When poor become rich

Lithuania
October 18, 2009 5:00am CST
I wonder what happens when someone who lived in misery and constantly felt the lack of money becomes rich.How does this person behave?I know poor people from my own family who now are really successful, but I've noticed that they get angry when you ask them about their past.They hate poverty,they don't want to remember how they lived and how poor their life was.More - they hate everything that reminds them where they came from.Even their relatives.Their roots.Why is that?Do you know anyone who became rich after being poor?
17 responses
• Philippines
18 Oct 09
Just like the old adage, " the slaves of today are the tyrants of tomorrow". Although not all poor people who become wealthy are like them. But there are really persons who become rich and they seem to forget where they come from. they were eaten up with greed and pride. Oh poor boy!
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
Good words.I remember an old tale or story about dragon.I believe it's Asian.The one who kills the dragon, becomes dragon himself.And the story continues.
• Philippines
18 Oct 09
Most millionaires today are first generation millionaires. That is, their parents were not upper class. These people know that slow and steady wins the race. Would you like an example, if you invest just $100 a month your working life from age 20 to 65 making the stock market average of 12% over the last 80 or so years, you would have almost 2 million dollars. Your pizza and cable money could change your family tree. The key is to spend less than you make and make it a priority to pay yourself first. Children do what feels good, adults devise a plan and follow it. Decide today that you are going to be on a written game plan, write up a budget and trim your expenses. The only way that you will build wealth is when you become fed up with the debt that you are in and the way you are managing money and decide that you will be wealthy one day.
• Philippines
18 Oct 09
There are THOUSANDS of 'Rags to Riches' stories and many 'Riches to Rags' stories. There is a common theme to ALL of them. No matter what your income, you MUST learn to live on LESS. If you do, you can retire a millionaire without ever earning more than $30,000/year. If you don't, you can earn $20,000,000/year and die in debt.
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
Sounds like Kiyosaki.I like his conception about money.But there's one thing I like even more - he's not arrogant.My relatives are,and this is their problem.
@ucue2008 (924)
• Malaysia
18 Oct 09
Nice advice. Thank you for sharing this. Actually, I know a lot of these rules, but it so hard to follow it. But seeing where has my money goes during this past month really make me frustrating so, reading this really good for me, Great post.
@robert19ph (4577)
• Philippines
19 Oct 09
hello silvercoin, i am just wondering why your relatives got angry when reminding them about their past. they should be proud for they really strived to achieved what they are now. that nothing is impossible when you really work hard for it. i know a lot of people - relatives and friends that became successful i life but they don't react that way. nothing is wrong anyway infact they were the one who well to everyone what they experienced before. they like to share their story so everyone will be inspired too. so what when you are poor? being poor is not a crime. nothing to be ashamed about it. for most rich people now came from being poor.
• Lithuania
20 Oct 09
Yes, me too, I find success stories very inspiring.So,it's strange that people don't want to share their story and hide their past.
@millertime (1394)
• United States
18 Oct 09
I've never really known someone that went from extreme poor to extreme rich. I've known some people that I would consider to be rich but not really wealthy. I consider someone to be rich if they are in the upper income brackets and live really comfortably. Wealthy is having so much money that you don't have to work and I don't know anyone that well off. The rich people I know don't really mind talking about their past though. As a matter of fact, they are kind of proud of the fact that they made it on their own. They didn't come from being poor but definitely were middle class. I've always wondered what it would be like to actually be wealthy and not having to worry about money at all. It sure would be nice to find out. I keep buying those lottery tickets...
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
I believe we all are given some opportunities in life,but sometimes we miss them.All you need is just show up at the right time in the right place.Be active,observe.
• India
18 Oct 09
I would love to experience the transformation to know what it feels like. Paucity of most things I am accustomed to and know how I feel when I lack something but I would love to know what it would feel like to have most things within your grasp almost as soon as you desire it. It must be a wonderful feeling, but along with it will come the insecurity of possibly losing it all again.That constant fear would a horrid feeling don't you think?
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
Exactly.The truth is that the more we have, the more we can lose.
@iceydon (342)
• Philippines
18 Oct 09
And the more we want to have everything. That's I think the reason why those who became rich suddenly change their good attitudes.
@buping (952)
• China
19 Oct 09
hi silvercoin, so many people in china been rich in these years and most of them was poor before rich. as we all know that china has been improved in those last few years, so definitely many people became rich in the improvement. and my old brother is very rich now, but he was a poor boy. he is very kind to others and people around him now.
• Lithuania
20 Oct 09
I'm glad your brother is a helpful person.
