I'm a great example of how life's choices dictate how you live now.

I have been told that I'm a very smart multi-talented individual. I'm self-taught myself antique radio (Tube) repair & refurbishment, electronics repair in general, TV, VCR, DVD, Computer, mechanically creative to name a few.
So....what did I do for 18 years of my life?

I fixed typewriters, copy & fax machines for $7.50 - $12.00/hr.
I lived in just above poverty apartments and wondered how anybody can get ahead in this world.
Then I got married to a wonderful woman & we had 3 kids.

Between jobs we applied for food stamps but was denied because our car was worth over $3k. That afternoon a lady w/2 carts in the market loaded with choice beef, etc paid with her food stamps, the 2nd cart had liquer which she pulled out her wad of cash. Me, I bought my cheap hamburger helper. Later in the parking lot she drives away in her late-model car. She knew how to play the system, surely been doing it for a long, long time.
I'll never forget that.
Anyway I found a new copier job the next week.

My wife didn't want her kids to grow up around reefer so I quit. A couple of years passed and I got up off of my tired behind and looked for better work.
I landed a job at the Telco fixing DSL internet circuits in an office with a full suite of benefits & 60-70K a year to boot. We're doing very well for ourselves now.

Was I touched by lady luck? I don't think so, I made some personal choices.
1. I quit reefer so I wasn't stupid all the time.
2. I spent my time reading technical books & manuals, instead of watching the tube or sports.
3. I stayed away from trouble, or any appearance thereof.
4. I got tired of my routine & got busy for major change.

I think there are a sorted few instances where people really need help but few and far between.
This is a wonderful role for charities, but not our Imperial Federal Government.

Efficient drivers do it better.
1003 miles a tank personal record. 74MPG calculated. HCH1 CVT