How to Never Be Poor

Imagine if I told you that your little brother or sister, your son or daughter, or your grandson or granddaughter could be virtually guaranteed that he or she will not live in poverty? Well, I can. Here’s how:

1. Finish high school.
2. Get a full-time job (at least 35 hours a week) after finishing high school.
3. Get married before they have children.

Researchers from the Brookings Institution, along with other think tanks and academics like Ron Haskins and Isabel Sawhill, have uncovered a significant finding: if young people follow these three steps in order, they have a 97% chance of not experiencing poverty. Once again, here are the steps:

1. Finish high school.
2. Get a full-time job once you finish high school.
3. Get married before you have children.

It’s that straightforward. While it may be challenging to implement, the concept is easy to grasp. These findings are so frequently referenced that they have their own label: “the success sequence,” which outlines the three crucial steps of completing high school, securing a full-time job, and marrying before starting a family.

The “success sequence” is not exclusive. It applies across all races and all socio-economic classes. It is not a theory, but a reality, backed by scientific, statistical, and practical evidence. It’s a path that’s open to everyone. 

You may be reading this and thinking, “Well, shoot, that’s fine for them, but it’s too late for me.”

Not so fast! Regardless of your current situation, you have the power to change it. If you don’t have a high school diploma or its equivalent, take the necessary steps to earn one. If you work fewer than 35 hours a week, seek additional hours. If that’s not possible at your current job, consider taking a part-time position to supplement your income. You can shape your future.

If you have already moved out of sequence on number three, I feel for you. However, suppose you are a single parent (whether divorced, widowed, or single) or living with someone. In that case, the third step is crucial. Supporting multiple families can be emotionally and financially challenging. If you are single, unattached, and wish to marry, take the time to find someone who is truly suited for marriage, and wait to have children until after you’re married.

If you are a single parent or divorced with children, I understand the immense challenges you face. Your situation is incredibly demanding. Make sure you have your diploma and get a job (or jobs) of over thirty-five hours a week. Don’t compromise your standards in search of immediate assistance for you and your children. While adjusting the order of the success sequence may be tough, remember that the more you accumulate debts and responsibilities, the more difficult it becomes to manage. If you continue adding partners and children, you may fall further behind. Life is like a mafia loan shark: the more you go into its debt, the more severe the treatment you receive. If you keep adding partners and children, you will find yourself further behind.

If you find a potential marriage partner, make sure it is a good fit. Do premarital testing—many organizations, including churches, offer these assessments for minimal costs. If you two are a good match and decide to marry, make the marriage last. Even if I were an atheist, I would tell you that ending a marriage will cost you more money in the future, resulting in the need to restart your life alone.

Life is hard, and reality is our friend. You don’t have to live in poverty.

1. Finish high school.
2. Get a full-time job once you finish high school.
3. Get married before you have children.

Mark

P.S. For a closer look at the research, consult “Success Sequence: A Synthesis of the Literature”, a report published by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services on January 12, 2021. You can access it here— https://acf.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/Success_sequence_review_2020_508_0.pdf

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