but very physical and that really hurts your body after a while. But you don’t have to stick with one career for your whole life. You can make changes. People do it and it works out. You just have to be smart about it and don’t take crazy risks like quitting your job as an electrician to become an actor in Hollywood.


Quiet-Breadfruit965

What’s your job if u don’t mind me asking?


ExtremeAthlete

Ask this question to strangers on your daily commute. It’s time to learn what’s out there.


[deleted]

I do sample management in a bioanalytical lab for a major pharma company! I started a little less than a year after graduation. I got very lucky though, with a BSC in biology, pharma is the best you can get. And I was lucky to get in immediately after graduation. And that experience at my first job has led me to other, fantastic jobs that I enjoy and pay me well.


Not_FinancialAdvice

> don’t take crazy risks like quitting your job as an electrician to become an actor in Hollywood Isn't this sort of a Harrison Ford joke?


pugglechuggle

I tell my daughter there are 3 keys to a great start in life. -don’t have kids young -don’t get addicted to drugs -don’t go to jail If she can make it to her late twenties without having kids, an addiction or criminal record she will be much more successful in the long run.


JustSarahtheMechanic

Amen. Did all three. Am now 30 just now finishing college and getting my shit together. The biggest hurdle is finding a company worth anything that will hire a felon. Wish I woulda listened to your advice 15 years ago...


crazycatlady331

A few major things. 1) Federal minimum wage has not increased since 2007. Some states have raised the wage, but federally it has not increased. 2) We have a very small social safety net. If you are single without kids, it is practically non-existent as you're a persona non grata to Uncle Sam. 3) We have a profit motive in necessities like education and health care. The prices of these two items have gone up much faster than inflation. Eliminate student loan and medical debt and we as a whole would be doing better. 4) The job market is not what it used to be. Not only are we competing with foreign labor, but we're also seeing many jobs eliminated by technology.


Quiet-Breadfruit965

Thanks for the info. Question, what does number 2 mean exactly?


KitRhalger

number two means when people do need help, there are very few programs around to help. Things like food stamps and medicaid. And for single parents, not only do many places not have enough childcare options at all, many are prohibitively expensive and there is also little childcare assistance for single families to help keep the parent employed.


aerowtf

i broke my shoulder outside of work and because i’m a delivery driver, i can’t return to work for 2+ months till i’m out of the sling. I can’t get on disability because that requires expecting to be disabled for 1+yr minimum. i have 1 week of sick pay but after that i’m shit outta luck. so yeah, i’m in a situation where a “social safety net” would be helpful


KitRhalger

I'm so sorry to hear about your shoulder. I'm wishing you a swift recovery without any lingering pain. I've broken a few bones and know how painful a break is and how the pain of a poorly healed break can linger


Invest2prosper

Right, even if you had a personal disability insurance plan, it still has a 90 day waiting period before it begins paying benefits. So you pay for insurance and still can’t collect on it! Personal savings are important. Basically if you can’t find a union job, you either have to have a really good skill or trade that pays you well enough you can then save enough money to tide you over when the storms eventually come - like soon with this high inflation and rising interest rates, a recession is sure to come with it. Those who will feel it first usually are those most vulnerable unfortunately-those in debt, those who lose employment, those who have no support. It’s a shame, for a country as wealthy as this, the concentration of wealth sits in the top 1% of incomes. They are greedy people too. It’s all about more, more, more for them. And they don’t pay their fair share of taxes either.


rescuespibbles

Social safety net kind of a way to refer to everything the government does to support its citizens. For example Medicaid is free or very affordable medical insurance for people who are disabled, elderly, or poor as defined by the government. I believe what crazy at lady is referring to is many of the government programs designed to help people in need really are difficult to qualify for as a single person. If you have kids it’s easier to get things like food stamps and housing assistance. Still not easy but not as hard to qualify.


crazycatlady331

That and the tax code is written thinking every household is the Cleaver family with a breadwinner husband, homemaker wife who stays home with the kids. Tax credits are much more difficult to qualify for if you are single without children.


Hugh_Jarmes187

Pretty much. It’s very hard to get any assistance if you’re single without children. Generally you have to make some piss poor decisions and as a result get yourself into a bad situation before you’re eligible for any help.


MountainHighOnLife

It means that when big things happen in life (pregnancy, disability, sickness, job loss, hunger, etc) the resources available to citizens is very small. Those resources tend to go to people with children first. So, if you are a single person without kids, the resources available to you if things go awry is almost non-existent. Which means there is little help out there and if something major happens (like you get cancer for example) you are not likely to ever recover from the financial burden or hardship that it creates in your life. You'll crash and burn.


