Why Every Move Matters When You’re One Crisis Away
Keyword Focus: survival mode, financial resilience, poverty recovery, emergency preparedness, building stability, personal finance systems
We’ve talked about the perils of living in survival mode. But now, let’s shift the focus. Let’s talk about the power that comes from it.
There’s a quiet strength in knowing how to survive. When you’re one crisis away from collapse, every move counts. That was me in my twenties, navigating a divorce, the aftermath of the 2008 market crash, and raising a child alone.
If you’ve read Blog 1, you remember how survival mode impacts our decision-making. In Blog 2, I explained why we stay in that state. But this post? This is where theory meets reality. This is where awareness turns into action.
I Wasn’t Raised in Poverty, But I Drove Myself There
I didn’t grow up poor. But if I’m the driver of my life, I drove myself straight into poverty in my twenties. It felt like desperation, stress, anger, sadness, and anxiety all wrapped into one. It was nothing like the life I imagined.
As kids, we dream of careers that will make us happy. As adults, we learn happiness doesn’t pay bills. Even if adults tried to warn us, we couldn’t have grasped the weight. Because knowledge isn’t knowledge until it’s applied. Until it’s lived.
Some of our parents made it look easy. But when it was our turn to choose, we realized: every decision matters. And when you’re one crisis away, every move becomes survival.
Precision Becomes Survival
I was living in a converted efficiency barely bigger than a one-car garage. No real kitchen, just a hot plate and a small fridge. My son was one. I had no space to stretch, no margin for error, and no room to breathe.
At one point, I couldn’t even keep him with me. His father asked to take him for the summer. I couldn’t argue. I was in no position to negotiate. My reality couldn’t care for him and that broke something in me. But it also built something new.
I made a promise to myself: I would never again be in a position where I couldn’t care for my child. That’s when I understood something life-changing:
When you’re one crisis away, every move matters.
No one was coming to rescue me. I had to move differently.
You Can’t Afford to Float
The hardest part of being broke isn’t just the struggle, it’s how invisible it feels. I still went to work. I still smiled. I still performed. But underneath, I was always calculating.
I couldn’t afford to:
- Miss work
- Pay a bill late
- Make emotional purchases
Everything had to be intentional.
I asked my manager for full-time hours. She said they weren’t available. So I kept showing up like they were. I worked like my life depended on it because it did.
Eventually, I got those hours. That led to an apartment with a roommate. Then a promotion. Then another. Eventually, my son and I moved into a cozy two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. It was the same one I dreamed of when I first moved to Tampa. I couldn’t afford it back then. But now? I went back and got it.
And my son? He doesn’t remember the hard years.
That’s the point.
Saving Is Emotional Work
The game-changer wasn’t just income, it was awareness.
When you hit rock bottom, you face a choice: fold under pressure or face yourself. I understand why some people give up. But I slay dragons. I faced the mirror.
I created a savings system I could actually follow:
- Savings Account 1 – Connected to my checking account. I set up automatic $50 transfers from each paycheck.
- Savings Account 2 – A credit union far from me. Automatic $20 withdrawals each pay period. Hard to access by design.
When tax refunds came, I kept $1,000 for savings and spent the rest. That might seem small now, but back then, it was a shift in mindset.
By year-end:
- Account 1: $1,300
- Account 2: $520
- Tax refund savings: $1,000
Total: $2,820
That’s life-changing when you’re broke.
I took $1,520 and opened a brokerage account. The other $1,300 became a self-funded safety net. I later used $250 of it to open a secured credit card and the rest I set up autopay for all my bills. There was money still left over, so I paid of 1 of my debts.
Was it perfect? No. But it was consistent. It was mine.
That one habit gave me breathing room, built my credit, and let me support my family. It even helped me and my husband eventually buy a home when I re-married.
Did I touch the savings? Of course. Life happens. But I was no longer frantic. I had structure. I had peace. My plan was simple and didn't require much initial change. It was at my pace.
Simplicity Is Wealth
What I really wanted was simple:
- To breathe
- To keep the lights on
- To never borrow money again
- To take care of my child
And here’s what I learned:
You don’t have to be wealthy to build wealth. But you do have to be aware.
Train your mind. Stop saying “I’ll figure it out” and actually figure it out.
You Are the System
When you’re one crisis away, it feels like nothing works. Even when you do everything right, you still fall short. That’s what happens when your foundation is fragile.
That’s why every move matters.
You must build a foundation that doesn’t collapse at the first sign of stress. You need a structure that withstands real life. Build with strategy. Build with purpose. Build with self-awareness.
When you do, your frequency shifts. You become unrecognizable to the version of yourself that once struggled.
Even when you meet someone living through what you lived, they may not believe you understand. Because you look too different now. Because you speak with peace. Because you finally look like stability.
That’s the power of transformation.
And that’s what I want for you.
Because when you’re one crisis away, you’re not weak. You are standing in one of the strongest positions to make a powerful decision.
You are one move away from changing everything.
Coming Next:
Blog 4: My Simple Savings System That Helped Me Escape Poverty
For anyone who feels like they’re “bad with money”, this is for you. Blog 4 breaks down my full system. No discipline required. Just structure, consistency, and a plan that meets you where you are.
Want more like this?
📣 Share this blog with someone who’s one move away from breakthrough. Whether you're in the trenches or building policy to support those who are, this series bridges the gap.
🧭 Subscribe now to get the full series. Let’s change the frequency together.
