The college graduate College graduation is an exciting time for students. After years of study, they are now free to choose from an infinite amount of life paths. Majority of students graduate yearly, but still do not Know which path to choose because they find themselves in the cycle of poverty.

The cycle of poverty is about more than a simple lack of resources. It has a complex issue that requires digging a little deeper for sustainable solutions.

The cycle of poverty can be traced to the families of individuals. “we find that individuals who grow up in poor families are much likely to be poor in early adulthood” – Robert Lee Wag miller and Robert M. Adelman from the National center for children in poverty (NCCP). Nevertheless, no matter the family you come from, no matter who you are, building wealth and overcoming poverty can be a challenge, but it is possible. Here are some tips for what college graduates can start doing now, to break the cycle of poverty and take control of their financial situation.

Educate yourself

Education is beyond the walls of an institution that is why this one comes first because it is the most important. The simple truth is the less you know, the easier you are to get taken advantage of especially when most schools don’t currently provide educational opportunities in financial literacy. To be financially free, ensure to educate yourself and understand:

Basic financial literacy

How credit works and how to build credit responsibly

Cash flow

How money works and

Where money is.

Expand your knowledge base by:

Reading personal finance books

Listening to podcasts

Watch videos on personal financial education

Attend financial seminars if you can

Change your mindset towards money.

“When it comes to improving your finances and achieving financial wellness, it is 20% skill and 80% behavior and mindset “Bola Sokunbi from clever girl finance. Consider asking yourself these questions.

How was I raised?

What money habits did I inherit from my parents: how did they handle money?

What triggers me to spend my money?

What are my current money beliefs?

How much do I owe?

How much do I own?

What are my money goals?

What small steps can I take now to start changing these beliefs for the better? When you think about your financial situation as a temporary status, you start to understand it’s something you can change. If you make the right decisions and get smart with your finances, you can start to move up the “ladder of wealth” creation. To break the cycle of poverty; you must break it from your mind.

Find helping hands

The next step to mindset change involves finding the helping hands you need to be successful. That’s where the resources available in your community come into play. Don’t struggle alone in silence, take advantage of the resources available in your local community.

Surround yourself with like-minded people

Another key to breaking the cycle of poverty is to surround yourself with people who inspire you, and people who are on the same path with you. They might not be in the same location with you, but you can follow them up/ connect on the internet. When you join a community of likeminded people who are on the same path to break poverty, you'll fell Motivated

Learn from others

Learn from people who have broken from the cycle of poverty. These people could be friends, family members, those around you or you can even search (online and offline) for those who have broken the circle of poverty and learn from their insights and mistakes.

Finally, use the skill and knowledge you gained in college like creative thinking, self-motivation, and time management to turn a passion into a job.

“Empty pockets never held anyone back, only empty hearts and heads can do that – Norman Vincent Peale

“There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledged, both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought – Napoleon Hill

“It is not about your resources, it’s about your resourcefulness – Tony Robbins

“You’re not poor, you’re just in a lower wealth status – Sharita M. Humphrey.

Leverage on these and break the cycle of poverty