10 rich people who were once poor share priceless life advice

Everyone wants success, and more importantly, the money that comes along, but not all makes it to the top. The reason? Well, most lack the proper guidance and mentorship to achieve their dreams.  Similarly, when a 32-year-old (u/seaayouth) stuck in a dead-end job turned to Reddit, asking rich people who were once poor for advice, the response was just unreal.

1. Comfort is your enemy!

"Comfort is your enemy. You really do have to take a chance and put yourself out there. Nobody is going to champion for you to get a raise or promotion, but they will stand on your back and take credit if you allow them to." - u/prairiemadness

2. Early investments equal great investments!

"Start investing as young as you can, even if it's small amounts; avoid debt; don't try to impress people you don't know or ones you do with status symbols. Rainy days happen; count on them and prepare. Even 500 Olin savings will save you a lot. Always look back at things you see clearly today that you wish you'd have started or done ages ago. Now imagine what a 40-60- 80-year-old you would be thinking you of today should be doing, and do it." - u/picapaodiablo

"Invest every month consistently when the market is falling and when the market is gaining. Do a budget and eliminate unnecessary expenses until you can afford to pay cash for purchases. Buy good used cars in cash." - u/few_whereas5206

3. Level-up your skills!

"You need to micromanage your finances and start doing extra schooling/accreditation on the side. Once you start learning something new or getting those new qualifications, start saving an emergency fund for 6-8 months of your monthly costs, and then set a drop-dead date for you to hand in your two-week notice." - u/appropriate-tea-7276

4. Be consistent; keep trying!

"39 here. Grew up VERY poor (though my guardians did a good job of hiding it). Now I make 6 figures as an electrician, own a house, and own my car and motorcycle outright, with no debt other than my mortgage. My advice: keep trying, avoid credit cards like the plague, avoid loans the same, save, save, save, and if you're still able to change direction, get into a trade. Electrician, plumber, welder, etc. It'll take a couple of years before you feel the change, but OH BOY, is there a big change." - u/correct_stay_6948

5. Look out for every opportunity!

"Take every opportunity you have. Always be ready, well-rested, and up in the morning, even if there’s nothing planned. Do the next right thing. Be trustworthy and honest. Help others, but take care of yourself first. Don’t be a victim; no one owes you anything. Maybe you’ll get ahead, maybe you won’t. But if you don’t do these things, you most likely won’t." - u/blueishblackbird

"Search tirelessly for lucrative opportunities. Make it your sole mission to find yourself in one of those positions. This could be a sales role or entrepreneurship or something else more specialized, like a lawyer or doctor. Be obsessed with finances, frugality, financial opportunities, return on investments, and financial strategies to earn more and spend less. Most people simply don't have any interest in being obsessed with it, so that's why they fail. Being obsessed isn't necessarily a healthy mindset in general, but it's one of the most surefire ways of becoming wealthy, unfortunately." - u/legitimate-grand-939

6. Take control of your debt!

"Get control of your debt. Amortization calculators can be your best friend, especially when it comes to making beyond the minimum payment to avoid paying interest. Once you are out of debt, figure out investments you are comfortable with and get your money to start earning money. Buy a house when you can afford it, and if you don't have a great interest rate, do the amortization trick again and pay that mortgage off early." - u/remarkable_map_5111

7. Have multiple income sources!

"Start a bunch of side businesses and work at them until you make more doing them than you do at your regular job." - u/mobile-garbage-7189

8. Stop feeling entitled! 

"Stop feeling entitled. Start working. If you feel entitled, you feel aggrieved. You get demotivated. You sit around waiting for other people to swoop in when you should be acting instead. You can dislike the system as much as you want, but as long as it exists, you need to live in it. Working hard doesn’t guarantee success, but as a poor person, you aren’t going to get rich without it." - u/eldercontrarian

9. Stop buying to impress others!

"Stop buying stuff to impress strangers. Stop buying stuff to impress friends; 99.9% don’t care and will resent you anyway. If you think you need an expensive (insert thing) to attract women or friends, that’s the clearest sign that you should be working on yourself. Spend your time/money on experiences, NOT stuff. Former welfare baby to self-made millionaire." - u/uniquetear6314

10. Focus on long-term goals!

"Focus on long-term goals versus immediate gratification. I'm not saying this is you; it's just an example: if you buy a coffee at the local barista on your way to work, it's $5 (maybe more). $5 x 5 days/week = $25. $25 x 52 weeks/year = $1300.00. Contributing $1300/year into a Roth IRA with a 7% return from age 32 to 65 will likely produce $155,000.00+. I understand that $155k isn't much, but as an example, it is the difference between the immediate gratification of coffee vs. having a long-term goal. ETA: Passive income is the best income, especially if it's working while you are sleeping and playing." - u/norestforthesith

Money does not necessarily buy happiness; however, it opens up doors to freedom, opportunities, and security. But all those who are chasing their dreams need to understand that consistency is the key, and the path to success may be a bed full of thorns, but the result is a well-deserved crown.