Poverty itself is an extremely expensive luxury; it forces you to pay the highest costs for basic survival: time, health, and opportunity. Poor families do not invest in education, not always out of shortsightedness, but rather from a rational despair over high risks, long cycles, and low visible returns. The essence of poverty is a lack of choices. Regaining a sense of control, even if it's just over a small amount of money or a decision about a healthy habit, is the beginning of breaking free from the trap. The poor face higher barriers to information, making it harder and more expensive to obtain the truth, which often leads them to pay a heavy price for "ignorance." Escaping poverty is not about getting rich overnight, but rather about "cumulative advantages." Learning one more character today, saving one more cent, all empower your future self!