Why the Poor are Trapped into Poor Decisions
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มิ.ย. 2024
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Have you judged people who are poor for making what seem like poor decisions? Why It Matters host Joshua Lim speaks to two mothers each raising a family on a single income to understand how poverty can be expensive and stressful.
Geraldine Tan, a psychologist from The Therapy Room, discusses why the ‘scarcity mindset’ - where one's attention is used up on the immediate, which makes it harder to think long term - is hard to break out of when one is poor.
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Poor people having way too many kids is also the end product of the scarcity mindset. Chronic stress alters their way of thinking. They can't think straight and keep making poor decision, like having kids they can't afford to have :'(
Decision fatigue
This is what happens to my mom.
Everytime my allowance from scholarship comes. She spends it all in a day, her reason is that she wants to experience luxurious food too. She's tired of being poor.
I keep saying to her since she's never had a job ever since my dad died, to just wait until I graduate and get a job. She also didn't want me to study because it is not necessary. But I wanted to rebel against her so I finished even tho I tried taking my own life several times because of bullying.
All my older brothers advice me not to give her money but I keep feeling empathy and giving in and she does it all over again. When I do get to control my money and be very meticulous in what I buy for forcefully and bills, she says I'm selfish and I always count money.
I was always selfish with money because I didn't get to have my own. Everytime I get Christmas money, I have to give it to my mom to pay bills. I only took ged for elementary and highschool so I am not smart.
I know understand her because of the videos. Thank you :)
U know the one who is spender usually can't even think clearly what they doing except spending... which is why better than sorry u better not hold money at all to realize that
Never considered some of these things. Thanks for providing this perspective.
This video is really true. I work in medical sales for life-support machines, and one thing worse than being poor, is being poor AND sick. When the family sole breadwinner suddenly fallen sick, bed-ridden, or not fit for work anymore, it is a very heartbreaking moment for the family. There is even one case where the husband abandoned and divorced his sick wife and left their daughter with her. She cant even work as she depends on oxygen therapy 24 hours.
Well that husband is "sick" too
Alcious Lai i thought that social support system in singapore is world class to handle cases like these?
I this extreme case it is obviously the father's fault that the daughter is suffering.
That's why education is important. Education, while not perfect, gives people with offsprings a child to break this cycle. It gives everyone while might not be equal opportunity, but gives poor people a better opportunity to break the poverty cycle
You have posted the most appropriate comments.
Yea but it’s hard for them to break through poverty because most poor people have a mindset that they have no hope to break through this cycle and that they would end up working part time to provide for their family during secondary school. Thus they might neglect their studies and continue this cycle due to a Low income job
Education is important! And you will become another loyal slump of meat slave machine for the kind giver where your education is being received (The Government). Everyday. 24/7. With your lovely comrade in faith. And lovely little puppies following your footsteps - do not know where to go? Follow the big man who follows the bigger man (The Government). Else, you will get charge/s and lead a miserable life. Then, you have no choice to follow or end yourself (if you are brave enough). There is no such thing as a dream here. It's only perfect protected slavery. No talents. Just slavery. Simple.
you can not declare bankruptcy on student debt.
education is still expensive tho. you will also need to pay student debt. so basically to break poverty in singapore, gov actually is making you not to get married, not to have a flat, not to have kids. study but to pay your debt while working to mid 30s. that itself is living in poverty. so yup. education can't fully break you from poverty, unless you're extremely smart to attain scholarship which gov giving out freely to foreign talents.
Warms my heart that the mom who bought so many drinks only wanted to provide the kids what they wanted. Shows how much she actually really wants to provide her kids those wants.
Despite her so called 'poorer decisions', I applaud the mother for taking the time to think about her children. Making them happy for that brief moment might mean the world to her.
At the same time, I feel pity for the birth of these new lives living in such an environment. Thanks to their desperate lovely mother.
That’s not quite the reason.. it’s mentioned in the video that she did so because of stress. Her children couldn’t have possibly consumed $400 worth of packet drinks that month, it isn’t logical
on economy point of view is poor decision but on mother point of view that was best decision...
