Most people wish to have more money. We wonder how to be happy if we are poor or don’t have enough money.
Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.
Marcus Aurelius
It can be stressful to make ends meet and to constantly worry about money.
In addition, it is not always easy to keep a positive attitude when our standard of living was higher, and all of a sudden due to a recession, pandemic, or unforeseeable circumstance we have less money than before.
Can We Be Happy Even If We Are Poor?
Being poor means lacking something such as money or a good to support ourselves.
However, being poor means something different to each of us depending on our previous experience, expectations, and how much money people around us have.
In addition, if we compare ourselves with people who have less than we do, we feel more abundant.
Many currently rich and famous people had periods of struggling to make ends meet.
Some examples are J.K. Rowling, who was a single mother living on government handouts when she started writing Harry Potter.
Oprah Winfrey was homeless and broke before becoming a TV personality.
Jennifer Lopez was homeless before becoming a musician and actress.
Feeling happy will depend more on what we think about our situation than on the circumstances themselves.
15 Tips to be Happy if You are Poor
1 – Appreciate Everything You Have
Look around you for every little thing you can be grateful for in your life. The main secret to happiness is to appreciate what we have.
Here are some examples:
-Health
-Food
-Shelter
-Friends
-Money, even if it is not as much as we would like
-Family
-Nature
-Creativity
-Kindness from others
-Problem-solving skills
Focus on all the positive things around you. Even if you don’t have much money, you may be rich in your own way.
On the other hand, if we focus on what we don’t have, we will feel unhappy regardless of how much money or possessions we have.
Here are more Tips on How Being Grateful will Make You Happy.
2 – Our Current Circumstances are Temporary
No matter how bad our life is right now, we will find a way to improve it.
For example, you will find a job or a better job, soon. You may come up with a good idea to make money, your business will take off, or the economy will change.
Something good will come out of these difficult circumstances. Keep focusing on the life you would like to live and how you can make it happen.
Visualization is a powerful tool to look beyond our current situation. Think about your next step. What do you need to do next? What does that look like?
Here you can find out How Visualization Can Make You Happy.
3 – Practice Self-Care
Look for ways to take good care of yourself.
Moreover, if we are in good health, we will feel more optimistic and in a better mood.
Strive to eat healthy food, get enough sleep, exercise, and be kind to yourself.
4 – Believe in Yourself
What do you see and feel when you look at yourself in the mirror?
Make sure you look the best you can. Wash your face, comb your hair, and wear neat clothes even if you stay at home.
In addition, looking neat will send a message to our brain saying that we can take the next step and accomplish the task at hand.
Building self-confidence will help you develop a “Yes, I can” attitude that will help you take action toward the life you want to live.
Find Out How to Build Self-Confidence.
5 – Look for Inspiration in Books
Visit the library or look for free/inexpensive books that will inspire you such as biographies of people you admire or self-help books.
It is always interesting to learn how others overcame obstacles or difficult situations.
As a result, you will feel more optimistic about your own situation and get new ideas to improve your life.
You may want to read Turn Your Happiness On.
In this book, I share powerful scientifically proven strategies to improve your life.
You will find a step-by-step guide to build your self-esteem and confidence.
Once you are able to focus on all your strengths and accomplishments, you’ll be able to develop a system to create a fulfilling and happy life.
6 – Help Others
One of the many ways to be happy if you are poor is by giving back to the community.
You may wonder, how you are supposed to help others if you don’t have enough money?
You may donate your time to help people in need.
This will make you feel good because even if you are poor, there is always something we can do to help others.
It may be just listening to their concerns, reading to elderly people, or participating in volunteer activities.
This will help you see your own life from a different point of view while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment and well-being from helping others.
7 – Do Fun Activities
Make a list of things you like to do that are free or cost very little money.
Most communities have plenty of free activities at the local library, community centers, and around town. Check out the local newspaper or the city website.
Going for a walk, hike, picnic, or camping are inexpensive activities that will put you in closer contact with yourself and your loved ones, therefore boosting your feelings of happiness.
8 – Repeat Positive Statements
The thoughts and words we repeat the most become our thinking pattern and behavior.
Many times we just criticize ourselves or only see what we are doing wrong.
We can feel happier if we purposefully look for and repeat positive statements to ourselves. To be happy if you are poor, some helpful affirmations are:
- I know how to budget money
- More money is coming my way
- I save money every day
These affirmations may feel unrealistic in the beginning but the more you repeat them to yourself, the more your behavior will reflect these statements.
Here are more Tips on How Affirmations Can Make You Happy.
9 – Associate with Like Minded People
The reason most poor people are depressed is that they compare themselves with others who have more money.
By doing so, we may end up focusing on everything we do not have and therefore feel unhappy.
On the other hand, spending time with like-minded people who are in similar circumstances that we are will help us learn from each other and celebrate our victories.
Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
10 – Set Realistic Goals
Set daily, weekly, monthly, and annual goals.
Make sure your goals are measurable and realistic.
Ask yourself what am I going to do to achieve these goals?
Keep track of the steps that you are making towards your goals.
Further, you can do this by writing down the goals that you want to achieve, how you plan to get there, and the things that you have already achieved so far.
This will help you keep motivated to do even better because without feeling success, you might give up on your aspirations when things get tough.
Here are more tips on How Working on Your Goals will Make You Happy.
It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.
Seneca
11 – Budget, Save, and Splurge
In order to feel better about money, it’s important to have the feeling that you already have money.
Many people feel poor because they overspend. Regardless of how much money we make it seems there is always more and more to buy.
Keep track of how much money you earn and how much money you spend to make sure you can put away some cash in case of an emergency.
