What do poor people want?

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Very true. We need to improve social mobility so that anyone can climb the ladder. In this regard rich people need to change their ways.Some do. I've heard the middle class being vilified. I used to vilify them myself but really I was just jelous of them. Even now I'm still jelous of them because I used to be poor. I should have become middle class at an earlier age, not just in terms of income but more importantly, I should've joined the middle class mindset at a much earlier age.Yes but at least they're able to fix their car or see a doctor. Imagine if their car broke down and they had nothing saved. They'd be unable to get it fixed.I've already got one.

I just need to follow my own advice and reign in my spending / not buy things for emotional reasons. I may even get a flatmate because my rent is over $1,300 per month.

Maybe I shouldn't have moved into this apartment but it's on the top floor and it has a nice view. Ok, maybe that's an example of spending for emotional reasons. That's the kind of pauper attitude I'm trying to break. I should start practicing what I preach.Well, in that case we're screwed

Our fate is to compete against our fellow man. We must work 'round the clock to outcompete a guy who's trying to outcompete us. Don't make a mistake or he'll get ahead

Which innate advantages do they have?

How did the rich aunt get all her money?

http://www.businessinsider.com/most-eff ... ich-2015-6

She started saving from an early age and it just snowballed into a small fortune.

In the USA, teachers not only get good pensions, but they often get to put lots of
money into tax deferred retirement accounts each year. When they retire, they may
have a couple really good pensions.

Last edited by BTDT on 19 Nov 2016, 7:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Yes but should I buy an apartment first? Would being able to live rent free be a priority investment over buying stock?

If only I'd started from an early age. Imagine how much I could have saved back when I was living in my mother's house and didn't have to pay for rent or food. Unfortunately I didn't get a good job until after I'd moved out. If I got that job earlier I would have deliberately stayed with mum just so I could maximise my investing (or after a few years, buy an apartment without a mortgage).

Anyway, I could save all my disposable income for a few decades, reinvest the dividends, etc but at what age should I stop reinvesting and enjoy the fruits of my investments?

Nobody can predict the best investment reliably. But, the biggest mistake is doing nothing.
In my case, my rent was so cheap that investing made more sense. And, where I live there isn't a lot of
housing appreciation (rise in house prices).

Moderation is generally best for normal people, but Aspies aren't normal. The longer you hold off on extravagant purchases the more likely you can retire early with a reasonable investment income.

I'm definitely getting the impression that poor people need free time more than anything else. They need more paid vacation.

Many poor people can afford university ... but can't afford to skip work long enough to attend. This is unacceptable.
Additionally, I've read that some poor parents spend barley any time with their kids because they have no time left.

no way in hell can this poor person afford university.

There are lots of great web pages for learning math and science on the web.

Another resource is library used book sales--you can buy books at tiny fraction of what they cost new.

the cost of university is more than what most pofolk make.

Yep. That's what gets me. How are they supposed to find the time? Social darwinists like Stefan Molyneux say the poor should just work their way through college and join a proffession.

Even when they graduate there's no guaruntee they'll get a job in that field. I know someone who worked full time while she attended university full time and she was slightly traumatised by the experience (didn't get much sleep). She said she was annoyed that she couldn't do all of her course work in class (doesn't work like that).

On the other hand I know some poor people who have loads of free time because they're unemployed.

time is the enemy of the poor, in that either they have no spare time, or they can't do anything with the spare time due to no money.

I did that too, but it was ok because everyone did it too. We had all classes in the evening because all students work regular hours. Can't say it was fun, but I would do it again.

I'm coming late to this thread, but here goes:

Speaking as a poor person, I want my family to have enough food, shelter, education, and medical care without those more fortunate accusing us of being feeders and takers living off of those who have.

That's where PELL grants come in.

i'd heard of pell before but that all [paperwork] is so mysterious to me. my executive function just isn't there.

Back in my college days, my dad helped me out. Still, one could still get some help with the forms from the advisors working for the colleges of interest.