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40 Things That People Thought Were A Luxury Because They Grew Up Poor, Shared In This Viral Reddit Post
If you grew up poor (or at least relatively poor), some of the things you and your family did (or didn’t do) because of this have probably stuck with you through the years. Even if you’ve found a better life and aren’t poor now, it’s quite likely that you still remember all of the things your family did differently compared to some other well-off families.
Well, Redditors have recently got together to share their stories on this topic. Reddit user u/SnooBeaz went to r/AskReddit to ask everyone who grew up poor what was a thing that they considered a luxury. Over 26,000 people responded in the comments (and the post itself got over 60,000 upvotes), explaining some of the most interesting things that they considered a luxury back in the day.
Bored Panda has collected some of the best answers and made it into a list. Scroll down to read them all, and upvote as well as comment on the ones you liked or related to the most! Oh, and if this isn’t enough, you can check out our other list on the same topic here.
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Mom's are the best, she is a boss. My mom was single and I was the youngest of 3 children so I only ever got hand me downs. At Christmas time we couldn't even afford a tree so she made one out of lights on the wall and asked us each which 1 present we wanted the most. She somehow always made it happen. Years later she told me it was her lunch money she saved for weeks by not eating. She gave everything for us and always did her best. My mom lost her battle to colon cancer in July of 2017. She fought for 3 years and went through 7 rounds of chemotherapy. I was lucky enough to be there and take care of her during it all and was with her the moment her heart stopped. It warms my heart to feel so much love from you all and helps me to know that humanity will always prevail. Please stay safe and continue to be amazing human beings.
I don’t know if anyone can relate, but in about 3rd maybe 4th grade, me and my twin brother had a music class where we were both required to buy a recorder. (Like a plastic flute thing) well my mom said we didn’t have the money so my twin brother and I tore the whole house up in search of $6 for two recorders. We brought a ziploc bag full of change pennies, nickels, dimes etc.
I think the teacher felt sorry for us, cause she paid for our recorders when the rest of the students left the room. Gave us the ziploc bag back.
Thank you Mrs. Albrecht
My parents were poor like this, but could somehow always find money for their cigarettes.
In high school, my boyfriend (who became my husband) and his family picked up pretty early on that I was poor, and that my family was pretty dysfunctional. They really let me into their family and took care of me in a sweet, not pity, way.
I was super into art, so his mom found a neighborhood art teacher that did like basically small group art classes and it was so so cool. Anyways she usually charged like $100 for all the supplies, time, etc. My mom knew how excited I was, and I never asked for anything so she told me to ask the teacher to wait until her next paycheck. The teacher was like “sure!” By the time I brought that check to her, I think my boyfriend’s mom talked to her, and she ripped it up and said I got a “scholarship” for the class. Honestly it gives me such good vibes thinking about it till this day.
Grew up pretty poor in Arkansas in a trailer. I literally got a door to my bedroom for Christmas one year. It probably still was the best gift I ever received.
My parents won 1500 bucks at a lottery once. They bought a new sofa (to replace a 25yo sofa), a phone, and we went to a mid-range steakhouse, first restaurant for whole family. I was 20.
School parties where everyone brought something to share for lunch.
“If you don’t bring something, you don’t get to participate...”
I brought two carrots after not being able to afford school lunch for two years. Even the teacher laughed at me. My young self just decided that day that some people don’t deserve lunch.
You are correct. That teacher, and the rest of the class who laughed at you, do not deserve lunch.
My folks always had three meals a day for us but clothes were always a treat.
It might be a pair of pants and a shirt but my folks always made sure it was something that we were able to pick out and it always felt so special. They sacrificed a lot for it.
In fact, my Mom told me a few years ago that in order to provide that my parents didn't buy new clothes (or much of anything) for well over a decade when we were younger.
With my first real job out of school I was able to take my Dad to a shop and have him pick out a suit of his choice and get it fitted. He's confessed that it's one of the moments that's really stuck with him; he still has that suit and has worn it to both my sister's and my weddings.
But yeah, some of those feelings and habits don't really go away. Regarding clothes, they still get worn till they can't be patched anymore and I loathe to throw them away.
I gotta stop there because this is actually making me surprisingly emotional.
I see nobody says this but going to the dentist or any doctor at all
Dentistry, ophthalmology and doctor appointments and any treatment needed including free glasses are provided until the age of 16 or until further education is completed for kids in the UK. So we were made to see the dentist twice a year and he NEVER used any pain medication if we needed a filling.
We are so lucky. In Sweden kids get free health care, mostly cheap or free medication and free glasses, free dentistry. Took it for granted as a kid because I thought that it was the same around the world. We have human rights in the UN, for example right to live. Sadly they don't seem to have that in the US. I mean, many people don't get a chance at life or surviving because it's expensive there. I feel so lucky to be born with the privelige I have. Me and my mom have chronic illness and I have a mental illness. My sister had cancer as a child. My son has asthma. What would happen if we weren't born in a country that offers the rights that we have.