@coldmoon (1088)
• France
18 Oct 09
I think the way people turn from poor to rich have a great influence on what they become after. There're someones who have to work hard for a long time, so they know it's not easy, and they appreciate everything they've got, they never forget how they were because they want to teach their children about the values in life, and the sense of economie. But if someones become rich so fast, they may start losing the good virtues they had before. Especially when they come into the noble world where the others are rich from their birth, they'll try to hide their ancient poverty.
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
I call it "the inner poverty".If you feel poor, week,unsure of yourself,you can live in a castle,drive best cars,have a personal couturier,and it won't make you feel better.That's why some people remain poor even being rich.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
18 Oct 09
you can see it in many lottery winners. many are broke again after a short period of time. after spending their prize with no regard to the future.
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
Lottery winners often go crazy.They think they have to do something with the money and they start spending it instead of investing it.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
18 Oct 09
When I was in psychology classes in college we studied some experiments that looked at just this situation and found that people all seem to try to return to where they were before their wealth increased. They called this returning to your comfort zone. I guess this is why many lottery winners loose all the money they have won.
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
wow,I never thought about that.Those who badly want to become rich - they never ask themselves if they could handle it.Big money is a big flow of energy that does something to our mind.
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
18 Oct 09
I don't personall know anyone who has gone from povery to wealthy, but I think that the reason some of these people do not want to remember their past is because they don't want to face the fact that their lives were once much harder. Personally, I think that it is important to remember where we come from no matter how successful we become.It is my belief that if we forget our past, we are doomed to repeat it. I know that no matter how successful I become, and I will be successful, I will not forget the life I have lived.
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
Yes,I think you could even be proud saying:"Look,I had nothing, and now I have everything.."
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
18 Oct 09
My grandmothers family was quite large (13 kids) and very poor. Almost all of them became successful, or married into money. My grandmother's brothers (my grand-uncles?) were always proud of their accomplishments, and I don't remember them not wanting to talk about their past. In fact I used to love to listen to the stories that they told. My grand-aunts were another story. None of those stories were told in their earshot...there would have been hell to pay. They were totally involved with the 'social ladder' and climbing it. I think that women, being seen as second class citizens back then, caused a lot of pressure in wanting to be seen as a 'woman of worth'. The youngest, and the only one surviving, is quite elderly now. Even still, when you see her, her conversation is all about where she's been, what she's bought and who she knows. It's a shame because there is so much family history lost by trying to sweep the past under the carpet, or hide it in a closet. If I ever win the lottery, I'll let you know if it changes me. I kind of doubt it would, because I'm not embarassed about my past. Do you think sudden money would change you?
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
I don't know If I am prepared for sudden money.Most of us aren't.I really can't tell what changes money can bring.
1 person likes this
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
18 Oct 09
I do not personally know anyone that was poor and is now rich. I have hear that some of the people who win a big lottery wind up spending most of what they win. There are some who know how to invest their money and are still rich. I myself would like to know how it would feel to be rich with enough money to help other family members and still have enough for me to live the rest of my life.
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
No work.No angry boss.No debts!No unpaid bills!We want it!
@SACHIN2708 (1634)
• India
18 Oct 09
well dear i know many people who became rich after being poor .usally happens that they forget their past and they become so rude and selfish and they forget those people who helped them in their bad time now i hate to help because i help so many people but people use to forget all things
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
They simply forget where they started,leaving behind people who helped them and supported them during their hard times.That's bad.
• Cyprus
18 Oct 09
Obviously the poorer times were difficult financially that doesn't mean they weren't happy times. I honesty believe money can't bring you happiness but it helps add to it and it can of course bring security. I think it's good for people to remember where they came from and to remember that money can go as fast as it comes.
• Lithuania
18 Oct 09
I agree.Happiness is a state of our soul.We choose to be happy or not.
@eshaan (6188)
• India
25 Jan 10
My husband myself has struggled too much...and I can say that he had started his business from zero...but he is not of this kind...though he has cut from his past..but he tells and talks about the bad days...and also he has very soft feelings for poor or sufferers now also...he keeps giving money to the needy and has a thinking that God gives us more if we get the blessings of them....many time he and me have debate over this...i ask him...did anyone give you when you had bad days...but he neglects at such time...
@Weizen (144)
• China
19 Oct 09
I think when I become the rich ,I 'll travel the all over t he world .this is my a part of dream ,so I must come ture the dream ,and I 'll apply to go to Usd to study Univertiry in the US .and I 'll buy the new house for my parents ,and I 'll live with my parents
@irene3184 (898)
• Philippines
19 Oct 09
I agree with you. I have encounter some neighbors before and I know their history for how poor they are and they get richer. They never socialize people not to their level. They always trying to be good towards to rich neighbor of ours and they always look their family as one of the socialite.