Racist
family planning is one of the best planning
Come on, credit card companies won't help the poor people!
Actually they are the legal ah long....
all companies have goals to make money, what do you think credit card companies are? social welfare?
Most banks don't want to lend credit to those who most likely can't pay it back. In fact it's probably illegal, since credit card interest and fees can become so high that poor people are likely to be bankrupt eventually. Banks can't become mafia and beat the crap out of you for that debt, or at least not publicly. If banks want to give, they would do it at a charity event or through a charity fund.
They have families to feed too.
Profit oriented goals mah.
No offence. I have been wondering why many below average families have so many children.
Giving birth is not cheap.
Where they get so much money to see the gynae. It is very expensive.
@@user47362 Understand. I am asking if poor, where they have the money to produce.
Go and see gynae plus hospitalisation is 5 figure number, not few hundred dollars or less.
Qwerty Qwerty so they are willing to satisfy their lust at the expense of their childrens’ standard of living?
The answer is in the video. Scarcity mentality caused by poverty makes one focused on the immediate and not think long term. Resultantly, 'inferior' choices are consistently being made.
伟生何 but people learn from this - take into account the lady who bought $400 worth of packet drinks, did she continue with her behaviour in subsequent months? No. So why the disparity when it comes to planned parenthood?
@@ScienceProjects9231 In short, there is interplay between agency and structure. In some instances, individuals can make decisions despite their environment but, in other instances, the structure can shape one's decision.
The only poor decision here is having 5 kids.
James Shen
@@firmangobi6477 More like, the husband should stop asking the wife to have se>< everday.
James Shen Agree 100 %
@@firmangobi6477 Malaysia too
unfortunately i think its not the root problem. its the fact that they are poor. the poor have a lower chance of accessing quality education which makes family planning, financial planning in general uncommon. thus, this unknowingly works against their favour and in fact causes them to struggle them even more bc they are not accustomed to thinking long term, or carefully planning their future in terms of their financial capabilities. = more kids, etc
How about students, I also realised myself instead of doing work, I chose to watch TH-cam and play games instead. I think students can also experience this 'procrastinating like illness'.
that's not the same thing, that's just avoiding stress which we all do to a degree. This is long term stress bathing which inhibits clear decision making ability
No, you’re using this as an excuse. Ffs
You just need long term planning including
- Saving
- Accommodations
- income reliability
- How much moneys you sustains for your family members when you out of jobs
- One Or Two children’s is ideal for long term planning
@@bbrinergaming3694
Job stablilty is harder since DPM(?) says want 10mil people in the country from 5.5mil(?). Expect at least 2x more competive job seeker.
This video is true, I'm living in a poor family, I've been bullyied because my family doesn't have the money to get things.
Don't be sad, you're not alone, so many people feel like this, me to, but i try to be happy and always be positif thinking and always believe to god😊
@@nelichairi4678 i won't let the comments get to me :)
Auzzie Gamers Don't let bullies get to you. What's important is that you have a family that is able to spend time together because there aren't all these anti-social luxuries like smartphones, tv or social media. Think of it as a small blessing in disguise. Study and work hard, and then you'll have all the time and money in the world to provide your family with what you didn't have before. Cheers!
@@casseyashleyy I won't!
bless your soul. i hope you will be able to live and provide for your family in the future!
I'm 27 living in LA where it's expensive as hell. I don't make a ton of money, but I guarantee the biggest reason I'm able to stay afloat and not sink into poverty is because I don't have any children lol.
If you buy a flat , take a longer loan period you will end up paying more than the richer person with shorter loan ,
Poor people, sad life for us
Tip: dont have 5 kids, a netflix subscription or buy an iphone.
Problem solved. Fukin hate this first world povery complaints. You dont know what real povery is when you have to go to the flea market for clothes.
You are so right. Mortgage is a botch!
No, the opp cost of capital is the factor that determines the cost of tiring up capital in a mortgage.
@@lbuday Going to the flea market for clothes is your idea of poverty? You sound sheltered.