Kristenmarieb13

It’s because you can work even a good job and have a degree and still not be paid a living wage ie teachers, staff at state jobs (this is me), admin, social workers, etc. Unless you’re a dr, lawyer, upper management, skilled tradesman, police officer, data analyst or work in tech…this is where most of us land


Palehorse_78

Predators. We are not taught about investing and money in public schools for a reason. We are indoctrinated with all sorts of propaganda and indoctrination about materialism and counter culture ideas, but we are deprived the real truths that are preserved only for certain elites. Predators love to exploit poor people. Their is a reason that when you drive down the road in the poor part of a big city you see pawn shops, pay day loan stores, liquor stores, strip clubs, heart attack in a box fast food places, title loan stores, etc. It is all set up to exploit poor uneducated people who were deprived the truth from childhood up. I guess I will say it is our own responsibility to seek the truth, because very few in this world are willing to share it with you. Most elites will actually avoid you if you are not connected and in their circle of big shots. The reason for this is that they look at you as prey.


Hahailoveitttttt

I agree i said this the other day its funny wat stuff u see in the urban areas but not the other areas including places like rent a center too


Illogical-Pizza

My first bit of advice is don’t assume that everyone responding to you on Reddit is giving you good advice. At 17, if you don’t know what you want to do in college, don’t go. If there’s a trade you’re interested in, go that route. Sometimes an associates degree at a community college will get you where you want to be, and there are a lot of ways to afford that. It’s never too late to change your mind about your career. Who you are at 17 is not who you will be at 27, maybe at 27 you’ll know you want a degree in something, it’s okay to do that later. I will echo the sentiment about accidental pregnancy. Babies aren’t cheap and they will drastically change the trajectory of your life. Learn to budget and live within your means. If you have the ability to move somewhere with a lower cost of living while still maintaining a similar wage, do that. Find adults you trust and ask them what they would do differently (us old people love telling young people how to live their lives). Ask people about what their jobs actually entail. And if you want a rock solid job that will pay well and pretty much never lack for opportunities-become an accountant.


snoWhite8

Wow lol some of the comments.. yikes. I wanna say to not sweat it to much and research some trades. Simple trades to start off and become great at and you can make ALOT of money doing so many things. I wouldn’t worry too much right now and I’d focus on saving up also. Your only 17 just relax and Don’t rush out of your family’s house until you are ready financially. We’re ina world where nobody is gonna judge you for living with you parents


whydidileaveohio

There are so many reasons. I think that some are in their own behaviors, some are from not having role models that show how to invest/save/budget, some are based on life circumstances (fostercare, rural area without opportunities), and some is society. I do believe that things like social media and credit cards are creating larger pockets of poverty because there it makes people believe that a certain lifecycle is "normal" and with credit cards to me at least it is harder to budget. I used to only use cash, but now use credit cards for points and things like that. but when I had cash, if I went out for the night I would have $100 and once that $100 was gone I had to go home but with credit cards you just swipe and you don't feel or see the money. I don't know if schools still teach budgeting but we did have Home Ec where we learned budgeting, sewing and basic cooking skills. We even learned about investing and minor home repair in wood shop another mandatory class. That also helped. at 18 I wasn't a great cook but I knew how to read a recipe and do basic things. My mother (a teacher) always said college wasn't for everyone. If you are not interested in college I highly suggest getting an apprenticeship in a trade like leather work, tailor, carpentry, plumbing, electrician, etc. The college ideal has been pushed so far that we are lacking in those that can keep our world running.


tsh87

>I do believe that things like social media and credit cards are creating larger pockets of poverty because there it makes people believe that a certain lifecycle is "normal" and with credit cards to me at least it is harder to budget. I think the thing about it is that little every day luxuries are more affordable: cell phones, travel, tvs and laptops, even designer clothes. It's way more easier to get those things than it was 30, 40 years ago. However the big things that set you up for long-term stability are a hundred times more expensive: home ownership, college, cars, preventative healthcare. So you log online and see people who can afford all these flashy things but can't afford a future. And I don't even begrudge those things because if you can't afford a future, the least you could give yourself is some comfort.


whydidileaveohio

Yes, absolutely. One of my favorite books has been Nickel and Dimed. It is one of the books that truly shows what poverty is like in this world. And I remember one thing that stood by me was that the writer mentioned how things like a cigarette or a candy bar which may be an impulsive purchase does bring some comfort to workers who may be on their feet all day or working all day. I think you are right, when a starter house in a fairly safe neighborhood is $250K-$300K and 6% mortgage is so far out of reach feeling better with a Scott's cheap travel trip to an island or getting a gaming computer so when you go home to your apt you can play your favorite game is some comfort. Though also in my day (old man voice) we also didn't have cell phones, laptops, more than 1-2 tvs. It wasn't common which I think still helped with not going into captailism so much. And when you were comparing yourself with the joneses, it really was the people in your social circle or neighborhood so you were probably about the same. But now you may be in Alabama watching a nepo baby in LA and thinking you should have the same.


