Poverty is about not having enough money to meet basic needs including food, clothing and shelter. A  However, poverty is more, much more than just not having enough money.

Poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is not having access to school and not knowing how to read. Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living one day at a time.

Poverty has many faces, changing from place to place and across time, and has been described in many ways.  Most often, poverty is a situation people want to escape. So poverty is a call to action -- for the poor and the wealthy alike -- a call to change the world so that many more may have enough to eat, adequate shelter, access to education and health, protection from violence, and a voice in what happens in their communities.

Despite the many definitions, one thing is certain; poverty is a complex societal issue. No matter how poverty is defined, it can be agreed that it is an issue that requires everyone's attention.  It is important that all members of our society work together to provide the opportunities for all our members to reach their full potential. It helps all of us to help one another .

No matter who you are, building wealth and overcoming poverty can be a challenge – but it is possible. Here are some tips for some small things you can do, starting now, to help break the cycle of poverty and take back control of your financial situation.

1 - Educate Yourself

This one comes first because it’s the most important. The simple truth is the less you know, the more susceptible you are to getting taken advantage of - especially when most schools don't currently provide educational opportunities in financial literacy. So education is key.

2 - Change Your Mindset Towards Money

When it comes to improving your personal finances and achieving financial wellness, its 20% skill and 80% behavior and mindset, Bola Sokhumi from Clever Girl Finance says.

For many low-income workers, the hardest part of breaking the cycle of poverty is changing their mindset towards money. Their parents money habits and lessons may be deeply ingrained, strongly influencing their own attitudes toward money.

To start changing your mindset towards money, take a moment to assess where you're coming from and where you stand right now with your finances.

Consider asking yourself these questions, for starters:

. How were you raised with money?
. What money habits did you inherit from your parents?
. How did they handle money?
. What triggers you to spend your money?
. A raise, for example? A sale?
. What are your current money beliefs?
. How much do you own outright?
. How much money do you owe?
. What small steps can you take now to start changing these beliefs for the better?

3 - Avoid Predatory Payday Lending

If you just look at the name, a payday loan sounds like a loan that's just for one day, right? But the truth is, if you get caught in the cycle of payday lending, you could be paying for that loan for years to come.

In fact, about 12 million Americans use payday loans each year, and spend an average of $520 in fees to borrow just $375. I don't know about you, but that math just doesn't add up.

As explained by the CFPB, the cost of a payday loan could range from about $10 to $30 for every $100 you borrow. Basically, if you take out a two week payday loan with a fee of $15 for every $100 borrowed, your Annual Percentage Rate (APR) would be nearly 400%.

To put this into perspective, the APR for credit cards runs from about 12-30%. But if you don't have access to credit or credit cards, what are your options?

Payday loans encourage a cycle of debt thanks to high rates of interest, as well as high repayment installments. In most cases, the client will be unable to repay the debt by the due date. What happens next? Another costly loan is secured to cover the difference, Financial Counselor Regina Blackwell says.

Why do so many people keep falling into this trap?

      A few possible reasons:
      Emergency need for cash.
      Poor credit or no credit, which is needed to access higher quality and lower interest loans .

       Lack of awareness about other options.

One possible solution to help you break this cycle, aside from just avoiding payday loans? Work on building better credit. That way, if an emergency does arise, you can gain access to more favorable personal loans with better loan terms, making it more likely your actually be able to pay those loans back.

4 Save your change.

 Starting a change jar isn't going to make you rich overnight, but it will help you save small amounts that you can add to your savings account.

Put your loose coins into a jar at the end of each day. When you fill the jar, roll your coins and put them into a savings account.

Remember that regardless of what anyone might tell you or try to make you believe, you have more options than you realize. So do your research and find what's right for you.