Include a goal to save some money every month, even if it only is a couple of dollars, over time it will grow and you will feel better about money.
At the same time, put aside some money to splurge on something that makes you feel good such as special food, drink, or activity.
12 – Stay Active
Schedule some time for physical activity in your day. You may go for a run, exercise along with a YouTube video, or walk the dog.
Including daily physical activity will help your body produce endorphins and you will feel more positive about yourself and your circumstances.
Here are more Tips on How Exercise Can Make You Happy.
13 – Meditate
Spend some time every day focusing on positive images or focusing on your breath.
Sometimes we keep worrying about how to make ends meet or how to make more money and the result is more feelings of anxiety.
Meditation is something we can do daily and it does not cost any money. Just sit in a quiet place and focus on your breath.
Here are more Tips on How Meditation Can Make You Happy.
14 – Journal
Writing down your ideas, thoughts, and goals will help you trace a clear path toward the life you want to live.
You can use any notebook and write down your thoughts, ideas, plans, goals, and how to achieve them.
Moreover, writing down your thoughts will give you more creative ideas to be happy if you are poor.
Here are more Tips on How Journaling Can Make You Happy.
15 – Prioritize
Think about what actions to take first?
What are some areas where you could save more money?
Would preparing your own meals be helpful?
Are walking, riding a bike, using public transportation, or carpooling good options?
It is easy to spend a lot of money on things we don’t need but when we don’t have enough money for everything we want, we have to prioritize and decide what we will buy next.
What are your priorities? Do you care more about a new car or spending more time with your kids?
Research has shown that after our needs are met, money will not bring more happiness.
Use these easy tips to feel happy even if you are poor.
What strategies do you use to be happy without spending a lot of money? Let me know in the comments below.
You may also like these related blog posts:
I can be stingy when it comes to spending money, so we are always looking for ways to spend time together and have fun without spending a lot. My family loves getting out in nature and exploring which makes us happy in so many ways.
Those are excellent tips that everyone should use. I do believe appreciating what you have is a way to practice gratitude.
Really insightful article. The author is correct about public libraries and parks. These are low cost goldmines of fun and leisure. We pay our taxes, might as well use the benefits to the fullest.
These are some great tips to uplift people who are struggling. Believe in Yourself and reading positive things are my favorite.
Great tips… I definitely believe that appreciating what you have is a way to make yourself feel happier. And you don’t need to spend money to enjoy yourself – we love to get outside and go for a walk, which is completely free!
I especially liked appreciate everything you have, often we take for granted the things that we have an focus solely on the things that we do not have. I find it helpful not to compare my self to others. And to focus on my needs instead of wants. In addition I also practice reading books that build you up I find the bible to be sobering and up building. I also enjoy associating with like minded individuals. I am humble and associate with people that are as well. You did such a great job with this article. Thank you for reenforcing my perspective! 🙂👍
I learned from my own parents (who were often financially strapped) that experiences mean far more than things. We DON’T give our kids lots of fancy gifts at Christmas or their birthdays (honestly, my kids were thrilled at their “gently used” books and clothes they got for Christmas) – and we are clear to them that we’d rather save/spend what money we have on traveling (even if just to see family) than on “things.” Even at 9 and 7, they totally get it.
Gratitude can be such a powerful way to change your perspective. Helping others is also a great way to change your mindset.
These are great advice ideas for everyone not just poor. I’m a firm believer that everyone will be happier if they take time for themselves and tell themselves something positive about themselves everyday.
These are all such great tips! It is so important to really appreciate everything you have each and every day!!
I have been so unhappy for the last three years in an area l don’t like with no friends anymore and always lack of money as l have been unemployed for nearly six years it’s going to be extremely hard for me to try and be happy in life! I have my three gorgeous cats which make me happy and still have my parents around but everyday is a struggle for me. Feel Hopeless, a failure and several occasions have tried to take my own life but l am too scared in case it goes wrong, hate pain. I am not religious wish l was sometimes.
I do nothing to help me live a happy life because I don’t have the resources or skills to do anything. Introspection is not a skill in my life. I don’t know how to reframe things. I don’t know how to change my my mind with some evidence or proof. I don’t know how to change how I think. All this talk about it being all in my head is nonsense. I too am on ODSP and can barely keep my head above water. No matter the method, change for the better is costly. Ex. Free online courses don’t take into effect the cost to be able to be online. Computer, internet service, programs, like an operating software. These aren’t free. Therapy is expensive. I don’t have a way out. But I guess you already know that. At this point the only way out is a fairly sizeable cash influcks. God bless you, in Jesus holy name, Amen.
Taking the minimalist path and placing more value on non material things has been helpful. Being poor limits choices in a way (ie shopping), and opens up new options (ie getting in touch with nature).
If you can come to terms with leaving your consumerist self behind, then being strapped for cash makes life simpler, which often leads to being happier.
Hello, I believe in much of what you’re saying…being down can happen, but you don’t have to count yourself out! I’ve been “cash” poor all of my life, most of it because of MY own doing and not some unjust “system”! I am not one to HATE the upper classes, because believe it or not some of them have had to work dam hard to achieve what they have and I’m not talking about illegal gain. Some went to college on Pell Grants and scholarships, some have a talent to offer such as: sports, musical talent, comedic routines, etc… And maybe a few just got dam lucky and hit the lottery…is that a crime? I know it can be rough when you’re poor, but you also have to accept SOME responsibility for your own life. If you get in the mindset of going forward instead of looking backward you would probably achieve more than you know. Me , I’m poor and honestly not ambitious enough to try to attain more than I have at the moment. No low self esteem or finger pointing, I just feel that if I want a larger financial lifestyle BAD ENOUGH…I’ll go out and make it happen!