Is Being Poor or Rich a Choice?

Question

PenkWing · Accepted Answer

No. It's true that you can work hard to improve your situation. But you do so in a competitive arena, where only a few thrive, and the rest take the scraps. The game is rigged, because not everybody has the same circumstances and the same opportunities. Even among the financially successful, the success stories tend to be about luck: being in the right place at the right time. While all the others who didn't have the same luck might end up in a much worse situation.
The bitter truth is that there is place only for a very very small number of rich people. Nobody deserves poverty, and it's not like most of those who are struggling with their finances did anything bad to end up in that position.

gorydetails · Accepted Answer

To an extent, yes. To get out of poverty you have to:
1) graduate HS
2) work 40 hrs a week
3) get married prior to having children
4) Be 21 before having children.

If you do those things, you're 95% likely to be above the poverty level.

Apulu_Imback · Answer

From my point of view, yes it's a choice. And I'm saying this because I am daughter of a man who is self made, the rose up from poverty to become pretty rich now. My great grandfather was well known and well reputed and he was rich too. However the family started shrinking towards poverty when my grandfather started having more kids. They literally gave birth to 18 kids out of which 11 survived, one of them who is my father. It was tough to educate all the kids of the family and it was almost impossible to marry off the daughters in the family because dowry was really important back then. My dad became financially independent after sophomore year and moved out to city for getting the high school diploma (studying +2 year). He paid his own fees by bringing scholarships in various competitive exams and all school tests, he studied really well. He talked with small business owners near his college and learnt what exactly is business and gave his brothers some idea as how they can start a small business and expand it. He studied books related to business and banking in his free time. When he got the diploma with division A, he later became engineer and got a well paid job. But he didn't like it so he started his own business of interior designs and such. Then he married my mom. And then later he started two wheeler dealership of X company. But it didn't go well so he stood up another bike dealership company of Y company in 2016 and it's going extremely well. Both of my parents are increasing this business as time passes by. So I have a life related true story to prove that it can be a choice. Although some are lucky by taking birth in a rich family but it's not impossible for poor to become rich. Everyone can at least stand up on their own feet. I know many will disagree but hey, if you're dedicated then it's possible. I know many will bash me for this thought because I haven't seen the pain of poverty and I'm saying this. But my point stands still and it won't change. Maybe it depends on different situations and causes for the poverty but I'm talking about poverty or at least lower middle class in general.

BeMuse · Answer

Not exactly. The system is rigged to a large degree. There is financial mobility for people with brains and a strong work ethic, but we don't live in a free market. America is a centrally planned economy to a large degree where certain companies are considered too big to fail. Many zombie companies are propped up by cronyism. Certain people have easier access to credit. You have to swim pretty hard up stream to get anywhere. If you eliminate central banking and federal income tax people will be on a much more even footing and be able to compete more fairly. Then your economic choice will become more impactful.

TheSpaceGnome · Answer

In some situations it's a choice, in others it isn't. We do not all start out rich, or poor, or healthy, or sick.

Some are born into money, some born into poverty, some of the ones born into poverty manage to figure out a way to become rich, and some of those manage to pull it off, while others get stuck in poverty because they lack whatever is needed to escape it in their situation, or just aren't able to think of what to do or how to do it, or they are not healthy enough to, or they are just lazy.

aoihewgf · Answer

Depends on what you consider rich. Some people might find $1M in wealth means rich but nearly all of the people who are at that level wouldn't consider themselves rich. They might see $10M as being rich. And so on.

But in general, yes, your level of wealth is your choice. You choose to go into certain fields of study. You choose to take jobs that may pay little or may pay a lot, You choose to save more than you spend. You choose to take advantage of tax advantage retirement options. You choose to have a family that is quite costly. You choose whether to buy your kids cars and pay for their college expenses or not. You choose whether to invest your savings and what funds or equities to invest in. You choose to buy expensive vehicles that lose value very quickly.

How would it not be your choice?

mobiusforniner · Answer

Rich, is a relative term.

I make a modest salary, invest and save in the stock market. I drive a 34 year old car as my daily driver, which i fix and maintain myself. My computer is 12 years old, my no frills phone, 4. I own a modest house in a very nice neighborhood, which is my only loan. I purchased a small plane that i saved to buy in cash, which I use as my after work hobby. No debt. All bills paid in full.

