Today is Tuesday, money nerds, and this is Apex Money, your daily source for the best money stories around the web. Today we have a collection of articles about poverty — and how to fight it.
Poverty isn’t a lack of character. It’s a lack of cash. [The Correspondent] — “A world without poverty – it might be the oldest utopia around. But anybody who takes this dream seriously must inevitably face a few tough questions. Why are poor people more likely to commit crimes? Why are they more prone to obesity? Why do they use more alcohol and drugs? In short, why do the poor make so many poor decisions?” This is a thoughtful article on a complex subject.
The cognitive burden of poverty. [Behavioral Scientist] — “Poverty, and the ever-present concerns that come with it, places an undue burden on an individual’s limited mental resources. Compared with those who are free from poverty, this burden leaves those in poverty with fewer cognitive resources with which to make choices and take action.”
Tips for getting out of poverty. [/r/povertyfinance on Reddit] — “I’ve grown up a minority in poverty with a younger brother and a single mom. I worked in fast food starting at $6.25/hr and banking from the age of 15 till late college. In the last 7 years I’ve graduated from college ended my full-time teller role and have been fulfilling my career choice as a designer throughout multiple roles…Here are some tips for things I’ve learned throughout the years that might be useful for people looking to break out of poverty. I hope it can help someone.”
“How I broke the cycle of poverty.” [/r/povertyfinance on Reddit] — “[This] post is not intended to be a one-size-fits-all approach. It’s merely a lowly account of how I beat the cycle of poverty. I will mention parts of my personal 30+ year journey as illustrative examples. I’m a very pragmatic person, so I like organizing my points into actionable deliverables and providing practical tips.”
To close things out, here’s a short video exploring on of Pittsburgh’s weirdest traditions: the parking chair. When they leave their homes, residents place a chair of some sort to hold their parking spot. It’s not technically legal, but the city goes along with it and everyone respects the tradition.
I love regional quirks like this.
Here in Oregon, for instance, we’re serious about pedestrians having the right of way. Pedestrians have the right of way at all crosswalks — and every intersection counts as a crosswalk, whether it’s marked or not. In other parts of the U.S., cars will mow down pedestrians even when they have the clear right of way. (I spent six months in Savannah, Georgia, where crossing the street was a nightmare.) Here in Oregon, cars are required to stop if somebody is legally crossing the road — and people respect this law. I like it.