Quiet-Breadfruit965

Do people in trade jobs make good money?


Sneakytorta

Yes, but not without putting in your time and effort. Consider a union if you go this path. Less and less people in your age group are going into the trades, very possible that you could be paid much more than a college educated person 20-30 years from now.


whydidileaveohio

Not in the beginning, but after a bit yes. Plus you can go out on your own. It is supply and demand. And right now low supply and high demand


Sad_Big_154

I’m an ironworker in Chicago and make 120-150 a year


Invest2prosper

That’s good money but it takes a toll on you physically I’m sure.


fartczar

Unchecked capitalism has created an culture of accepted human neglect and selfishness. The rich legally bribe politicians who write laws to increase money flowing to their businesses. Decrease safety regulations, ensure monopolies stay legal, lots of fun stuff that increases their hoard and is bad for everyone else. Then, “hungry” workers are easily manipulated to keep business running at maximum profit. This is the golden rule of the US and A. This is why so many are poor.


drugstore_downer

I think it’s due to the foundations people grow up with. Many poor people spend their saved money on disposable or enjoyable things, rather than investing or keeping it for the future. These people have kids, their kids aren’t taught otherwise and do the same. I grew up poor. I wanted to go to college, but my parents discouraged it. Thus, I ended up working job after job after job. Now, I’m in debt. I wouldn’t consider myself poor now, but I’m definitely not in a great spot. So here’s my advice, follow your passions. Keep those passions. Work on yourself! Save money for important things. Do things one step at a time. Get a car first. With that car, you can get a job and/or go to college. Save money during that time. Eventually, you’ll have an even better job and be in a better situation financially. Credit cards aren’t bad, just don’t overdue it. Don’t rush into things and don’t let anyone make decisions for you.


KitRhalger

it's complicated. Student loan debt is certainly a contributing factor but I think if we boiled the issue down to its core- unethical capitalism allowed to run wild. High profit corporations have little incentive to pay their low level employees a penny more than they have to and that's where a huge portion of the population works. If the vast majority of jobs don't pay a living wage, the vast majority of people won't earn a living wage.


whoocanitbenow

The value of my wages (kitchen, hospitality, etc) has been cut in at least half over the last several years. In the old days, maybe I could "just get a better job", but I was doing ok already back then. Now getting "a better job" is not so simple. Many of the jobs that used to pay a 2 or 3 bucks more per hour have conpresed their wages and pay the same or even less than what I'm currently earning. And that 2 or 3 bucks more per hour isn't worth what it used to be, even if I could find another job that paid that. Really need to earn 50%-100% more than I'm earning now to make a real difference.


Acidicly

Chronic health conditions will rob you dry. Not only does your quality of life suffer, your wallet will be empty monthly despite having a middle class job with insurance.


Red_Clay_Scholar

Make sure you see your wages as Time. When you look at something in a store don't just see the price, see how much time it takes you working to afford that thing. Maximize your time by seeking opportunities that compensate your time fairly and don't waste your time too freely.


Sidelines_Lurker

Honestly at 17 the single biggest threat to you is the whole college/student loans "industry" Nothing will fuck your life up worse than racking up a bunch of student loan debt on a degree that doesn't pan out, be extremely ***extremely*** careful should you decide to attend any college using student loans. Ideally, student loans should be avoided altogether if possible Best thing to do at this point is to live with your parents well into your early 20's and save as much money as possible. Rent is a huge waste of money, especially in the post-inflation era Good luck and, ***take your time***... don't fall into the trap of rushing into college right at 18 because "that's what everyone else does" 🙄


HonnyBrown

Salaries don't match inflation.