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Dental care was definitely a luxury. I went to the dentist once before the age of 20 (when I got my own dental insurance), to have a tooth pulled. Now I'm 50 and getting braces and I'm so excited to fix my teeth!
As a child in poverty in the U.S. I never went to the doctor or dentist. I only started going when I got my first full time job at 19. I never realized kids could stay on their parent's insurance because that wasn't even an option for me.
I went to the dentist once by the time I was 18, one time after that because a tooth broke, a free dental event in Seattle, and finally with Obamacare and a good therapist I got in to a dental clinic so I get a cleaning once a year and basic cavity filling things. Fortunately I apparently didn’t inherit bad teeth from my mom’s side. But I can’t get my wisdom teeth pulled because that isn’t covered.
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I’m from us, and even I admit our healthcare system sucks. I had dental surgery twice, our health insurance didn’t cover that.
My mother's parents wouldn't take her to a dentist. She has ONE of her own teeth left. ONE.
I don't remember the last time I saw a dentist. It's not covered under my health insurance, and no way could I even afford just a regular cleaning.
this is too sad, because health insurance should be the base of our society. only healthy people are strong people and operation is always worse than prevention. :-( politicians can´t ignore this anymore.
That's my reality right now. If my parents were not helping me with my medical bills, I don't know what I would do.
Yeah. I remember a 10 year span of time I didn’t go to the dentist. Had a broken tooth all 10. Got my shots at 3, but the only time I stepped foot near a doctor until I was 18 was when I 1, had both scabies and bronchitis (at the same time - 0/10 would not recommend) when I was 6, and 2, got in a car accident at 8 and broke the dash with my face (yes I had a seatbelt, but the seat track broke and belt didn’t stop that). Money was pretty tight, but thankfully we were generally healthy.
I come from a low income country and on top of that we had civil war during early 90's (Bosnia and Herzegovina) and despite all of that every child has free health and dental care (also if you're unemployed as an adult you have it via Work placement office). My son has rare genetic disease and my regional health care paid for all his diagnostic procedures abroad because some of genetic analyses had to be done in German labs. He has dental braces and he got it free of charge. Since he is a person with rare disease he has free access to public transportation, library etc... European countries are much more human than USA. It makes me really sad to read that kids couldn't go to doctor or dentist because they're poor.
My parents didn't care much about my teeth, they never got me braces and took me to the dentist only when I was in a real pain (which meant an advanced problem). Result - I have very bad teeth and my self-esteem is so low. I spent 3 years going to the dentist to re-cure the fillings made by inadequate dentists in my childhood.
Me too. I didn't go to the dentist until I was 9. My theethies are fine though.
lol true I went to the dentist exactly 2 times, one when I was a little kid and needed a tooth pulled or you know, get a bad infection, and again at 19 when I got a job and realized I hadn't gone in OVER A DECADE!
So do I. Mr Varma refused to use pain medicine if you needed a filling.
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The U.S. doesn't have public health care, but EVERY OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED NATION HAS -- including Israel, which also has free college. The U.S. sends $14 Billion a year in aid to Israel.
This. No money for those things. My teeth grew in crooked and my mother told me to squeeze them every night.
Mistake! These are Not free in the UK. Those idiots that work have to pay out of their wages, if they are lower paid, wealthy always find a way out.
I'm a 60 year old Veteran. My medical care is through the VA and is free because I am so poor. There is one thing I wish the VA covered and that's dental. I need dental work (missing several teeth and have stumps on a number of others). So much work and nowhere to turn since they don't cover it. I don't know what to do.
The only poor aspect of this is, that you seem to live in a country, where healthcare is affordable for rich people only.
I didn't ever see a dentist until I was 17, when my dad got a job that finally had dental insurance.
This is so f****d up. America is one of the wealthiest places on earth, but a significant proportion of it population can't get basic healthcare.
Even with insurance it's kind of prohibitive to most people even today.
I once went to a dentist who injected the pain killer and all but didn't wait for it to kick in before using one of the dentist plier thingy to rip out my tooth (which was not loose but had a cavity). He literally twisted it side to side. Super painful
me and my family dont have money, so for the first time in a long while, after new years im going to the eye doctor, bc i need glasses still, and ive also had my braces for a year and a half... i havent been able to get my wires and i still need three teeth removed to let my teeth straighten, then i havent had my shots this year yet and havent had a doctors appointment since a year ago or so
In middle school I was on reduced school meals so it would be .40 for lunch. So my parents would always give me 2 quarters every morning for lunch, now the cafeteria would also sell cookies which wasn’t part of the lunch set for .50 each. So saving .10 each day I could afford one cookie by Fridays lunch. Good times
This is actually a great way for OP to learn the value of money and to save up for something special.
Staying at someone's house who wasn't poor, like a relative or friend. Their house was also so clean, beautiful, pictures on the wall, knick knacks on the counter, and carpet you could play on because it was clean.
