10 Ways To Break The Cycle Of Poverty (+ Become Successful AF)

If you’re the first in your family to set out to break the cycle of poverty — Congratulations.

Ending generational poverty is no small task.

You’re likely experiencing a ton of emotions including imposter syndrome, the fear of being considered a sell-out, and the guilt of leaving your day ones behind.

And you’ve come to the right place…

Let’s talk about how to break the cycle of poverty.

And what generational poverty is all about.

What Is Generational Poverty?

Generational poverty is the state of being extremely financially poor that is passed down from one family generation to another.

The cycle of poverty is hard to break because your family has a major influence on your attitude about finances, employment, and more.

Plus, it can be difficult for those from low-income families to find access to the resources needed to end the vicious cycle of poverty.

For example, access to capital to launch a business or money to pursue higher education.

How to Break the Cycle of Poverty

1. Stop listening to broke people

While your uncle Billy and next-door neighbor might mean well, if they too are struggling financially, you shouldn’t take financial advice from them.

When it comes to breaking the cycle of poverty, you want to be selective about where you get your advice from.

Today it’s very common for people to give advice about things they have never achieved themselves.

And that’s why it’s important to practice discernment on this journey.

Only take advice from those with a proven track record of success in your field.

2. Quit habits that keep you broke

If your hobbies include clubbing every weekend, watching endless television, or doom-scrolling on social media…we have a problem.

These habits will rarely make you rich.

So you’ll need to replace them with habits that put money into your bank account.

This can include habits like daily reading, learning new skills, and taking online courses.

The most important thing is that your habits match your goal of ending generational poverty.

3. Make high-value friends

They say you’re an average of the people you surround yourself with.

And if your friends aren’t trying to end generational poverty, neither will you.

Don’t be afraid of growing apart from your day ones and making new friends as an adult.

Having a high-value social circle will force you to level up.

You can start by attending networking events in your area or joining professional organizations targeted at those trying to build financial freedom.

4. Stop hating people with money

When it comes to breaking the cycle of poverty, you can’t attract what you hate. And if you have a problem with the wealthy. You won’t attract wealth into your life.

Instead of hating on people with money, learn from them. Invite them out to coffee. Study their bios and background. Ask them questions.

You’ll be surprised how generous some successful people are when it comes to sharing information.

5. Stop trying to impress others

Flex culture is all about flaunting a wealthy “successful-looking” lifestyle to appear as if you’ve made it.

If you want to end the cycle of poverty, you need to stop trying to impress others.

Instead of trying to look rich, focus on building the skills necessary to actually get rich.

You can do this by learning new skills, getting a certification, or going back to school.

6. Choose your college major wisely

Unfortunately, not all college majors are created equally.

If you’re someone looking to enroll in college, be selective when it comes to choosing a major.

While some majors sound exciting, they could lead to a series of dead-end jobs.

Check out our list of the most in-demand college majors if you’re unsure how to go about picking the right major.

7. Quit Materialism

Do you really need all those subscriptions? The latest iPhone? Or every new handbag your favorite influencer recommends?

By quitting materialism, you make your pathway to building wealth that much easier.

Take a serious look at your lifestyle and habits. Do you live within your means?

If not, take this as an opportunity to identify ways of downsizing.

Start by focusing on non-essential items that don’t make you rich.

Anything that costs money but doesn’t put money into your pocket should be scrutinized.

Quitting materialism is another step that puts you one step closer to ending the cycle of poverty.

8. Choose a high-income career

Another way to secure your financial future is to pursue careers with high-income potential.

If you’re in the United States, one way to do this is to familiarize yourself with the Occupational Outlook Handbook.

The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a publication from the US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics that includes information about the nature of work, education, earnings, and job outlook for hundreds of different occupations in the United States.