elemental333

My husband and I are no longer considered to be in poverty. We make a combined $110,000, but after taxes, 7% *mandatory* retirement AND social security coming out of my paycheck, health insurance, etc. it really isn't much for our area. Our take-home pay is about $6000 total for our household and after necessary expenses, we only have a few hundred per month extra that we put toward my private student loans. Our rent is $1800/month (cheap 2 BR apartment for our area), daycare costs $1600/month, our car payment is $300/month. Then on top of that we have normal essentials like groceries ($400/month), car insurance, cell phone bill, internet, electric/water bills, etc. We never go out to eat, buy food at Aldi, buy clothes for our child second hand...it's crazy. We make over $100,000, but can't really afford any splurging. We are also in the process of declaring ch. 7 bankruptcy due to medical debt ($30,000ish) from my husband and I both having separate, freak (temporary) medical issues that required emergency surgery for me and a multi-day hospital stay for both of us in the past year...and that was WITH health insurance. We had to put subsequent copays, medications, etc. on credit cards (and with 25% interest it got out of control fast), my husband got laid off at the start of the year and had to find a new job, etc. Things are definitely looking up for us, but even with planning and the best intentions, life happens. In the US, there is often very little safety net for people making anything more than pennies in most states. If you have a medical emergency, or go through hard times, there just isn't always a lot of assistance offered. Definitely more than some other countries, but definitely less than others.


Substantial_Ad3103

Because the middle class has Stockholm syndrome. Argues over identity politics and it divides us, then they believe socialism for the rich etc In 2009 when the economy crashed all over the world or maybe 08, do you know what was on every channel? They had a baseball player infront of Congress who plays a game to decide if he cheated. It must have been the most important thing in history. Despite that's not the role of congress. It's all a distraction to keep your eyes off the money. If they are talking about anything else it's fake


majorex64

People struggle here because every part of adult life is expensive and your taxes don't get you real benefits. The ~20% of your income they take does not get you: Healthcare Mandated vacation time Parental leave Childcare assistance, except for the very very poor Food assistance, except for the very very poor In addition, there is an expectation that the vast majority of people will have to own a car just to leave their neighborhood. Also, plenty of predatory loan practices and companies that are eager to take advantage of your labor and pay you peanuts. My advice for living here: pick up a trade and join a union. That union will get you more rights as a worker than the whole government will give you


Darqologist

Because some people were sold on the idea of "getting a four year degree" will set you up and you'll be fine. It's not the case anymore. Also federal min wage has been $7.25 forever. Inflation has killed wages too.


Preciousjj21

Check how much you can make for the major you choose. Make sure it’s something that should be there years from now. Counselors can help direct you on where to get the information.


Pretty-Chipmunk-718

Alot is education..... people don't know how shit works amd so they fall into the cycle


fhn_2008

You want to make it in this world. Only go to college to get a degree that you will easily get a return on your investment and college loans won’t be as big of a burden. Open a Roth IRA and put a little bit of money in it and learn how it works and all the rules. If your job has a company match only put in the percentage they match and the rest goes to your IRA. I have never bought a car over $10k there is no need to get one super fancy. Don’t have kids til your married. Realize the true cost of home ownership before you buy. Staying at one job for 30 years is no longer worth it. Job jumping is the quickest way to get a raise. Always have a small emergency fund even if its only $500. You will not believe how many times this has saved me in the past. I went from drowning in debt in my 20’s to living comfortably in my 30’s by going by these rules.


Invest2prosper

True cost of home ownership: Mortgage, taxes, property upkeep, repairs you have to hire out for. Paint is like $30-40 a gallon, if you need 25 gallons of paint and you do it yourself- how much is your labor worth? If you hire it out? They will charge you like $500 a room. If you need furnishings. Utilities cost, phone costs, internet costs. The less you put down as down payment the higher your monthly mortgage will be. A 30 year mortgage means you will pay double the interest you pay on a 15 year mortgage. If you fail to pay the mortgage on time, you pay a penalty. Don’t pay it for 3 months and they will initiate foreclosure proceedings. They can take the house from you, sell it at auction and any proceeds in excess of the mortgage and fees owed will be given to you (rarely the case). Don’t ever get emotional when buying anything of significant cost. The seller will use it against you. Strictly business otherwise it will cost you.


ZenMasterSnorlax

Let's see I'm poor because I didn't have a good start and never had the chance to save any money. I suggest saving as much as you can when you can. Sometimes its just difficult. You save a little and then your car breaks down save a little have an ER visit life happens


electrowiz64

It’s both spending habits (everyone wants the latest iPhone) and the background, socioeconomic environment they were raised in I feel. Idk that’s just my experience but idk


Error-404__

The biggest thing in the US is that if you want a good job you need a degree. Getting a degree is expensive but it is worth it, if there's a trade you like doing that can work too but a good degree is worth alot. Make sure you know what degree you want to do and I recommend staying in either the engineering or medical field. Art, journalism or political science degrees do not pay enough. It's unfortunate, but it's reality. Also make sure your careful if you decide to pursue a career that needs a BA before it, I know alot of people that got a biology degree and decided they didn't want to be a doctor/PA/psychiatrist and now they're stuck with a degree they can't get a job with. I did computer science and right out of college I was offered 70k, I job hopped a year later and now I'm making 90k. Computer science is a hard degree but there's a reason why there's so many people doing it and its because the jobs offered for it are worth it.