I spent my entire teenage years hiding where I lived.
Me too. I was affraid my colegues from school would see where i live. And envied everyone who had a dry bathroom floor, our was always kind of wet, probably because of leaky things.
Going places during school vacation. The kids would be all like “what!? you’ve never been to xyz amusement park!?” No, Trisha. My family doesn’t even have a car.” Which is another luxury to me.
I feel this one. We had a car, but I never went to amusement parks or vacations that weren't camping.
I got pretty excited to be given my own bed
Getting your own bed IS exciting, I don't care if its a couch, as long as its mine, and comfortable, I'm grateful. Better than the floor.
I remember in 8th grade on my birthday at school one of my teachers asked me what gifts I had received. He asked in front of the whole class, I excitedly shared that I would be getting contact lenses. My parents let me choose one thing that I wanted and I desperately wanted to stop wearing the broken glasses I had, which I usually didn’t wear. One of the boys in class made a comment like “contacts aren’t a present..?” And my teacher had to explain to him- again in front of everyone- that for some families they were too expensive not to be a luxury. After that experience I worked two and three jobs in high school so I could buy myself and my brothers the things we needed. The first thing I bought with my money from my first job as a hostess at a diner was a queen size bed because my twin mattress was about 20 years old and at 15 I was having back problems and issues with rusted springs poking me.
how are contacts not a present? id love contacts as a gift, especially if i was wearing broken glasses!
Christmas presents.
I was a kid and one year for Christmas when I was young, before I could recognize that I was making any kind of larger point, I said that I wanted my parents to just give my presents to the kids who didn't have anything. But I didn't know that I was one of those kids. I wonder what they thought when a kid said that to them. I wonder if it hurt them or inspired them.
Until the age of 12, I thought that you weren’t allowed to buy things that weren’t on sale. My mom only bought things when they were on sale and/or she had a coupon, so I thought that the “non-sale” items weren’t being sold.
that logic actually makes sense. it was the same with my mom (still is)
My Mom had 7 children in 10 years, 1950-1960. I remember having a whole bottle (those smallish glass ones that came out of the machine for 10cents) of soft drink to my self instead of sharing 1 bottle between all 7 of us. I was perhaps 5 years old. I still remember this as the best thing ever.
A hot shower. Cold showers were always available, but when you scraped enough cash to get some diesel fuel and get the burner to kick on long enough to have a hot shower man, absolutely nothing better.
New clothes.
I grew up pretty poor (no TV, no toys, but had a Sears catalog). My dad got in a serious accident when I was in 4th grade and almost lost his life. He won a small settlement from the community college he was working at and I was able to buy new clothes for the first time in my life. Before this all I ever had were hand me downs from my cousin and donation clothes from the church. Most were worn to the point of having patches on the knees.
The worst part about getting new clothes for the first time is I felt terrible the whole time picking out new clothes because I always felt like a financial burden to my parents. I remember going to Miller’s Outpost and picking out typical 80’s clothes (OP, TnC, etc.).
It’s funny how growing up poor affects my everyday choices, for better or worse. I’ll never outgrow some of the feelings I had as a poor kid and I feel for any kid who has to endure a childhood of poverty. It will affect them and their choices for the rest of their life.
Restaurants were definitely somewhere at the top of my list. I lived through the tail end of Apartheid in South Africa so we weren’t allowed into restaurants. Also, non-iceberg lettuce. Dairy products, like a full glass of milk, cheese, cottage cheese, yogurt, flavored milk. Lawns.
A dining table and family meals at the table. Vacations that didn’t involve staying with relatives.
I hope you are able to enjoy so of the things you missed out on as a child.
Pancakes
But now as an adult and knowing how cheap pancakes really are, I think my mom just didn't want to make them
Man, new school supplies! An actual Trapper Keeper is all I wanted.
I made a habit of 'harvesting' good used school supplies from the trash cans in the hallway on the last day of school so I had good stuff in the fall for the next school year. I'm in my 30's and I still have pens and pencils left from that effort.
Parents staying home. I was always alone.
New shoes
I know a lot of people need shoes. Some don't even have shoes, let alone have worn ones. Luckily, there are good people that make organizations to provide people with this.
Being allowed to turn on the heat during the winter, and also being able to hire a professional to fix broken appliances, plumbing, etc
Being able to get candy at a store.
New school supplies.
Brand name food.
my parents always bought "fruit o's" instead of froot loops because "it tastes the same and saves us money". we were middle-class...?
Honestly didn't know that pasta roni was 1$ until I was a grown ass man. I thought that was some gourmet s***.
McDonald's
Clothes that fit
Soda
Having a toy that other kids thought was cool
@Robert Catte, shut the f**k up, asshole. Stop being a d**k, no one thinks it's funny.
Electricity lol. Thanks for paying the bill this month, mom.
