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Poverty is naturally a persistent shortage of the financial means necessary to upholding a relatively acceptable or comfortable quality of life. Rising above poverty involves improving several aspects of your personal and financial well-being using a number of different methods. A number of persons will never experience this while others will, some rich will get poor and some poor will get rich so its best to be prepared for the unexpected.


Avoid counter-productive and spending behaviors. Assuming responsibility for ending poverty entails cutting habits out of your life that contribute to poverty.

• Unnecessary spending. Don't spend money on anything you don't need. Additionally, avoid paying full price for items that can be bought on sale, with coupons or through discount avenues such as auction sites, pawn shops, thrift stores, yard sales and consignment shops.
• Betting on chance, rather than planning for a future. Studies show that the poor spend nearly twice as much on lottery tickets than the affluent. Statistically speaking, this type of spending rarely pays off, and contributes to poverty.

 Take advantage of government welfare programs. These programs can be used as a stepping stone for overcoming poverty, if you use the funds to offset your living expenses while you advance your financial situation. Apply with local, state and national government agencies for things like food, healthcare, education loans and grants, rent and utility assistance.

Increase your income. Effectively ending poverty requires that you have a steady stream of income that not only covers your monthly financial obligations, but that also allows you to save for and invest in a future without poverty. You may employ 1 or a combination of these methods to increase your income:

• Job advancement. Ask for a raise at your current job, or apply for a higher-paying position within your organization of employment.
• Second job. Taking a part-time job on the side can provide you with the temporary means for overcoming poverty while you work toward more permanent, full-time opportunities.
• Side work. If you have a marketable talent or skill, then you can use it to generate extra income for overcoming poverty. For example, you can babysit, cook meals, clean houses, mow lawns, do handyman repairs or paint to make extra money.
• Alternatives to occupational income. Having yard sales, auctioning items on auction websites, donating blood and participating in medical research studies are examples of ways you can increase your income outside of work.

 Learn about money management. When you are on a restricted budget, it is important that you take measures to organize and allocate your income funds so that you are meeting your financial obligations as well as accounting for your future goals. Meet with a professional at a financial institution to discuss balancing a checking account, creating a savings plan and using credit accounts.

Secure your future. Once you overcome poverty in the present, you can ensure your chances at staying poverty-free by taking the following steps:

• Education. Studies show that an education is invaluable to increasing your income and overcoming poverty for good. Education opens the door to numerous and varietal employment opportunities that would otherwise be unavailable to you. Moreover, education better equips you to navigate through the sometimes complex network of government aid programs and money management techniques - both of which contribute to your ability to stay out of poverty.
• Investments. Speak with a financial advisor about investment vehicles that you can use to leverage a small amount of money into a larger one. This way you can make your money work for you, toward your goal of permanently overcoming poverty.
• Job benefits. Invest in employer retirement programs. Even the smallest monthly investment will add up over the long run, especially if your employer offers company matching.