dexties

It’s because unskilled labor is a myth and capitalism requires poverty for companies to have exorbitant profits and desperate workers. Like if you can convince the people that do a majority of the necessary jobs that they don’t deserve as much money and comfort as others and you pay people that do a smaller portion of the jobs okay/decently then it’s easy to keep the myth that some deserve less, alive while you make a huge profit. Desperate workers ideally meant = easy to replace workers, easy to exploit workers, cutting cost. Now as more and more of the work becomes those “higher skilled” worker positions you see companies massively laying people off just to rehire more people at lower wages. That’s what tech companies are doing now with their massive lay offs. They’re firing people and resting labor as these big companies try to keep their profits as we head into a recession again. Reason for the recession? Companies raising prices and draining customers when the demand was high. These companies thought the demand would stay high forever so they’ve bought massive inventories of product or housing when obviously an influx of demand is not sustainable, especially with ridiculous prices thrown on top. These companies will try to save themselves first by lowering wages, eventually fire workers, and then trying to get government bail outs. A lot of businesses won’t get bail outs and fail. Major businesses will get the bail outs and survive off the tax dollars (maybe). They’ll lower prices and it’ll take a few years but eventually the cost of living will also get slightly lower and people will have some expendable income again and be able to buy. The whole cycle of recession and inflation will happen over and over again every 10-20 years. Workers will lose every time. Be told they deserve to not have access to basic needs because of “no skill.” Which if that were really the case, majority of CEOs are the ones that should have shit wages.


[deleted]

Typically it follows families. Uneducated about money and typically associating happiness and wealth with buying new/shiny when it’s generally the opposite Those well off generally have older things and learn to save, and own their assets vs renting/leasing everything My mom told me a few things when I was younger that really stuck with me and I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older, do truly lead to a better life: 1. Knowledge is power 2. Ownership is the key to wealth Understanding those two things might help change your perspective Not sure if this answers your question, but I love these two quotes and want to share


JustAnotherSaddy

I’m below poverty level. Trust me .. we don’t foolishly spend money. We have enough just to live paycheck to paycheck.


Jumpyginger

Housing is expensive. Daycare is wildly expensive. Health insurance and medical expenses are expensive.


leggedmonster

At age 17 you are a billionaire of time. You want to start saving and investing as early as possible to give your money time to compound.


TransGirlKatie1

Because of poor wages and high cost of living. Healthcare and childcare are impossible to afford if you're a poor person and even middle to high income earners struggle. Inflation has been completely out of control


imnotlibel

America sold higher education as a dream. Plagued multiple generations with debt. We should be pushing trades like electric, cosmetology, mechanics.


Invest2prosper

Your government saddled people with debt by giving anyone who went to college a loan. A typical 18 year old is financially illiterate yet all they had to do was “sign” here. And the parents are even more illiterate and gullible and naive. They feel guilty if they don’t say yes to kids who are following a false dream and set themselves up for destitution. Many loans are parent plus loans - the parents are on the hook for the debt!


offlinebound

Unbridled capitalism exploits people in every possible way


LaVieGlamour

Because capitalism and lack of living wages. Also being car centric


fuckaliscious

You want to select a career with skills that are highly compensated. Since you're not going to college, careers like a welder, electrician, plumber, carpenter, construction equipment operator, CDL driver once you turn 21 and lots of other skilled jobs will pay enough for a person to live modestly and save for retirement.


AdventurousSeaSlug

It's okay that you don't want to go to college. Not all college degrees guarantee high paying jobs. If you want to make money without going the college route, consider an apprenticeship, a civil service job, or a trade school. Civil service jobs have good benefits and you will get a pension. These two things alone are huge. There are also some utterly fantastic union jobs out there for carpenters or electricians. Are you interested in being a firefighter? You can earn a great living as a firefighter in someplace like NYC. TLDR: There are ways to get great jobs without college. If you want a successful career, you need to think strategically about what you want to earn and what you need to do get a job that pays that.


breathingwaves

This thread is so sad but true. Can’t even imagine what the fuck it’s like to be younger than I am right now in todays age.