In order of importance rent, electricity, gas for heating and then food. Somebody will always give you food I'm sure, but not those others. To this day I hate to be cold.
Taking a bath. I mean we bathed every night, but it was by heating up water (that we would go to the park down the road to get in 5 gallon jugs) and filling up a mop bucket to wash off with. Staying over at a friend or family members house and getting to take an actual shower was amazing though.
Owning books.
My parents always took us to the library once a week. That was a treat.
It's a long time ago - but when I was young (about 6-8 years old) back in the early 1960's we had meat once a week for the family dinner - on Sundays.
Sunday dinner was always a highlight of the week. Meat was on the menu!
For my school's spirit week, they had a "thrift shop" day, where most everyone dressed in old ratty clothes, or the weirdest stuff they could find in a thrift shop. Needless to say, as someone who's clothes were 80% second hand, it was an eye opener.
Renting a movie from blockbuster the first weekend of every month. My brother and I got to pick any movie we wanted as long as it wasn’t rated R. On really special nights, we even got a 2-liter bottle of Sprite for the family to share.
YAS my small town still had one until 2008 then we just rewatched movies we could find at yard sale
Having breakfast. It's gotten to the point where I can't eat in the morning because my body is so used to waiting
I know this one well, I always made sure my kids had a cooked breakfast,
Air conditioning.
Sometimes we had a jacked up old window unit that would cool down my parents room on the hottest of summer nights and we would sleep in sleeping bags on their floor.
Sometimes it was broke.
Sometimes it just wasn't hot enough to justify running it.
Never during the day though, that's what the library was for.
A new winter coat. I don’t remember having a new winter coat until I was probably 14 or 15, they had always been hand-me-downs from my cousins. They were usually at least ten years old by the time I got them and the stuffing would be all clumped up.
How I got my nickname of Ferret. My nana bought me a winter coat made from cony fur and my mum said I would have to wear it as she couldn’t really afford to buy another one (and I shouldn’t be so ungrateful!). Every morning when I got on the school bus all the lads would grab little bits of the fur and say it was ferret fur. Nearly 40 years later and whenever I see anyone from school they’ll call me Ferret.
Note: this post originally had 50 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
I think that they have been removed because I didn't see any. Maybe "Robert Catte" is one of those very old and technologically unaware folks who are sometimes made fun of on BP. Maybe he genuinely thinks that it's a good think to answer. Or maybe he's a foreigner with other cultural norms. I had a friend from Cameroon who also would answer "okay" without the slightest sign of emotion when asked something. Or maybe I'm just thinking about this too much.
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I grew up fairly poor, but not struggling to survive or anything. As a young adult, I'd sometimes ask my nan if she could lend me any money (you know what nans are like, they give you it and don't expect it back). To me, it was always lending and I never forgot it. Years later when I had money, I gave her a Xmas present of a cheque for £200. She and my mum used it to have a holiday together. My nan died a couple of years later. I'm so glad I did that.
mine is having my house. my family bounced around and never had any friends. My father had trouble getting a job, because of his limited english. one day, some kids were playing with some matches they ound and set fire to our house. it was ruined, and we coundnt buy a new one. we were homeless for about 3 months. then, we found some nice people who took us in. I am forever grateful. We are currently living with them and They are the nicest. they have the money to support us and words cannot express how grateful i am.
That's so great of them. I wish you the best for getting things sorted for your future.
Load More Replies... I can relate to almost all of these. My family grew up poor. My mom and dad worked hard day and night for their children. I really know the value of money now, and I am so grateful for my parents. Now that I'm an adult, whenever I see somebody on the sidewalk, I take them home and offer them a cup of tea or water and give them a place to stay for the night. It's not much, but you do what you do, right? One day I plan on opening a homeless shelter. One day.
I can relate to so many of these. Ahh the memories I can do without.
Many, many years ago I was invited to a sleepover at a wealthier friends house. I was having a good time until I noticed that I was the ONLY person there who had holes in the bottom of their socks. For some reason that mortified me. Now I am happy to say that once socks wear through on the bottom, they get turned into rags. I don't have to keep wearing them like that.
Oh, the memories :D I never threw away socks unless the hole was at least 5 cm large. Once a new friend invited me to her family‘s house for a game night, and her brother mocked me about the holes in my socks all night and eventually brought me a new pair from himself because he couldn’t 'bear' it anymore. I was so annoyed about his attitude. Now I‘m married to him and he makes me throw away my socks whenever he spots a hole in them.
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I think this is very cool. My dad grew up very poor and considered things like these as luxuries. I wanted to learn more about it so I can help people in need. No one should have to go without basic necessities and no one should be living in squalor, I'm sorry for all of you but it's wondeful to see these luxuires you recieved and stories. Thank you, I've learned a lot.
Buying nice underwears. Not the 5 pack in stores, but a real ones, with a matching bra perfectly sized. Just feeling pretty and be the only one knowing why.
ah this one! It didn't matter that nobody else knew because you felt awesome.
