5 Reasons Why Being Broke Sucks

Hey-oh! What's up blogosphere? Starving Collegette here. If you're anything like me, you can relate to being short on spare cash. I mean college is a wonderful step in a better direction for life, but it also takes time away from being able to bring in a decent pay check.  Sure, you could go to school full time and work full time, if you want to die of sleep deprivation!

Here are my top five reasons why being broke sucks. See if you can relate:

1. Getting ahead seems nearly impossible. 

I grew up in a lower middle class family. Sometimes we had a little extra money, sometimes we were in the food line. Needless to say, my parents didn't have the means to put aside money for me for a car or college. Now that I'm a young adult, it's like I'm still a teen because I am still at home! You see in order to try and get on my own feet I need a car, to get a job, to make money, to eventually move out. Usually parents can help out with a car, but mine can't. So it's like this: I need a job to get a car to get a job. Can you see how I'm a bit frustrated?

2. Weekends are dead. 

That's right! While all of your friends are out having dinner and seeing the latest movies, your broke behind is sitting on the couch at home! Most likely wishing you could find a job or an opportunity that will change things. You can only channel surf and eat your parents food for so long until it gets old.

3. Your wardrobe is less than desirable. 

While it is true that most of us are more fortunate than others, wearing the same clothes that you've had since you graduated high school isn't the biggest confidence booster. Going out and meeting new people is embarrassing because you can tell that they see how faded your jeans are in certain spots. I know when I open my closet, it's mostly full of older clothes and free tee shirts that I've received from visiting colleges...

4. Judgmental people. 

Now obviously I'm using a bit of humor in this blog, but the social stigma that goes along with not having a job can be bothersome. Yes I'm young, yes I'm able bodied, and no I am not a dead beat leech. Like I mentioned in my first point, I'm just trying to get myself up on my own two feet. I would much rather be financially independent, but the truth is the economy today has influenced companies to look for people with job experience and referrals from a current employee. Both of which I do not have. I've applied, I've called, I've even done interviews. I have a clean criminal record, the jobs that I've worked for in the past I left by my own choosing. Things just aren't going my way right now, so take your nose and stick it back into your own business.

5. Guilt

Last but not least, it just feels bad! I think to myself all the time, what did I do wrong? Where could I have changed something along the way that would have caused a different set of circumstances? The reality is that some people just aren't born into a fortunate upbringing. If you grew up in the projects, you didn't choose that. We were all born into certain circumstances. The difference is made by rising above what we've been given and continuing to push onto a better life.


I hope that some of you can relate to this article. Poverty and being poor are no laughing matter, but sometimes a little humor can ease the tension.

Much love! 

-Starving Collegette

The Importance of Personal Development

In this life there are plenty of lessons to be learned. So many that we couldn't possibly begin to comprehend. All of us were raised in a different family or housing situation, and from that we were taught certain things. 

Most of the time, we only learned a few things by seeing our parents or guardians fumble around with that thing they call "parenting". So what can we do if we aren't equipped to face the real world? 

Two words. Personal development! BOOM. Mind blown. Just kidding, but really personal development is an awesome process. It allows us to better ourselves in a way that most people don't think about. 

It can look like all different kinds of things too. You can develop your career skills, dating and social skills, emotional health and coping skills... The possibilities are endless! 

There are few things more important than continually growing as a person. When we add value to who we are, we add value to the amount of money that future employers are willing to pay us. We add value to the character of the person that we decide to marry because we will attract someone who is more put together when we behave likewise. 

Every life has value. What we do with that initial value is up to us. We can choose to maintain or we can choose to become refined. This isn't to say that rich people are better people and impoverished people aren't. That's not what it's about. It's about character, not monetary wealth. 

Will improving our character help us attract more wealth and opportunity? Absolutely. It's not some kind of woo woo magic either. Most people today believe that they are stuck with what they have and with who they are. So when we realize that we can improve ourselves, we automatically set ourselves apart from the status quo. The status quo doesn't breed success. 

We need to have the audacity to believe that we are worth putting effort into. I'll let you in on a secret: I'm not rich, in money or self esteem. Is that going to stop me? No! Who I am is not who I have to be. I am poor. I don't have to stay poor. I can choose to invest in my character and education. 

The number one book for developing exquisite integrity and character is the Holy Bible. Hands down. After that, there are hundreds, maybe even thousands of personal development books. Reading may not be a favorite hobby of yours, but if you want to get ahead in life you need to suck it up and do it anyway. 

Reading enhances your vocabulary, and being eloquent can help open door after door. Take it from me: I'd much rather watch youtube or paint my nails; however, those desires didn't get in the way of me obtaining a 4.0 this semester. 

Do you get the idea of how personal development can change things around? I will give you some action steps to follow:

1. Go to your local public library and look through the personal development section. 

2. Find a book and devote just 30 minutes a day to reading it. 

3. Take notes on what you read each day, and review what you learned the day before. 

These steps will get you on your way to where you want to be. Embrace the change, and love yourself enough to turn things around. 

-Starving Collegette