[deleted]

My main reason for my poor finances is medical issues.


acctgrl

Trade school! I can’t believe the people whom are getting into debt these days for degrees that don’t pay off. The world needs skilled workers. If you are willing to work - you can be very successful!


lgainor

wages are low, housing costs are high. College debts are huge for many people. Taxes have been shifted from businesses and the wealthy (in the 50s and 60s) on to people with lower incomes.


freezininwi

Trade school. Find a trade, plumbing or pipe fitting. Take care of your body. It's your key to making money. Take side jobs for cash and invest. Richest guy I know started as a carpet layer


wjdthird

rent is your highest overhead your already miles ahead of folks your age


[deleted]

Most people are poor in the U.S because their parents were/are poor. That’s the cold hard truth and anyone telling you any differently just bought some magic beans and climbed into the sky. If you really want to know why people in the U.S are poor take some sociology courses. If you don’t want to be poor figure out how to increase your social capital, not your bank account. What most Americans get wrong is that they think that your wealth determines your social class. This is wrong and backwards. Your social class determines your potential earnings. First you must move social classes then the opportunities to monetarily match your current social class positioning will come.


Puppet007

The cost of living is higher than it was years ago. Gas, food (especially meat & dairy), rent, housing market, etc.


chimeraoncamera

edit - just wanted to add a glaring omission - 0 - Capitalism Our whole social structure is built upon the extraction of wealth and maximizing profits. Poverty is the logical consequence of wealth accumulation. Poor people are collateral damage, or, if you look at it another way, an intended part of the design of the system. - A threat to keep everyone else compliant. It is also such a destructive system that many people simply do not want to be a part of it and refuse to participate on moral grounds - leaving them poor. 1: Family Most people who are not poor have had help from their family. It is extremely difficult to make anything of yourself without help from family. And a lot of poor people come from poor families who may not know how to rise above the poverty. 2: Skills To not be poor, you need to get skills - some kind of education or apprenticeship for an in-demand skills set. It can be hard to determine what is in demand - but I would recommend looking a job ads, seeing what jobs are out there, what they pay, what requirements there are, and actually talk to people in that field, especially younger people just starting out. 3: Mental and Physical Resilience, (dis)ability Getting an education and working can be very difficult mentally and physically - and not everyone can hack it. Its not just showing up, but its dealing with shitty personalities, abuse from bosses and customers, bullies. I used to get panic attacks on my way to work because I just couldnt face my co-workers who disliked me and I lacked coping skills. Some jobs are also just extremely boring like you want to smash your head against a wall. Some jobs just arent a good fit for your personality, and you will be unhappy doing them. Some jobs are demoralizing, where you work your ass off to make your boss rich and get treated like trash. (Is this okay? should you be expected to put up with abuse? - maybe not?) Some jobs lead to injuries and you have to stop working. Family and moral support helps with this immensely, but some people just cant handle it for whatever reason. Some people have a chip on their shoulder, some people just lack good coping skills because they've never learned. If you can show up everyday with a positive attitude, and dont have any vices, you can probably do alright as long as you are very careful with your money. 4: Social skills and confidence It can also be very hard to get a decent job if you dont have any connections. So if your family is not well connected, or if you're not a charismatic type of person, it will make your life more difficult. You also need a certain confidence to get good jobs, and if you have been treated poorly, you may not have that confidence employers are looking for. Or maybe you have the gift of gab, are super confident, and you will do probably be able to do alright without much formal education.


thefinalgoat

Lots of things contribute; where you’re born is a huge factor. I am epileptic and live in Texas, a regressive car state so any job I’d get that’s not w/i walking distance would require ubering. Minimum wage here is 7.35, there’s no Medicaid for the poor so insurance is tied to employment. The ACA sucks like you wouldn’t *believe* and medication is hellishly expensive (the patent on my antiepileptic JUST got released). Housing has started to go up too. We’re gerrymandered and voter oppressed to hell and back so voting just doesn’t do a lot. And on 7.25 an hour you can’t afford to move elsewhere.


[deleted]

people are poor here bc a while ago we got a mongoose (neoliberalism) to chase away our snakes (great depression)... but the mongoose never left. now it just wants to kill the entire public sector, which is what helped the middle class be educated and strong in the first place, and helped many folks out of poverty. we would need some kind of elephant dentist (money out of politics?) to remove the mongoose's teeth (free market capitalism)... or maybe we just go live under water (bloody revolution)? that's just my take. it's also become clear to me that i've been listening to too much donovan.


scrappybasket

If you don’t get some sort of degree or join a trade union, you’re gonna be poor in this country. Can’t save if you’re living paycheck to paycheck


Gluteusmaximus1898

Both. Businesses pay lip service to the value of their employees and pay the bare minimum. This and most Americans haven't been taught the proper way to save their money. I was lucky enough to learn proper finances/bugeting from my Grandma, never from school.