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Being poor isn't a bad thing. It gives you an appreciation for luxuries. Unlike rich people, who have no concept of how good they have it, and don't appreciate any of it.
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Dang you all, almost all of these fit my childhood completely. Some hit home hard. You know the great thing about growing up in trailers and being homeless? I grew up and took a ton of risks and I succeeded in most because I knew if I failed I was in deep trouble. But I also knew if I failed the worst that would happen is me being homeless again and I was pretty use to that. One summer my husband and I would split one cup of rice a day, did that for 4 months but we were able to pay rent so it was a win for me. Our crazy Saturday nights was going to the gas station and buying a four loko because they were cheap. Also, tip for struggling parents, I didn't know I was homeless until I got older. My mother told me that the homeless shelter is where people went while their new home was getting ready. Found out when my friend's horrible mother told me when she dropped me off after school. I still hate that woman.
I cannot say that I have experienced what you have gone through, but I have nothing but respect for you. I know it can be so hard. Keep fighting, friend! All the best, and Love from Upstate NY
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for me it was heating; i grew up pretty poor in north england and my dad had severe depression, paranoia and schizophrenia so he couldnt work as he was mentally unwell, and my mother had chronic fatigue so she couldnt get out of bed for days. this meant we couldnt afford heating as all the benefit money went on food and water. I remember having ice cold showers and having to sleep in coats we got from charity shops because the electric was too expensive. When i was around 11, my dad got better, got a job as a taxi driver and for the first time i actually experienced what is was like to shower with hot water.
Milk was a luxury, no clothes that weren't hand-me-downs, shoes always too small, only furniture was one bed and a small tv on the ground.
Bro why is everyone dissing on Robert Catte now? He literally has edited all of his comments trying to add something. We should be welcoming to our new pandas.
I learned to wash and re use everything, plastic baggies, aluminum foil, etc. We wouldn’t throw anything away until it was completely worn out. My boyfriend grew up with both parents having really good paying jobs. They had 3 kids and they definitely didn’t struggle for anything. There are several things he does that I consider wasteful but I don’t say anything because it’s not my money. But occasionally over the years he has noticed me re using things a bunch and not throwing out anything until I use the very last drop, like cut open a lotion bottle and get every last bit out. He was confused as to why I did all that.
Having to go with a small coat that doesn't fit and barely keeps you warm until it's your year to get the new coat. One year my brother gets the new coat, then the next year it's my turn, and so on. Honestly I think if you removed everything in our house that was paid for/given to us by a family member with more money, we would have almost nothing. I'm so grateful for my extended family that helps us out with the things we struggle with
Buns. We used loaf bread for everything. Hot dogs, hamburgers, garlic bread, sandwiches, toast, French toast, . . .
I can relate to some of these stuff: not shopping at the mall, not eating out... Growing up, every time I asked for something I felt my mother sighing. When I grew out my child bed (10-11yo), for years I slept on a pullout sofa, and then on an old mattress on the floor. I was 16-ish when I realized that it was not okay and started 'campaigning' for a real bed. Still, when I finished university, my parents helped me with the down payment for a condo - so I paid mortgage instead of rental fees. So it's not like we were actually poor, my parents were frugal, probably because their parents had been poor, for real. Buying a condo is a financial investment, while buying a bed is... investment in a child's good sleep and spine health, which was apparently not a consideration? Well, I guess it wasn't a consideration their parents could have afforded, so it just didn't cross their minds. Still, when I'm thinking about it, it astonishes me anew.
I can relate to growing up with frugal parents. My grandmother lived until she was 95 and when I visited her together with my parents and my son, it was very easy to see who had eaten on which plate at the end of the meal. My grandmother's plate was so clean it could almost be placed in the cupboard without any cleaning, my mother's plate had some slight traces that let you know that there had been food on it, you could probably guess what we had been eating from looking at my plate, and then there was the plate of my son with leftover pieces of food on it. Four generations, four different attitudes to not only food but resources in general.
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I've never been in a situation like this, my family is more (somewhat) upper-middle class but I remember having a friend who was terribly poor (parents divorced, mother alcoholic). He stayed over very often, ate with us. He was such a kind soul. When his mom drank herself to death he had to leave, but I met him years later. He grew up to be a well nourished, handsome guy who loves his new family very much.
Something that’s a luxury to me: being alive. I have nearly drowned, choked, and been impaled.
My mom grew up like this. Her mom had left when she was 11 and her dad had to raise her and 5 other kids. From what I am told they struggled a lot. They used to only eat canned beans for days at a time.
As a poor immigrant kid the high light of my week was having a fried egg and hot dog with a side of rice. Now when I make a breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, waffles, fruit, and yogurt...I feel like I'm spoiling myself.