By comparison, one of my in laws also makes a modest salary. Drives a brand new car bought on loan. Has brand new up to date phone and computer worth thousands. Lives in rental property and has zero investments. Loads of credit card debt. Living from paycheck to paycheck.

But he claims im rich.

Nirghata_Vrishaghata · Answer

It's generally very possible even today in America and other Western countries that if you're poor today that you won't be so within 7 years.

My ex wife is the daughter of 2 Korean migrants in Chicago, her dad was a janitor and her mom worked for a meat packaging facility. Both could barely speak a word of English but they both knew the importance of education. They worked long and hard hours, lived within their means and ensured both she and her brother finished high school and then attended uni.

1 of them today is a big shot in a chip manufacturer and the other words for an aircraft manufacturer.

Siri137 · Answer

I don't believe that anyone "chooses" to be poor. If provided with an actual choice, why would anyone select poverty? People who do struggle financially tend to have health and/or mental issues, have recently experienced a run of bad luck, or don't have the necessary social networks to help pull themselves out of the rut they've fallen into.

I'm not poor myself, not by a long shot, but I absolutely HATE the way so many smug, condescending individuals who should know better, like to look down their noses at others and say things like, "Oh, they should just work harder", as though it's that simple (it's not) and the one they're condemning hadn't actually already thought of that.

Aerissa_Jade · Answer

Yes and no, because there are people who choose both. Some chose to be poor, by refusing to work or improve themselves. They take whatever crap job they can get and that is that.

They'll make excuses about well I could do this or that but I can't because of this or that.

Yet there are those who will work but are always on the look out for better jobs, better career opportunities, trying to improve themselves.

No one rich or poor simply becomes that way by luck, with the exception of a few who inherit but then again, many rich who inherit end up poor anyways, same deal with those who win the lottery and end up poor in a few years.

I did vote yes but keep in mind, I don't mean super rich, like a billionaire, to me rich means someone who has enough money to do most of what they want. Maybe not everything but most. A few hundred thousand a year, give or take.

Ben487 · Answer

I don't think so. It's almost the same thing to ask is winning or losing a choice. Everybody wants and tries to win but only one person gets the gold medal. The rest take their place in the standings. If you make the choice to work hard maybe you stand a better chance then per say the lazy competitor, but it does not guarantee the outcome. Sometimes the circumstances are such that inherent natural ability supersedes and prevails in spite of a discrepancy in effort. In actuality the playing field is far from even. For that reason I don't believe being in the rich or poor class is a choice its dictated more by fate and circumstance.

WindAtMyBack · Answer

For most people it's a choice to be poor. It's not that they literally choose to be poor. It's just that their choices and actions make them poor, which has the same result.

There are some obvious exceptions though - people who literally can't work for example. That's an extremely small percentage of people though.

It really is not that difficult to make a decent living. Too many people are just not willing to do what needs to be done.

Staximus · Answer

I have met plenty of people that came here to Southern California with literally nothing but the clothes on their back and are millionaires now due to nothing but hard work and determination. You don't have to be born rich, you just have to be smart enough to take advantage of opportunities.

Anonymous · Answer

Its hard being anything is not a choice in a free country. Althou being poor is more the result of making bad choices, or simply refusing to choose as poverty is the default condition.

Being rich on the other hand is the result of making a great many very good choices.

How many does in fact depend upon circumstances but said circumstances themselfs are also the result of choices.

exitseven · Answer

Yes, there are plenty of people who are born with nothing and end up being really rich. And some folks are born into money and never really had to make a choice about it. I was born without money and struggled and although I do not consider myself rich i ended up with more than I ever thought I would.

Justmeagain1 · Answer

There are so many factors surrounding rich/poor. Generational poverty, work ethic and opportunity. I could list a ton of reasons behind both. I believe that I am on the fence surrounding this sorry.

JordanianNumetal · Answer

Yes and No, i've met self made millionaires that aren't happy, and I've met millionaires that had it given to them and they eventually lost it all. Money can't buy happinessI my mind being rich has nothing to do with money. Happiness comes from within. and if your happy and content with your life then that is as rich as you can get.

