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How do you deal with feeling like a failure due to being poor?

So I used to run a successful construction business but last year an accident happened during an assignment & not only did the business go bankrupt but also went into huge debt from all the legal stuff I had to pay off. Sold house, sold cars, sold everything valuable. Now I have a day job which doesn’t pay super well. I have a son and I feel like I’m letting him down, even though he’d never admit it; on the contrary, he always comforts me & tells me he’s happy with what we have. I basically cut off all of my personal expenses to spend the money on him. I feel so bad everyday.

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  • I’ve been laid off 3 times since 2018. The first time was from my job of 6 years that I was pretty set in making my career. I was making money, I was getting promotions, it was looking like I’d have a nice long tenure there. Then came the corporate restructuring.

    I got into a really weak job after a few months of unemployment cause the job market was rough. It gave me flexibility but the job itself was low pay and low responsibility.

    Then Covid came and I got laid off again. Company stopped doing business in that field.

    Found ANOTHER company that was similar but paid better and kept my flexibility. Was good for about 4 years then came corporate restructuring.

    Now I’m back at the business from 2018 but under a new product lineup.

    Point of all this is: I learned a valuable lesson in having less “successful” work. I learned how to actually value my time and the people who I provide for. At my career gig, I put in so many hours and really pushed myself, in the jobs after, I’ve been able to put my mental health first and take care of my family better. Sure it’s less money, but it’s more attention.

    Money isn’t what kids need, they need you to be there for them first and foremost. Money just makes it easier to do things.

    Good luck, and I hope your situation gets better.

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