Why It's More Expensive to Be Poor: The Hidden Cost of Short-Term Thinking

We’ve all heard the phrase “the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer.” But have you ever stopped to ask why?

Most people assume poverty is just about not having enough money—but the reality is, being poor is incredibly expensive. It costs more because it forces people into short-term decisions that lead to long-term financial and health consequences.

Dr. Benjamin Hardy, in his book Be Your Future Self Now, explains that humans have not yet evolved to think long-term. Our brains are wired to focus on immediate survival, not what’s best for us years or decades down the road. Unfortunately, the financial system in the U.S. is built around this short-term mindset—encouraging us to think about what we can afford month-to-month or even day-to-day, instead of considering the long-term cost of our decisions.

And nothing illustrates this better than food and health care.

The Hidden Cost of Cheap Food

One of the biggest financial traps people fall into is cheap, processed food. It’s convenient, affordable in the moment, and addictive—but the long-term cost is devastating.

Think about it:
✅ Sugar-filled, processed food is everywhere. It’s fast, convenient, and cheap—but it’s also fueling the four biggest killers in the U.S.:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Stroke
• Diabetes

✅ Unhealthy eating is expensive in the long run. The short-term savings of a $5 fast food meal turn into thousands of dollars spent on medications, doctor visits, and hospital stays later in life.

✅ Big Pharma profits from treating symptoms, not causes. Instead of helping people reverse disease through diet and lifestyle, the medical industry prescribes medications that manage symptoms but don’t solve the problem. The average American spends over $1,300 per year on prescription drugs—and that number only increases with age.

Now, someone struggling just to survive may read this and think, "I don’t have the money to buy organic, grass-fed meat and fresh vegetables every day." But here’s the thing—eating healthier doesn’t have to be expensive.

Simple changes like:
🍏 Drinking water instead of sugary drinks (which in most cases is free or costs next to nothing)
🥩 Eating more protein and healthy fats instead of processed snacks
🥦 Choosing real, whole foods with fewer preservatives

…can dramatically impact your health without increasing your grocery bill. Over time, these small choices reduce how often you get sick, lower your medical costs, and increase your quality of life—all while saving you money in the long run.

And this brings us back to why being poor is a choice in most cases.

Being Poor Is a Choice—Most of the Time

There’s no denying that some people are born into tough situations. But in America, most people have the ability to make better choices.

🚨 Buying junk food instead of learning how to cook real meals is a choice.
🚨 Spending money on entertainment instead of saving for the future is a choice.
🚨 Living for today without thinking about tomorrow is a choice.

Yes, it’s easier to follow the crowd, take the cheap way out, and put off long-term planning. But easier doesn’t mean better—and in the end, those choices cost you far more.

This is exactly why Infinite Banking works—because it forces us to think long-term.

How Whole Life Insurance Rewards Smart, Disciplined Decisions

Just like taking care of your health, financial security is built on long-term habits. And this is exactly why Whole Life Insurance is designed to reward those who take care of themselves.

✅ Healthier people get better rates. If you “treat your body like your temple” and maintain good health, you’ll qualify for better premiums and stronger financial guarantees.

✅ It rewards delayed gratification. Whole life insurance is a long-term financial tool—it grows over time, becoming more valuable the longer you hold it. Just like eating right and exercising, the benefits compound.

✅ It creates a guaranteed “healthy” financial future. Instead of hoping the stock market works out or relying on government-controlled retirement plans, whole life builds tax-free wealth that you can control and access when needed.

And just like investing in your health, this requires thinking ahead.

If you only think about what you can afford this month, you’ll probably buy cheap insurance that doesn’t provide lasting benefits. But if you think about what’s best for your future self, you’ll invest in a system that creates guaranteed financial security.

The True Cost of Short-Term Thinking

Choosing short-term pleasure over long-term well-being isn’t just a health issue—it’s a financial trap. Poor decisions today lead to:
🚨 Higher medical bills
🚨 More financial stress
🚨 Less freedom and security as you age

But when you take care of your health, make smart financial choices, and think ahead, life gets cheaper. You spend less on preventable diseases, you save more, and you build a future where you’re in control.

Your Future Self Will Thank You

So ask yourself:
🔹 Are you willing to make better choices today for a healthier, wealthier tomorrow?
🔹 Or will you follow the easy, expensive path of instant gratification?

The choice is yours. But remember—the cost of being poor is always higher than the cost of discipline.

Want to learn how to build a guaranteed financial future? Let’s talk.