How to Follow Your Dreams When You Don’t Have Money

“How can I follow my dreams if I don’t have any money?” is a question I’m asked often.

It was one of the questions that plagued me back in the day when I had less than $900 in my bank account.

At the time, I was too busy trying to keep food on the table, a roof over my head, and a shirt on my back to answer it.

At that point, chasing a dream felt like a luxury. How could I think about passion when survival was my top priority?

But over time, as I worked my way out of debt and into stability, I realized something: You don’t need millions to follow your dreams. You need a plan.

Let’s talk about how to get there!

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Whichever way you look at it, however noble, fantastic, or innovative your idea may be, you simply will not be able to get it off the ground without funding.

When you have to worry about things like rent, food, clothing, and all the other nitty-gritty of everyday life, there will be a disconnect from the creative part of your brain.

This disconnect will prevent you from dedicating yourself fully to pursuing your passion.

In a ripple effect, when you’re unable to dedicate yourself, self-doubt creeps in, and you will begin to think/believe you’ve made a mistake.

Is It Even Worth It to Chase Your Dreams?

Absolutely, if your dream has direction, purpose, and a plan.

Dreaming without action is just wishing. But dreaming with intention? That’s where transformation begins.

You can’t wing it. You need clarity, strategy, and perseverance. And even when you don’t have money, you can still start moving.

So, how can you pursue your dreams without any money? The answer is quite simple and doesn’t involve a balaclava and an assault rifle.

5 Ways to Follow Your Dreams When You Have No Money

1. Work, Save, and Test Your Ideas

Most dream-chasers start before they feel ready. Here are some important questions to start with:-

• How much money do I really need to launch?
• What’s my timeline to get there?
• What can I start doing today?

Start working towards that timeline by doing one or more of the following:-

• Trim unnecessary expenses.
• Save consistently (even small amounts add up).
• Take side gigs to build a launch fund.
• Test your dream while you’re still employed.

I did this myself. It took me 3.5 years to get debt-free and build a cushion. When I finally launched, I was able to go all in without stressing over rent or food.

If you are really worried about following your passion when you eventually have enough money because you’re scared, test your idea.

Soft-launch it. Run a mini version. Get feedback. Pivot. But don’t wait for perfect conditions. They rarely show up.

Either way, there’s no easy, comfortable, guaranteed path to success way to follow your passion. There will always be an element of risk involved.

2. Partner With Someone Who Shares Your Vision

Sometimes, the dream is big, but the price tag is bigger.

That’s when a business partner can make the difference if you find the right one. I had an opportunity like this once, but I wasn’t aligned with the person’s values. I walked away, and I’m glad I did.

In trying to find a business partner, you need to align yourself with someone who’s on the same journey as you are.

If you don’t, it can turn out to be a very costly mistake somewhere down the road – mentally, emotionally, and financially.

What to Look For:–

• Shared goals and vision.
• Complementary strengths.
• Trust and clear communication.

3. Find Funding (Without Debt)

If your idea addresses a genuine problem, inspires others, or has commercial potential, consider crowdfunding.

Options to Explore:–

• Crowdfunding platforms (like EquityNet or Kickstarter).
• Grants for creatives or entrepreneurs.
• Angel investors or accelerators.
• Local business pitch competitions.

Crowdfunding Tip: Focus on telling a compelling story. People invest in people more than products.

I’ll be posting a review of EquityNet soon. It’s a platform that connects creators with accredited investors, charging zero commissions. Stay tuned.

With this type of funding in place, you’re free to throw all of yourself into your idea and implementation.

4. Leverage Free Learning Resources

You don’t need to pay for expensive courses or degrees to build a skill set.

• Utilize free tools such as YouTube, Coursera, Khan Academy, HubSpot Academy, or Google Digital Garage.
• Join niche Facebook groups or Reddit communities.
• Get ebooks from the library or read free Medium posts.

You can build a six-figure skillset for $0 if you commit to learning and practicing.

5. Apply for Grants, Contests, or Microfunding

Many organizations offer funding to early-stage creators and entrepreneurs, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Look into:-

• Local entrepreneurship grants.
• Niche-specific fellowships (for writers, creators, founders, solopreneurs, and small businesses).
• Competitions that award funding or mentorship.

Some even offer microgrants of $500 to $5,000, which is just enough to get moving.

4 Things to Avoid When Chasing Your Dreams

1. People Who Try to Discourage You, aka Toxic Negativity

Some people are a personification of the word “negative”. They find fault in everything and make it their business to complain about everything.

It’s imperative to avoid people like this. Even if you have an iron will, listening to people like this whine on and on and on can be a source of negative energy.

Work actively to keep people like this out of your life.

2. Discouraging and Doubting Yourself

A little bit of self-doubt isn’t so bad. A lot of it means you will start seeing problems where there are none and making issues bigger than they are.

Surround yourself with positive inspiration, whether that’s books, art, quotes, or your journal.

They can prevent your mind from descending into self-sabotage and telling yourself you can’t do it.

3. Waiting for Miracles

Nothing is ever going to come to pass if you sit on your behind waiting and praying for a miracle, irrespective of your faith.

Faith is great. Faith without action is wasted faith. Get moving. If something stands in your way, find a way to build a bridge and climb over it.

4. Comparing Yourself to Others

The fastest way to destruction is by comparing yourself or your success to others. Everybody’s journey is different. Everybody’s road is unique.

You don’t know what their lives are like or what they’re up against, or what they’ve been up against, to get to where they are.

Let their success inspire you, but never use it as a yardstick to measure your success.

Chase the Dreams for the Right Reason

Don’t chase your dream just to “make money.”

Money is important, but passion, purpose, and integrity will carry you when money can’t.

And when the dream does pay off? It’s not just about the income. It’s about the freedom, the pride, and the proof that you can.

If this article spoke to you, I’ve got more posts on how to build your dream from the ground up, especially if you’re bootstrapping it.

Explore more under Self-Employment or Solopreneur archives.

Anna gave up her 9 – 5 to implement her life plan after paying off over $40,000 in debt. She started The Writer Entrepreneur to share her journey and encourage other people to pay off debt and pursue their life plans. She has been featured on HuffPost, YouQueen & Fitnancials among others. Learn more about Anna HERE.