FinalFantasyBro · Answer

It both a possibility because you can either be born into a rich family or be born into a poor family! Another possibility is trying to get rich through hard work you can try to start a business marry into a rich family through a wife or husband or you can also try to see if you could achieve winning the lottery.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Not necessarily. One can become rich by inheritance, winning a big money game jackpot without putting any effort, sweat and tears.

And one can become poor because their country suffers greatly from lack of economic opportunities, serious health problems, drug and substance abuse and just plain reckless with their money or being a lazy bum that refuses to labor.

fonduegirl · Answer

It can be. If you're poor and choose to procreate anyway, that's the worst decision you could have taken.

RavVid · Answer

Partly. You can chose to put more effort into you career or not. You can choose to spend more or not. Some of it is what you learnt in the crib

burlen · Answer

Being poor or rich is not solely a choice, as factors such as socio-economic background, opportunities, and external circumstances play significant roles in determining an individual's financial status.

SeriouslyFunny00 · Answer

No. I grew up in a place where some people just don't have a choice nor the opportunity. 🙃

jennifer_bloom · Answer

It’s is sometimes a choice and sometimes a product of bad luck or abuse and neglect.

Paris13 · Answer

A Choice in Being Lazy or a Hard worker. xxoo

David_Bayer · Answer

Whether someone is poor or rich is not entirely a choice they make. While personal decisions can play a part, many other factors like their circumstances and the systems in place can greatly influence their financial status.

TacosRAwesome · Answer

To a certain extent. But it's easier to get rich if you're starting with a healthy cash flow from the get go.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

I mean, sort of. I believe anyone could be rich if they put the effort into it. But most people don't

Damcky · Answer

Find a job that pays well and learn to like it, my Dad said. He was right, as I kinda lucked into a great job. $ 150,000 k when I retired 20 years ago.

Nikki1989 · Answer

Only to a tiny extent. It is not that simple.

Dargil · Answer

It is number of choices, combined with luck.

Anonymous · Answer

It kind of comes down to are you willing to screw people over for money. As it will happen. Screw over a person for a job position, then each person moving up. Cheating. Suing someone for settlements which is really just justice in most cases.

David4358 · Answer

It can be sometimes, Lots of bad choices can end you in the poor house, and if you make lots of good choices you could end up rich. but its not always cut and dry, sometimes bad luck comes into play

AnusNdaPainus · Answer

Yes it is a choice because rich and poor are mindsets  it’s all about perspective

Ur1local2bisexual · Answer

Being rich is sometimes a choice but being poor is not a choice

WanderingLoveWizard · Answer

If being rich is a choice, then I'm ready to make that choice. Just tell me how bud

hiyamotherfers · Answer

A kidney sells for $1,000 to $10,000 and a person can live fine with only one

Anonymous · Answer

Yeah, working too little or having kids will impact your financial ability

ColHathi · Answer

I don't think it's as simple as a yes or a no.

hammeronfire · Answer

No it’s not. It’s all a matter of the circumstances you were born into and the opportunities afforded to you over the course of your life.

DizzyAster2 · Answer

Depends on options.  Some who chose rich don't have options to get there or the options are non viable ones.

AngryCarl2 · Answer

Being rich is a choice. Being poor is bad luck.

LiamJHayden · Answer

For some, yes. They are too lazy to put in the effort to succeed. For others, not really.

Europa789076 · Answer

depends what you think as rich. You can be living off modest salary and have no debt and you could be ok

msc545 · Answer

It has little to do with choice and everything to do with luck and inheritance

Twalli · Answer

If it was a choice, everyone would choose to be rich

LazerBean · Answer

Yes to a huge extent.

welcomemen · Answer

I believe a lot of the times yes

Rangers · Answer

It used to be, but those days are long gone now

sunflower00 · Answer

Depends on the situation

Forceinhand · Answer

Depends on what choices has led you where.

Christoff92 · Answer

Yes and no. Depending on the Family traits.

SmokinAces2000 · Answer

Depends on the situation

Anonymous · Answer

If it is, then I choose to be rich :D

Summeroflove · Answer

It depends really.

sudeki · Answer

I'm not sure this

Is Being Poor or Rich a Choice?

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