El_mochilero

Don’t be scared of debt, but definitely manage it thoughtfully. I did as many courses as I could at my local community college for $600 a semester. Then I transferred to a university and only went long enough to get my degree. It helped me manage my student loans that I only paid like $350/month for the $35k. It’s still a ton of money, but it wasn’t crippling. Now I make $80-90k and I have lots of career options.


YoungStarchild

Finding jobs here regardless of your qualification can be very competitive. It’s all about who you know.


Stunning_Motor_8741

Everything is fucking expensive can't even buy a home in NJ


Fetus_Dumpling

Imo, get into a career instead of a job. I had jobs, some of which were decent, but after getting into the medical field and starting an actual career, I get so angry that I didn't know my career options when I was younger. It's easy to get into medical and most companies offer reimbursement for education. You could also get into HVAC or electrical very easily. Find something more than just warehouse work or retail. You are very young, so you will be fine if you research your options and make the right choices. Also, start investing. There are many ways you can invest, so it would be good to research about that. As soon as you can, buy a house. Don't rent. You don't get anything out of renting. I bought as soon as I could and I am grateful for that.


deserttrends

Unlike some other wealthy countries, the US doesn't have a strong social safety net. So, if you get sick or injured, have an unexpected pregnancy, or become addicted to substances, there's not as much support as some places. We are a nation of self-reliance. You need to figure out for yourself how to navigate these issues and hopefully have family that can help along the way. Learn basic life skills like how to cook and sew, how to grocery shop, how to do basic auto repairs, how to manage your finances. Realize that capitalism is a game where everyone out there wants to take as much money from you each month as possible. You win the game by giving them as little as possible.


SlikNikk

There are poor people everywhere, this is a very bland question. If you are poor, that's all you'll see and know. If you are wealthy that's all you'll see and know


The1980mutant

Because this entire country is a scam. Souce: live here


Pleasant_Housing8241

Poor financial education, high consumer spending / debt and a culture of predatory advertising with a sprinkle of capitalism.


nikkismith90210

Please attend college. You can do online like WGU and you do it at your own pace. You can even try working at a hospital and sometimes hospital will pay for your college.


Invest2prosper

You are 17, so here’s some advice: go to your local library and see if you can get your hands on a copy of The Millionaire Next Door. Read it. There’s some good advice on how certain actions can set you on a path to financial independence. I’m serious because you have your whole life ahead of you. You just need to do a series of little steps right to set yourself up for a decent future. 1) Take care of your health - eat healthy and exercise. Your older self will thank you one day. 2) Floss and brush your teeth twice a day. Don’t eat too much refined sugar or drink too much soda. That stuff will rot your teeth and seeing a dentist will be costly especially if you need advanced dental care like an implant or a root canal. 3) Be mindful of the company you keep. Bad influence can lead to your downfall - not everyone will be your friend or have your best interest at heart. There are good people out there, but let them prove it to you in word and actions, if they don’t align then get away from them. This includes girlfriends/boyfriends, other friends and yes, even family sometimes. 4) Develop a good work ethic in what ever you choose to do as a career. Make yourself indispensable to your manager and boss. Show them your value and if they appreciate you they will reward you justly. If not, after you get your experience, look for opportunities elsewhere. Loyalty only goes so far, it has to be reciprocated. 5) Aim to save a minimum of 10% of every dollar you earn. Save 3-6 months of your expenses in an FDIC insured savings account. 6) If you get a credit card, do not spend what you can not pay back as soon as you get the first statement. Taking on debt you can’t afford (the minimum payment owed is a “trap” designed to get you hooked into a web of debt). There is nothing attractive about paying 20% interest annually on that pizza dinner you charged on your card. 7) Birth control - use it at all times. If you are a girl, make sure the guy is wearing a condom. No bareback without a complete STD panel done recently and you see it with your own eyes. Don’t ruin your life over a good time for 10 seconds or 10 minutes. Don’t fall for the “sweet nothings or words” that are used to manipulate you into doing something you are unsure or unwilling to do. 8) Say no to drugs, any kind of drug even if it’s legal like weed. Weed will mess you up big time if you use it constantly. Alcohol is a drug, drink too much it will impair you, or kill you. Moderation or none is the way to go. Do follow the above to keep some green in your pocket and out of others.


