'16. Smoking three packs of cigarettes over 46 years has a significant opportunity cost. If a person invested and reinvested just that cigarette money over those 46 years, he or she could create a portfolio worth over $2 million. Researchers note that the value of a small amount of money over time can be significant.'
Chances are you would have lost all or most in 2008.
FYI: You can't 'save' to make millions.
Well to be fair if we'd diversified out portfolio we wouldn't have lost it all, we flipped too much and then had to pull some older investments out for medical bills when my husband hit a moose, but I will give you the risk factor existence. That's why you have to better yourself even IF you're a millionaire, and why you have to live within your means.
Even so simple things will make life better; don't buy it unless you /need/ it. Don't buy a new cell phone when the one you have works fine, don't buy a new car every 5 years. Make a budget that includes investing, or at least saving, even if it's only $10a month - suck it up and go without a meal or two if you have to, it won't kill you (feed your kids though.) Don't smoke or do drugs when you don't have money, don't buy $200 sneakers when you can't pay your bills, don't have your nails done when you can't afford groceries, don't have kids when you're working min wage, etc. These are /not/ especially hard things to do and they apply to everyone. That's just to "get by"
If you want to "better" your life and get middle to upper-middle class, then you have to work, period. I don't mean just showing up either, I mean becoming a valued employee and going beyond what is "minimally required" for a paycheck. That really isn't hard either, especially considering the low bar that employers have had to deal with in the last generation or so. (I mean seriously you are going to be competing with people who think it's a "joke" to piss on nacho's at work then post a youtube of it...) Personally I recommend staying away from fast food entirely, it's a dead end low pay at management, and even as a franchise owner you won't make much with nowhere to go past that. Same with retail sales, do those jobs then use whatever you can set aside to get certification for more specialized fields - not college, but certs will give you an edge for better paying jobs and evidence your commitment; figure $30-100 for the basics. Then you can start thinking about college or vocation schools; aim for high flex skills - accounting, customer support, legal, and management pathways stuff that's portable. Could also make a more aggressive move/commitment, take a welding class and try to get part-time non-paid apprentice positions on the side; mechanics, plumbing, etc. Military is another option.
Now if you want to really make money, then you have to embrace capitalism and learn to control your emotions, and your tongues. And that right there is why this country is going to go to hell in a hand basket... No company that makes or pays out good money is going to keep someone who "hates" the /real/ consumers of their products (aka the "haves",) "hate" their superiors (aka well paid management, board of directors, and owners,) and who feel the company 'owes' them more than the pay package the employee accepted when hired on.
If you can't do that and still want to be "rich" then you best start setting aside money to start your own business because that's likely the way you'll make real money with an us vs them, you owe me, mentality. Of course once you run your own business you'll quickly learn those "evil" capitalist skills or your business will fail... On the up side, at least you'd finally be blaming the /right/ person for your "lot in life" - yourself.