@@carlo6870 not poverty but being poor. Kids now wear branded clothes and complaim that they arw poor becouse they need to work for it.
This is so depressing and true. I'm thankful for what I have, we didn't have much growing up. Being poor really is a never-ending cycle for many. If you are a child at school while in poverty, you're not likely going to eat nutritious food to help your brain develop, leading to a poor education and low paying wages.
Depends which country
I mocked some people I know for their poor decisions. I want to hug them and say sorry right now..
It's impressive to see the high level of analysis that goes into these videos. Poverty mindset is a very real issue and is a hidden barrier to escaping poor conditions. Another way of saying it is that poor people tend to get stuck in the permanent present. The demands of daily living overtake a person's emotional and cognitive capacity and there is very little chance to be able to get a clear view of the future and how it might be possible to make that future look different. In order to take a longer view of our life we need a period of calm where we don't need to think about daily survival. But how can poor people take a decent amount of time out of their lives to think deeply about the future when food needs to be on the table that night? Poverty alleviation programmes need to take a broader view and factor in the psychological aspects of poverty.
Some middle-income folks keep complaining that they are 'poor' or that they do not have enough to spend. But guess what? Some of them live in landed property, spend on unnecessary expenses such as Netflix subscriptions/Spotify Premium, Starbucks and also buy branded goods like branded handbags, iPhones and Airpods. Tell me, do this people deserve to complain? Sometimes I find them so absurd. But then I just gotta shut my mouth before screaming at them that they are people that are more poor than you.
duhduhduh too broke to contribute to class fund but buys $10 meals every day
Dude if you're talking about landed property then don't bother to post this pls. We all know those people are just snobs.
the children will grow up ad she will have good life later
Sorry I dont think stay landed considered middle income at all. Why can’t they complain? Maybe they feel poor as compared to their friends or what they can achieve. So what if there are people poorer? Most of the rich people worked hard to be where they are today.
Just landed? Some apartments are more expensive than landed
If Noridah gets the $420 as a monthly sum and not weekly, would it benefit her a little more to spend a little more on some weeks and less on others while still maintaining the $100/week average to make use of offers for the necessities?
Problem is if they fail to use the money properly have do not have enough to survive the rest of the month
Like buy diapers once every 2 instead of 1 week, but buy 2 sets of diapers instead of 1 each time, so that she can enjoy the discount
@@lzh4950 poor decisions
If she is smart she would not have 5 kids to begin with .
@@lzh4950 Well, how do you start the first week?
But she could just go and shop with acquaintances and sort out the bill afterwards. Then they would cash in on all these discounts.
No offence, she’s earns 1.5k a month, why does the lady inform her about the BOC and posb credit card? Is it some sort of marketing?
You bet. Anyway, it's MediaCorp after all, not surprise
To show the ways in which the poor constantly miss out on "discounts" and money saving measures. That the things that could help one be less poor, is actually out of reach to the poor.
It is a buildup on the missing out of discounts, rebates and cashback for the poor that seemed like alternative solutions.
Most can't afford to buy and top up an ezlink card either, and fares are up to 60% more by ad hoc cash
She earns less than 1,5k.
If I don't have money to rise one children why should I need 5 Children.
I don't understand why should a couple need 5 children instead of 2
the lady have two children instead of 5 then the two will leave better lifestyle than 5 it is a simple math.
They are poor because of this reason
She probably immigrated here, and was wealthy back in her country
@@abdallababikir4473 even why should a couple needed 5 children?
@@abdallababikir4473 What?? Pretty sure she's local.
@@kyoli9847 nope.
India and China need people like you lol.
Take responsibility, don't have 5 children then complain. Not 1950s anymore.
Johnny Hsieh legalize abortion or promote contraceptives
@@ShidaiTaino singapore legalize abortion until parents also don't know if their daughter had one
A different race or people, in a different place, with different cultures and ways of life, YET I can relate to them, because we all generally deal with the same daily obstacles in life. Great video.
Honestly I love having no kids. I have free time and disposable income. And even if s*** hits the fan in my life (unemployment, sickness, etc) at least I have only myself to worry about. Life would be much tougher having kids.
