This article will provide information on the top 12 best tips on how to beat poverty amidst difficult times and also provide answers to questions regarding how to overcome poverty in difficult times.
Poverty reduction, poverty relief, or poverty alleviation, is a set of measures, both economic and humanitarian, that are intended to permanently lift people out of poverty. Measures, like those promoted by Henry George in his economics classic Progress and Poverty, are those that raise, or are intended to raise, ways of enabling the poor to create wealth for themselves as a conduit of ending poverty forever. In modern times, various economists within the Georgism movement propose measures like the land value tax to enhance access to the natural world for all. Poverty occurs in both developing countries and developed countries. While poverty is much more widespread in developing countries, both types of countries undertake poverty reduction measures. Poverty has been historically accepted in some parts of the world as inevitable as non-industrialized economies produced very little, while populations grew almost as fast, making wealth scarce. An economist wrote an article in which he (Geoffrey Parker) stated that "In Antwerp and Lyon, two of the largest cities in western Europe, by 1600 three-quarters of the total population were too poor to pay taxes, and therefore likely to need relief in times of crisis". Poverty reduction occurs largely as a result of overall economic growth. Food shortages were common before modern agricultural technology and in places that lack them today, such as nitrogen fertilizers, pesticides and irrigation methods. The dawn of the Industrial Revolution led to high economic growth, eliminating mass poverty in what is now considered the developed world. World GDP per person quintupled during the 20th century. In 1820, 75% of humanity lived on less than a dollar a day, while in 2001 only about 20% did. Today, continued economic development is constrained by the lack of economic freedoms. Economic liberalization requires extending property rights to the poor, especially to land. Financial services, notably savings, can be made accessible to the poor through technology, such as mobile banking. Inefficient institutions, corruption, and political instability can also discourage investment. Aid and government support in health, education, and infrastructure helps growth by increasing human and physical capital. Poverty alleviation also involves improving the living conditions of people who are already poor. Aid, particularly in the medical and scientific areas, is essential in providing better lives, such as the Green Revolution and the eradication of smallpox. Problems with today's development aid include the high proportion of tied aid, which mandates receiving nations to buy products, often more expensive, originating only from donor countries. Nevertheless, some believe (Peter Singer in his book The Life You Can Save) that small changes in the ways people in affluent nations live their lives could solve world poverty.
- Do not Live Above your Income
This is all the money you make from the activities you engage in. It represents your allowances, your bonuses, your salaries, wages, and all other forms of earnings. Ensure that you assess your expenses and know you can have any savings from your income. You don't Have to purchase things because you want to impress people. Buy things only when you need them or when they can actually create some form of future gain. Don’t buy clothes that averagely go way beyond your income, this does not mean you can not still look good without looking too expensive.
- Learn to be Conservative with your Money
This means that it is not all the time that you will give. Giving is very good especially when it is rendered to someone who is desperately in need. But there should be a limit to it so that you will please others and end up displeasing yourself.
- Have a Budget
The best way to manage your finances is to plan through budgeting. This will enable you cut down your expenses.
- Use the Internet
The internet is a body of resources waiting to be tapped into. Everyday, new information is posted on the internet that can help you get some extra income. Don’t waste those free hours you have at work. Engage yourself on the internet and find opportunities. Using the internet does not end with social media… browse useful sites and spot job opportunities, competitions, facilities, and every avenue where your skills can be applied.
- Start a Blog
You can make so much money from blogging by posting unique and captivating content. Make sure your blog name is related to the contents and go premium. Make a couple of posts per day, and you are on your way to establishing yourself.
- Be an Entrepreneur
With each passing day, it continues to seem like entrepreneurship is the way forward. The advantage of having your own business is that you are not limited to a particular salary. You will always make a profit as long as you sell. As prices are going up, yours too can go up, and you can have a better living.
- Develop your Potentials
Everyone is born with one or more talents, and many are shy about theirs. For most people, their talents are to be used at their ”leisure time”, to just pass time. Your potentials may be painting pictures or creative arts, a skilled dancer, you can join a local dance crew and get paid for attending shows, and even skilled drummers these days are sought after by bands and even individual artistes. Develop your potentials and make yourself useful.
- Be Strict and Straight-to-the-point When it comes to you Business
When friends and relatives pay, there will be progress in business so do not always do things for people for free.
- Do Not Lose Money Unnecessarily
There are various ways by which people lose money every day (either by betting (gambling) or by ignorance) without paying attention. The first is gambling. Your gambling might be at a small scale, but if it rips even N100 off you every day, then you probably should stop. Another angle is sports betting. Even if you must place a bet, ensure that you analyse all your facts, and you can be at least 80% confident that you won’t lose your money before you stake.
- Shine Your Eyes
Always keep your eyes out for opportunities and information. Just because you have a job does not mean that you shouldn’t keep your eyes out for better paying ones. As long as it costs you nothing, don’t be limited to your space.
- Attend Courses and Get Qualified
There are numerous courses that are related to various fields. Identify the ones that can help your career, and go for them. Get the certificate, and use it to your advantage. Also attend educative seminars when you have the chance to do so.
- Learn How to Handle Software Applications
Applications are being used in a wide range of organizations these days to make their jobs faster. Being able to use some of this applications might give you an edge over some others competing for the same jobs you are after.