This makes me so sad. My daughter is 12 and we get by OK, I try to always give her what she wants/needs, within reason obv. But I have to be super frugal to make that happen, and I don't want her to think we're poor. So a lot of my saving money is disguised as being environmentally conscious etc. Like we don't eat meat because we're vegetarian. I don't like to buy new clothes because I don't want to support consumerism – we always have family or friends swapping out clothing because someone gained weight or lost weight or got something they hate as a gift. We don't drive a lot because it's bad for the environment. We rarely buy books because it's a waste of paper when you can just borrow it from the library. We always buy off-brand because it's ridiculous to pay more just for a name. I always buy food that's marked down for being close to expiry, because it would be wasteful if the store has to throw it away. I hope I'm doing OK and that she won't have growing up poor stories one day.
A lot of my childhood consisted of my parents telling me we couldn't afford something. I think you should be more honest with your children, they may be a bit put off at that moment, but they'll learn to appreciate all that you did for them as they get older.
Load More Replies... Perceived poverty is relative. If most or all people around us are about equally hard up, then poverty is much easier to handle. Inequality is what creates problems, and I think that we saw this in quite a few of the posts above, for example when teachers did not appreciate that a student could not afford to bring food and brought two carrots, or when the classmates could not relate to lenses being given as a gift. This is a growing problem all over the world, with the wealth gap expanding. 10 percent of the richest people in the United States own almost 70 percent of the country's total wealth, meaning that the remaining 30 percent of the wealth is (not equally) divided among 90 percent of the people. And the top 1% own 45% of all global personal wealth.
I grew up in a middle-class home. I have experienced more than half of this list. I am amazed by how much some people get.
Makes me feel more grateful for everything that I have. My parents moved to Canada when they were around 30 and now we have a 3-level house and 2 cars and all those luxuries. I thank God for helping our family to have these and bless the people that don't.
I still discover things today that remind me of how poor I was growing up and how poor we were when our children were little. I used to dream, as a kid, of going into a restaurant. I imagined what it must be like and wow - a hotel!! That must be amazing! We wore second hand clothes and played with second hand toys. The house was cold and damp as there was no central heating and sometimes we ran out of 50 pence pieces to put into the meter. Years later as a mother I found myself repeating the cycle. My children had second hand clothes and second hand toys. When on day trips to the beach, I would scour arcade venues for dropped coins, hoping to get enough to treat us all to a chippy tea. Everything was bought on the cheap. Now I have a good job and finally we have money to have proper holidays, to eat in restaurants and even to stay in hotels! But I hope my kids have learnt the value of money. To never take things for granted and never throw good stuff away.
I always thought i was the only one that grew up poor on the internet but i grew up to be grateful not like the other girls from school when they their kate spade bags and michel kors
My God. I’m middle class and reading this made me realize how good I have it. I’m never going to complain again.
I remember some of the things I thought were luxuries as a kid. Having your own room was definitely one. Being able to buy new clothes. Eating at a restaurant that wasn't fast food. But the one thing that I thought really meant someone was rich: having matching anything. Matching furniture sets, matching dishes, matching towels. That sh*t looked fancy af to me. One of my aspirations growing up was to have things that matched. I'm ridiculously picky about my bathroom towels; if they're not all the same brand/color/style, it bothers me, because it makes me feel like I'm not succeeding at being an adult.
Neglect, not really poor but food has always been a thing now that I am a mother and adult. I never had food growing up, like a jar of jam in the fridge, nothing else kinda thing. My dad would bring supper home, hamburger patty, instant potatoes, just one small serving or pizza, one piece. It's the reason my fridge, freezer and cupboards are full and my kids have never gone hungry.
Things we were too poor to afford growing up..... Real orange juice (we always had frozen orange juice concentrate). Name brand anything. New clothes (I got 1 new outfit for school and 1 for Christmas church each year, everything else was hand me downs). Vacations. Store bought Halloween costumes. More than 2 pairs of shoes (I was the only kid on my softball team without cleats). Braces. Fresh bread (my mom would shop at the "day old" bread store, not sure if that still exists.) Take out.
I got to give my mom a Christmas present. We had spent two years living in a van, and finally found a shelter. They had a program where you you pick out two gifts for your family. She got a blue sweater and earrings. To be able to give something was just astounding. I felt like the king of the world. Also, milk in cereal, as opposed to water.
mom was awesome. and, so was the chinese family that has a little corner market w/a meat counter. le, the owner, figured out mom was struggling working 2 jobs & raising 3 kids. he called her down to the store one day & had his wife show her how to cook stir fry w/little meat but lots of veggies to save $. will never forget that kindness. also, the time i complained i wasn't taking another tuna sandwich on a field trip as it would stink up the bus (tuna was all she could afford). that day i had chicken salad. how? mom later told me she drained, rinsed tuna & seasoned w/chick boullion, mayo, celery, pepper. mom-you were/are great - miss you!