Exactly.
great job cna ! life is so fast we overlook the little things.
Times are changing and it's getting more difficult for low income families to move up the social ladder. The wealth gap is increasing and it's only getting worse.
I'm really thankful to my parents who started with nothing (actually less than nothing because they had to pay off debts of my grandparents and even supported their younger siblings through school and university) but worked so hard to the point that we're now quite privileged. If I was in that kind of financial status in today's world, I don't think it would be possible for me to lift myself out of low income status even if I worked 3 jobs.
But the very first thing... why 5 children ???
religion says no use of connies.
Because children are blessing
Because of their old mindset that more children = more support
@@orangecat3021 And guess what? That old mindset still works! I am the 4th of six siblings. I came from a below average income family and my dad passed away young. My mom was the only sole breadwinner and now my siblings and I are all stable and my mom is a happy grandmother. Born poor doesnt mean that you will be poor for the rest of your life and having many kids may be an obstacle to some but not all!
Maybe the family had a steady income while the husband was still with them
1:35 "I'm not qualified " it breaks my heart.
This is great content. This is what journalism is about.
I don't understand why people decide to have more than 1 kid when they can't afford it. It's also not fair for the kids
lack of proper education to the less fortunate perhaps
@@juicebox18 i think it's more lack of money to buy contraceptive
Most divorces end becos of money or the lack of it. Children of poor families suffer n may end up dysfunctional n many become withdrawn, lacking self confidence, self esteem n all negative traits! Of course many also realised n value the hardships they have gone through which in turn make them determined to seek opportunities n strive for excellence n success in life. Just my 2cents!
4:20 "instead of doing what we need to do, we go to our mobile phones". Ouch that hurts. Okay I promise this is the last video I'll go back to studying right now #5daysToExams
Some large families were well to do or manage to get by. Its all too easy to fall into the poverty trap. Sudden huge bill brought on by illness or accident. Retrenchment due to a bad economy or restructuring businesses. Family or personal issues.
All these are poverty pitfalls. We shouldn't judge. We should rather tackle how to help these family lift themselves up from the ground.
We need to have more social workers. Each family needs a different kind of support, may it be,
Financial support,
Emotional support,
Mental support,
Skill support,
Yea but not many wants to be a social worker especially when they can work in other profitable sector like business and medical.
@@Yx6583 Do you know that the pay for a Medical social worker is as much as 6k/ mth. You are wrong, most people that was accept into the social service sector have the wrong mindset. To them its just a job no passion or dedication.
Best thing to tackle, number of children
That is the half assed way to go about things. The problems aren't just fixable by having a social worker.
@@edwardheaney3641Once the children are already born, there is not much you can do. Better tell the absent fathers to buckle up and take care of their families. Life insurance should be mandatory as it is in other countries, in case the woman gets widowed. Divorce puts people into poverty, specially children.
Financial education
one common trait of the poor from almost every country is that they mostly have way too many kids. This actually creates a vicious cycle for the next generation as well.
Number 1 rule in singapore to NOT BE POOR.
NEVER EVER EVER HAVE A KID
Joshua's Singapore accent is terrific. It reminds me of a long time ago.
Apparently this video doesn't go deep enough to explain the "Why 5 children" question hahah
No longer a need for massive families!
My god.. This video open my mind
This is soo true
THIS IS A GOOD TOPIC!
Hello CNA, Do you have a full episode of this documentary?
Good editing skills I like the camera angle
where can i watch the full version online?
Once I learned how to manage stress, I became very productive. I think stress management is key. People freak out way to easily. Do you see successful people always stressed out? Yes, but they know how to manage it.
Poverty is not a lack of money per se; but lack of opportunity. If a government cannot (does not) provide more opportunities to people in poverty, then the cycle would not be broken.
Here in philippines the poorest sector has only less than 50$ budget a month still these people are blessed
Malaysia too
but costs of living in sg is so high ugh
Poor family planning is one of the biggest finacial mistake that people make.
