Consumers can build wealth. The wealthy are consumers too. It is not that they're not supposed to, it is that most don't. We are all consumers, the choice is consume or die.

It is workers who are not supposed to build wealth. With wealth comes independence. Independence that will allow you to demand better wages, working conditions or just quit or retire. Employers don't want you to build wealth.

People or businesses that sell to consumers are glad if you are building wealth because then you can buy more products and more expensive products.

How to build wealth as a consumer? Be price and value conscious. Don't buy trash, buy good stuff. Don't pay a premium for a meaningless label.

I had a friend who was a car flipper. He would buy used cars, drive them, fix them up and then sell them for more than he had invested (that is right, invested) in them.

I used to buy products on E-Bay for my RC Model hobbies. I would buy items in lots (more than one). I would sell the extra's and get mine at a discount or sometimes for free.

That is an example of side hustles I guess, and they can help you build wealth (pay down debt).

Good debt vs. bad debt. The wealthy often have a lot of good debt. If you are wealthy, it is easy to get good debt. Good debt is leverage for you investments. Even student loans can be good debt but not all student loans are good debt. Look at return on investment. Is the return going to be enough to pay off the debt in a reasonable time? If not, it is bad debt. Don't take on bad debt. It is then not leverage it is an impediment. You don't need to be debt free, but you do need to retire all your bad debt. Bad debt will keep you from qualifying for good debt.

There is a lot more in your story I would comment on but there is so much on Medium to comment on and then I write stories too.

I am not here to sell anything, I don't even earn from my stories, I give them away and pay for a subscription here.