10 Reasons Poverty Sucks

The "Terrible, No Good, Very Bad List" Edition

Jul 01, 2025

I’ve been crashing out hard lately.

My heart is extra tender, my patience is paper thin and I’ve cussed out more people in June than I have my entire life. (One guy didn’t deserve it, my bad bro. I apologized.)

Last night I realized why.

I’m the exact age my Mom was when she died.

She had the flu, went to bed that evening and didn’t wake up.

All that to say, I’m in my little feelings as I approach 50.

I am on edge.

But that’s not why I’m here.

Let’s talk about 10 reasons Poverty Sucks!

It’s made life really hard

I was homeless three times as a kid and have been homeless five times as an adult. If you paid me a billion dollars to list ten times I’ve felt genuine happiness, I’d continue to be poor. Life has been harsh. I haven’t lived well and that makes me sad.

It makes me feel like a loser

While I understand poverty is systemic and on purpose, part of me believes it’s my fault - it’s crushed my sense of self worth. Living in a country that consistently reminds me I’m not valued hasn’t helped either.

It’s suffocated my creativity

Man, do you understand how creative I am? And that’s while I’ve been depressed, poor and unsupported. Can you imagine how many beautiful ideas I could nurture if I had resources? Please don’t play with me.

It’s trashed my relationships

It’s been hard to sustain relationships while I’m chronically worried about money. “Thanks for the reaching out but my energy is kinda focused on not being evicted and avoiding the repo man.”

I’ll probably die early

This one wrecks me. I haven’t had the money to care for my health which means I’ll probably pay for it with my life. It’ll be a miracle if I survive another 10 years.

I’m not able to help people

I want to rain cash money on people I care about but no because, poverty. I want to send you on vacations, pay your mortgage and fund your Black-owned business. But the way my negative bank account is set up…

I can’t even buy comfort

If I had money I’d probably still be depressed because my childhood was trash. But I’d make it work because at least I could travel, eat delicious food, and comfort myself with top tier drugs. But I’m depressed and poor? Get me outta here.

It physically hurts

I barely have furniture in my apartment. My bed is on the floor and my work desk is a card table with a folding chair. My tired bones need a bed frame, a cozy sofa and my ADHD chair that’s in storage because I can’t afford to move it here. (That chair was the best fifty bucks I’ve ever spent on Craigslist.)

It’s made life not fun

I often wonder about the purpose of life and I kinda think it’s just to enjoy it. But since poor people are often focused on survival, many of us don’t have the chance to really live and have fun. Thanks, I hate it.

It ruined my romantic life

One of reasons my ex and I divorced was my inability to make decent money. But it wasn’t because I didn't try. Once I worked three jobs but it was never enough. Eventually they got sick. Capitalism really killed my marriage. Ok fine, we were a toxic match as well but you know what I mean.

I could list a hundred other reasons but I’ll end it here…

So when I talk about wanting to end my life, it’s not that I actually want to die. It’s that I don’t want to keep living like this. As I often say, this isn’t a life - it’s daily crisis management.

Why would I want to stay?

If I live to 50 and I’m stuck in this same situation, It’ll be time to make a choice.

I have six months.

I deserve the beautiful life my Mom never had the chance to experience.

I want a well lived life.

What did you say, how can you help me escape chronic poverty?

You’re really kind, thank you.

I recently wrote a Mutual Aid 101 Guide because creating useful resources that make an impact is my jam. In the spirit of transparency, I need to make 7 sales today to pay this expensive Atlanta rent.

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