Packet drinks had sugar which pleased her mind and gives her pleasure when she bought it and drink it. All she needs is 28 days to change her habit and make small changes to re redirect her short term rewards for long term gains
Don't make the rush decision in making new lives when you can't afford. SIMPLE! BE SINGLE. BE FREE. LIVE ALONE IT MUCH BETTER WHEN YOU ARE UNPREPARED. DON'T DRAGGED THESE INNOCENT NEW LIVES DOWN WITH YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR MISTAKE. MIND OVER EMOTIONS.
money does affect your ability to live your life, but I think pampering your soul and watching your 5children smile is far more worth than having all the money in this world ☺️. my father used to say, the most exciting part of his life is when we live in poverty with growing up children. so guys, live your life do not follow what the media or social media comment section say.
This is like chicken or the egg come first.
If having children make you happy, which in turn you will enjoy life and have better work-life salary.
Or having better work-life salary, which in turn allow you to have childrens, as you will know your children will not bear hard ships as you, in turn they will smile.
Somehow i feel like i can relate to this problem
Single mom 5 kids , last week I read a news article about a widowed father who is a security guard having 12 kids. In the other CNA video there is a family of 8 kids causing the elder sister having to go to work young just to support the family. There is certain part of Singapore with certain believe, keep having tons of kids . These people rarely have the time to educate or provide for their children turning into vicious cycle. I really hope the G curb the number of child these group have, down to a certain level. If not the society have to feed them instead, from tax payer money . It's not fair both for the child and the tax payer to support the parent wants if the parent could not afford it in the first place.
At least u guys hv d strong sing dollah! In Malaysia meanwhile...
amazing graphics
This is kinda anti-climatic
Poor is a mindset. People complain about wages. Yo it's a competition, make do with what you got, move ahead and you get respected by your fellow. That's what life is about better yourself. I see the poor are too caught up with money. When you work, what are you selling? A skill. Learn skills. They're worth money. Don't work for money, as money is a byproduct of skill.
I would like to hear your solution
Every society need to have a mix of low, middle and high income people to function properly. If everyone is able to get proper education, no one would want to take up the low paying/dead-end jobs like cleaner, plumber, electrician, cashier, waitress, driver, delivery etc. In that case, what should we do? Import more foreign workers?
I will never understand those who are "poor" are having more than 1 or 2 kids. Why would you put your childs in this situation.
We shd help these ppl more than ever before.
You should see some of the mind blowingly huge environmental footprints that many well educated wealthy people have if we want to see what real poor decisions are.
Alot of negative environmental impact are down-played. Or paid using money.
I can't believe how so many people can be judgemental about the poor having 5 kids. We do not know how they got there.
Could it be they had the 5 kids when their situation were able to provide for the kids?
Or maybe they were exploited by someone else?
It doesn't take much for many people to fall into poverty. For a diploma holder, the average paycheck is 1.8k minus cpf, you are likely to take home 1.5k.
Provided the spouse doesn't divorce you or does not die of whatever causes, a single parent with a diploma is likely to be in poverty even with a good full time job.
i want to see the whole documentary, anyone knows?
Wait, is there more about this series?
Scarcity Mindset. Ah, I learn something today!
That was why in the past people at the age of 55 can draw out their CPF. After retiring they don't have an income hence no money and they get stressed and make stupid decisions. With CPF drawn they are less stressed and not so likely to make wrong decisions. But sadly now a days the CPF is locked up so tight that its near impossible to draw out hence people get stressed and make bad decisions.
She should purchase her groceries online. Not only is it cheaper than brick and mortar store but there's also a lot of promo code for discount. She can easily apply for a debit card instead of a credit card for online purchases.
Internet access, devices and delivery cost $$ too
@@bbrinergaming3694 free WiFi, who doesn't have smartphone... Even a 4 year old Xiaomi can download primenow. Delivery fees can be covered with promos especially first time user
Online is not always cheaper.
It depends on the location.
Nope. I cannot feel sympathy for anyone who pops out a bunch of kids. That's a selfish act and i will not pay for it.