My parents and I moved to the U.S. when I was little. They always worked so hard to give me a normal life that I didn't realize we didn't have much money - and thanks to them we're doing well now. But I remember the day my mom cleared out our bedroom and made it my bedroom. Up until that day, we all shared a room. But my mom decided I needed my own space, so she and my dad moved to the couch in the living room and I got to have my own room. It actually took me some getting used to - I was accustomed to sleeping in the same room as my parents. But I remember absolutely loving having my own space. They could have easily taken the bedroom and given me the couch but instead she prioritized creating a safe space for me. I also always got to have a pet - most of them were hand-me-down hamsters, but as an only child these were so special to me. My parents are lab scientists so once we got a hamster who had a tumor... my dad operated on her and she lived for a long time after.
Reminds me to never take for granted how truly blessed my life has been.
We don't know what kind of person is behind " Robert Catte" name. Maybe is someone with some kind of desability. Or he just have a different sense of humor, or he thinks okay, is like to say, I agree. Bored panda is well known for being a kind place. Let's keep this way and come down a bit
I think that they have been removed because I didn't see any. Maybe "Robert Catte" is one of those very old and technologically unaware folks who are sometimes made fun of on BP. Maybe he genuinely thinks that it's a good think to answer. Or maybe he's a foreigner with other cultural norms. I had a friend from Cameroon who also would answer "okay" without the slightest sign of emotion when asked something. Or maybe I'm just thinking about this too much.
Load More Replies... I grew up fairly poor, but not struggling to survive or anything. As a young adult, I'd sometimes ask my nan if she could lend me any money (you know what nans are like, they give you it and don't expect it back). To me, it was always lending and I never forgot it. Years later when I had money, I gave her a Xmas present of a cheque for £200. She and my mum used it to have a holiday together. My nan died a couple of years later. I'm so glad I did that.
mine is having my house. my family bounced around and never had any friends. My father had trouble getting a job, because of his limited english. one day, some kids were playing with some matches they ound and set fire to our house. it was ruined, and we coundnt buy a new one. we were homeless for about 3 months. then, we found some nice people who took us in. I am forever grateful. We are currently living with them and They are the nicest. they have the money to support us and words cannot express how grateful i am.
That's so great of them. I wish you the best for getting things sorted for your future.
Load More Replies... I can relate to almost all of these. My family grew up poor. My mom and dad worked hard day and night for their children. I really know the value of money now, and I am so grateful for my parents. Now that I'm an adult, whenever I see somebody on the sidewalk, I take them home and offer them a cup of tea or water and give them a place to stay for the night. It's not much, but you do what you do, right? One day I plan on opening a homeless shelter. One day.
I can relate to so many of these. Ahh the memories I can do without.
Many, many years ago I was invited to a sleepover at a wealthier friends house. I was having a good time until I noticed that I was the ONLY person there who had holes in the bottom of their socks. For some reason that mortified me. Now I am happy to say that once socks wear through on the bottom, they get turned into rags. I don't have to keep wearing them like that.
Oh, the memories :D I never threw away socks unless the hole was at least 5 cm large. Once a new friend invited me to her family‘s house for a game night, and her brother mocked me about the holes in my socks all night and eventually brought me a new pair from himself because he couldn’t 'bear' it anymore. I was so annoyed about his attitude. Now I‘m married to him and he makes me throw away my socks whenever he spots a hole in them.
Load More Replies... I think this is very cool. My dad grew up very poor and considered things like these as luxuries. I wanted to learn more about it so I can help people in need. No one should have to go without basic necessities and no one should be living in squalor, I'm sorry for all of you but it's wondeful to see these luxuires you recieved and stories. Thank you, I've learned a lot.
Buying nice underwears. Not the 5 pack in stores, but a real ones, with a matching bra perfectly sized. Just feeling pretty and be the only one knowing why.
ah this one! It didn't matter that nobody else knew because you felt awesome.
Load More Replies... Being poor isn't a bad thing. It gives you an appreciation for luxuries. Unlike rich people, who have no concept of how good they have it, and don't appreciate any of it.
Load More Replies... Dang you all, almost all of these fit my childhood completely. Some hit home hard. You know the great thing about growing up in trailers and being homeless? I grew up and took a ton of risks and I succeeded in most because I knew if I failed I was in deep trouble. But I also knew if I failed the worst that would happen is me being homeless again and I was pretty use to that. One summer my husband and I would split one cup of rice a day, did that for 4 months but we were able to pay rent so it was a win for me. Our crazy Saturday nights was going to the gas station and buying a four loko because they were cheap. Also, tip for struggling parents, I didn't know I was homeless until I got older. My mother told me that the homeless shelter is where people went while their new home was getting ready. Found out when my friend's horrible mother told me when she dropped me off after school. I still hate that woman.
I cannot say that I have experienced what you have gone through, but I have nothing but respect for you. I know it can be so hard. Keep fighting, friend! All the best, and Love from Upstate NY
Load More Replies... for me it was heating; i grew up pretty poor in north england and my dad had severe depression, paranoia and schizophrenia so he couldnt work as he was mentally unwell, and my mother had chronic fatigue so she couldnt get out of bed for days. this meant we couldnt afford heating as all the benefit money went on food and water. I remember having ice cold showers and having to sleep in coats we got from charity shops because the electric was too expensive. When i was around 11, my dad got better, got a job as a taxi driver and for the first time i actually experienced what is was like to shower with hot water.
