For those living in what they consider a current poverty situation: have any of you consciously chosen your predictament for a greater or good cause?

My mum lives paycheck to paycheck with bills stacking up on every side of her and no way to pay them down…she does it so me and my sister can go to the colleges of our choosing and I love her for it, somebody i’ll repay her any way I can.

I am heading into what may be considered a “poverty situation” by becoming a single mother to my three boys. I did it because I believe their father and I being apart is best for all concerned. I am however receiving child support, working a part time job while I go to school, and taking in a border to help make ends meet. Since I am working on finishing my degree our poverty situation is going to be short lived. (I’m getting a teaching credential with an endorsement in special education so I should be pretty marketable even in an economy such as this.)

In my late teens/early twenties my ex-husband and I lived in self-enforced poverty in order to save money to buy our next residence. For two years we rarely went out, bought clothes, or spent any more than was necessary to live. When I was 21, we bought our first place… a brand new townhouse. For the next several years we were house poor, and didn’t even have furniture in every room. It was all worth it.

I’m currently providing free medical service to a rural / indigenous population in Baja… have been for the past 9 months…. have 3 to go. It’s a personal choice before i apply for a surgical residence.
My way of giving back.
And poverty would be a step up for me at the moment.