When they say " life is difficult" ive been there done that. When iam 16yo, Iam already end up homeless living in the concrete jungle of singapore. The financial lesson that I learn from a cardboard collector "Today's money is for tomorrow's meal"
Im working for an international buss solutions company for 7 years and what im earning is equivalent to a financial assistance for the poor in Singapore? Wow just wow. Now i know why theyre moving jobs here in the Philippines.
My tips on how to save money. Do your research. Where, when, how can i get the things i desire or need cheaper ? Examples would be buy in bulk, wait for a sale, purchase items online etc. NEVER owe money from anybody. NEVER buy what you want but what you really need.
3:55 another explanation of bad life behavior we need to hear
just wear condoms. expensive in short term cheaper in long term
Nothing beats the spirit like poverty.
There's the problem. 5 Children.
Problem lies deeper than that. Can’t just think about one issue and blame it on that...
the fact she is STILL BUYING Disposable diapers is a bad decision, i remember when my mum was taking care of my sister's babies, she only use disposable diapers when bringing the baby outside, when in the house, she would use cloth diapers and wash them to reduce the amount of diapers needed monthly. When you are poor a lot of things, you have to do Hands On, or DIY or use Hand-Me-Downs rather than Shop at a supermarket.
Clothes and such, you often buy from 2nd hand shops or wet market bazzars, and not shopping centers. even baby milk powder you also dun buy branded ones.
just think, how much money she can save if she only has 2 kids.
Exactly!!!! I was raised by a single father with 2 other siblings. And let me tell you, growing up poor/unstable environment is not fun!!
My parents should NOT have had children!
could save even more with no kids.
also less person to annoy you
If you aren't Rich or living a Comfy middle class life then the answer is no should not have kids
Im in a poor family. Im not going to make the same mistakes my parents did. Ive seen what poor decisions have done to our family
Great report CNA. As a psychological expert on social matter, I agree with this.
LIMITED OPTIONS ... no time to lose good morning Sir
Why have so many children if you can’t afford it honestly
When i see escaldes in front of section 8 housing, there is something wrong.
The question os that how to get out of pscarcity mind set, how to overcome this
Ppl do tends to make poor decision when they are overly stressed.
Thanks for a very well-made, informative and short video.
Also, hopefully societies can find a second chance solution soon.
there are 2 types of poor people: one belongs to the unfortunate (e.g. they were ok at first but met with some unfortunate incidence such as serious accidents, illness, etc; then they can no longer earn a decent living). the second type belongs to people with poor genes, they do not know how to think long term; they multiply themselves senseless and recklessly, become parents at very young age. they have very limited earning power. so as time goes by, their family size increases, they become more and more poor. These second group will never recover or get better. How to help them if they don't help themselves?
CNA Insider you're truly different!
good effort but they shld go even more indepth tho
Who don't know ... The real Question is what the Govt going to do about it for the disadvantage groups.
using Dan Lok's term of Scarcity Mindset
Poor money management can be a factor, and addictions too. There are people who gamble away and buy 4D once they get the financial assistance cash. Until a few days later after getting the money every month they start to call helplines grumble about no money and how hard his life is.
You guys spelt vision wrongly lol
cant watch full episode tho
There should be a restriction on how many kids you can have based on your income. Feel sorry for the kids because of irresponsible parents.
so wouldn't instead of giving $650 a month to someone who's likely to misspend it, it would be better to give them $200 a month, but send them three meals a day (for the whole family) to ensure that they incur less stress instead?
Taxes and interest. Fines and fees. Its isnot a mindset. Its lack of resources.
Great educational video brings attention to a growing issue. On the other hand come on if you don't have money why have more and more kids? You dont need to be genius to figure that out.
im procrastinating right now
The right type of education - financial literacy - will make a big difference. Many who earn big money are broke before the end of the month. On the other hand, there are teachers who became millionaires or attained financial freedom through spending wisely. "Poverty is like everything else. In the end it becomes bearable. One continues to exist in a wretched sort of way that is just sufficient to sustain it." Victor Hugo, 'Les Miserables'.