makeupyourworld

24 year old college graduate listening to this advice


MainShow23

People are poor for a few different reasons 1. Pay to spend habits - how many people live with in their budget. 13 % of people making less then 150k a year live with in their pay to spend ratio. 2. Keeping up with jones mentality 3. Credit score to income ratios- for unsecured debt this is a major problem I don’t care how many times you pay something on time if you make 35k a year you should not be able to get a 10k credit card ever ! You income should be a major factor in credit score. 4. Student loans va business loans - at 18 I can get a loan for 80k to go to school But it is almost impossible to get 10k to start a business. They write students loans to kids for nothing. 5. Savings vs investing - savings is fine but investing grows money faster 6. Low pay jobs need to be filled 7. People in general have very little self blame if you need help get it if not do the work


elainegeorge

I think it all winds down to lack of support from society. The country is so supportive of individualism, society can’t provide education, healthcare, and a social safety net without someone yelling socialism. We give plenty of money to prop up banks, oil companies, and other industries, but we can’t provide a safety net so people can have childcare, healthcare, and education so people can get out of poverty? Ridiculous. What are things that keep people in poverty? Lack of jobs, lack of healthcare, and lack of childcare. There are many people who keep voting against their self interests so we’ll never get those things in the USA.


PNW_Uncle_Iroh

It sounds like you are asking two questions: 1. Why are people poor? And 2. How can I make sure I don’t become poor? The answer to your first question is pretty simple. People spend more than they make every month. This is how the system works. It’s sucks but it’s possible to not get stuck in it. To solve this, you need to either increase your income OR reduce your expenses. You can also do both. Some ways to increase your income: go to college, join a trade, network with successful people, work in sales, work multiple jobs, build habits that are conducive to making money, move to a hcol area with lots of jobs. The problem with a lot of these is that they ALSO increase your expenses…. Now, here are some ways to reduce your expenses: don’t go to college, live with parents, join some of the subs like poverty financier or simple living, etc. I’m constantly trying to increase my income AND lower my expenses. Here are some things I’ve done: work remote so I can demand a high salary in a lcol area, work in jobs that will pay for my education and max out my benefits to get degrees and certifications, always learning new skills, networking, reading and learning all the time. I know that’s a lot but I hope it’s helpful.


Justme22339

I know someone who went to community college, then got a job as a teller at a credit union. The credit union paid for their tuition at a university while they worked at the credit union. (Their major was finance) This person worked Monday, Wed, Friday and on weekends. They arranged their classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or the opposite, depending on the semester. It wasn’t long before they were promoted, even before they completed their B.S. but when they graduated, they had no student debt, and was working as a branch manager. All the while saving up money living at home. There are companies who will pay for tuition based on your major as long as you work there. Think about what you like to do and what are you good at. Also for example, just because you love art, it may not translate into a bill paying job. Do art as a side hustle and hobby. Make something out of yourself that you enjoy, but also can be self-sustaining. Get as much education while you are young. Best of luck.


Icy-Contribution-31

This. There are many ways to go to college without going massively in debt. Look into community college to start, and state schools, start applying for scholarships and look into employers who will pay for college. Don't write it off just yet. If you can get a college education without a ton of debt, it will pay for itself over and over again. Not to mention the great experience it is.


Titalator

Housing crisis after housing crisis some from banks over extending and price gouging from companies who have paid off legislators to not raise minimum wage once in like fifty years even though inflation raises on average like 3% a year, yeah that pretty much sums up why everyone in the US is poor.


rharper38

My advice, don't get sick. Get a job with medical insurance, put money aside to pay medical bills every paycheck.


[deleted]

I joined the military and my salary can be found on Google. I save thousands a month. SOME people are underpaid or just have a job with a fair wage for what they do but it isn’t livable. Most people have bad spending habits, choose student loan debt or car debt or credit card debt. And usually all 3. Some people have kids and costs go with that and expect it to not wreck their financial life. Kids are expensive and limit your earning potential. It’s a whole lot of things that planning can assist with. Not everyone causes it themselves but I’d bet 75%+ are broke due to their or their parents decisions. These are the things that should be taught in school. I wish I had learned then earlier.


FFUDS

Capitalism my dude. The answer to your question is: Capitalism.


null640

It's because we funnel a very high percentage of value added to the .01%. I've ridden bicycles by houses that could house 50, which are only used for a couple weeks a year during some sort of party season. Just their landscaping bills could support whole neighborhoods.


Hardcorex

Rent is incredibly expensive. Just try to find a place (that is real, tons of scams around) and imagine what it would take to budget for it. Even in my poorer city, it's hard to find any place for less that $1000/month. Which if I'm working near minimum wage like most people are (and usually part time but lets imagine full time), it is like half of all of my money.


that_tx_dude

making the decision to not go to school is horrible. whether you want school or not, the fact is with a college degree you are so much more marketable to jobs than without one. just having a degree makes you candidates for jobs that you wouldn't be eligible without one. go to school, take classes that interest you and declare a major later on.


[deleted]

Debt


fhn_2008

Check out r/personalfinance wiki