The Root of Poverty: A Lack of Knowledge - 2021-04-10

Why didn’t my family ever plant kangkong? Why didn’t we know that xiao bai cai can keep growing if you simply harvest the outer leaves instead of uprooting the whole plant? If we had known these simple gardening tricks, we wouldn’t have had to keep buying them. A little knowledge could have meant a steady supply of fresh vegetables, saving both money and effort.

Knowledge is the Key to Abundance

The COVID-19 pandemic made me think deeply about food security. That’s when I wondered: Can I grow my own food? I started with kangkong—my first successful vegetable—nurtured with free air-conditioner condensate water, which contains no chlorine. 

Before this, every plant we tried to grow died. We never suspected it was because of the water! What a surprise discovery! Which rain water also works!

I also realise over fertilizer will invite mealybugs! The real culprit? Ants! They farm mealybugs for their honeydew. So, reduce the fertilizer and get rid of both!

The Same Principle Applies to Money

Gardening taught me something bigger: knowledge determines success, not just in growing food but in growing wealth.

Investing is no different. At first, I only bought REITs and high-dividend stocks—great opportunities that emerged after a market crash. But I soon realized that dividend buying is not enough—I needed to learn how to evaluate companies. Now, I also allocate part of my portfolio to lean asset businesses, ensuring a well-balanced investment strategy.

One key lesson I learned? Why aiming for a 10% return is a smart long-term goal. The idea became clearer after figuring out the PMT & NPER formulas in Excel—which later led me to understand the actual mathematical formula behind financial independence.

Lack of Preparation Leads to Financial Ruin

Another reason people fall into poverty overnight? No savings and no insurance.

Imagine facing a critical illness with no financial backup. If you have no savings, no insurance, and no alternative income, the outcome is already determined—you’re in trouble. That’s why I decided to get insured, ensuring that if something happens to me, my kids will have enough money to complete their education before they start earning on their own.

Final Thoughts

The principle is simple: if you don’t invest time into learning, nothing improves.

  • If you never learn how to grow food, you’ll always rely on buying it.

  • If you never learn how to invest, your money will never grow.

  • If you never prepare for emergencies, one crisis could wipe you out.

Poverty is not just about a lack of money—it’s about a lack of knowledge and preparation. The more you learn, the more control you have over your life.

So, what will you start learning today?

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