Milk was a luxury, no clothes that weren't hand-me-downs, shoes always too small, only furniture was one bed and a small tv on the ground.
Bro why is everyone dissing on Robert Catte now? He literally has edited all of his comments trying to add something. We should be welcoming to our new pandas.
I learned to wash and re use everything, plastic baggies, aluminum foil, etc. We wouldn’t throw anything away until it was completely worn out. My boyfriend grew up with both parents having really good paying jobs. They had 3 kids and they definitely didn’t struggle for anything. There are several things he does that I consider wasteful but I don’t say anything because it’s not my money. But occasionally over the years he has noticed me re using things a bunch and not throwing out anything until I use the very last drop, like cut open a lotion bottle and get every last bit out. He was confused as to why I did all that.
Having to go with a small coat that doesn't fit and barely keeps you warm until it's your year to get the new coat. One year my brother gets the new coat, then the next year it's my turn, and so on. Honestly I think if you removed everything in our house that was paid for/given to us by a family member with more money, we would have almost nothing. I'm so grateful for my extended family that helps us out with the things we struggle with
Buns. We used loaf bread for everything. Hot dogs, hamburgers, garlic bread, sandwiches, toast, French toast, . . .
I can relate to some of these stuff: not shopping at the mall, not eating out... Growing up, every time I asked for something I felt my mother sighing. When I grew out my child bed (10-11yo), for years I slept on a pullout sofa, and then on an old mattress on the floor. I was 16-ish when I realized that it was not okay and started 'campaigning' for a real bed. Still, when I finished university, my parents helped me with the down payment for a condo - so I paid mortgage instead of rental fees. So it's not like we were actually poor, my parents were frugal, probably because their parents had been poor, for real. Buying a condo is a financial investment, while buying a bed is... investment in a child's good sleep and spine health, which was apparently not a consideration? Well, I guess it wasn't a consideration their parents could have afforded, so it just didn't cross their minds. Still, when I'm thinking about it, it astonishes me anew.
I can relate to growing up with frugal parents. My grandmother lived until she was 95 and when I visited her together with my parents and my son, it was very easy to see who had eaten on which plate at the end of the meal. My grandmother's plate was so clean it could almost be placed in the cupboard without any cleaning, my mother's plate had some slight traces that let you know that there had been food on it, you could probably guess what we had been eating from looking at my plate, and then there was the plate of my son with leftover pieces of food on it. Four generations, four different attitudes to not only food but resources in general.
Load More Replies... I've never been in a situation like this, my family is more (somewhat) upper-middle class but I remember having a friend who was terribly poor (parents divorced, mother alcoholic). He stayed over very often, ate with us. He was such a kind soul. When his mom drank herself to death he had to leave, but I met him years later. He grew up to be a well nourished, handsome guy who loves his new family very much.
Something that’s a luxury to me: being alive. I have nearly drowned, choked, and been impaled.
My mom grew up like this. Her mom had left when she was 11 and her dad had to raise her and 5 other kids. From what I am told they struggled a lot. They used to only eat canned beans for days at a time.
As a poor immigrant kid the high light of my week was having a fried egg and hot dog with a side of rice. Now when I make a breakfast consisting of eggs, bacon, waffles, fruit, and yogurt...I feel like I'm spoiling myself.
This makes me so sad. My daughter is 12 and we get by OK, I try to always give her what she wants/needs, within reason obv. But I have to be super frugal to make that happen, and I don't want her to think we're poor. So a lot of my saving money is disguised as being environmentally conscious etc. Like we don't eat meat because we're vegetarian. I don't like to buy new clothes because I don't want to support consumerism – we always have family or friends swapping out clothing because someone gained weight or lost weight or got something they hate as a gift. We don't drive a lot because it's bad for the environment. We rarely buy books because it's a waste of paper when you can just borrow it from the library. We always buy off-brand because it's ridiculous to pay more just for a name. I always buy food that's marked down for being close to expiry, because it would be wasteful if the store has to throw it away. I hope I'm doing OK and that she won't have growing up poor stories one day.
A lot of my childhood consisted of my parents telling me we couldn't afford something. I think you should be more honest with your children, they may be a bit put off at that moment, but they'll learn to appreciate all that you did for them as they get older.
Load More Replies... Perceived poverty is relative. If most or all people around us are about equally hard up, then poverty is much easier to handle. Inequality is what creates problems, and I think that we saw this in quite a few of the posts above, for example when teachers did not appreciate that a student could not afford to bring food and brought two carrots, or when the classmates could not relate to lenses being given as a gift. This is a growing problem all over the world, with the wealth gap expanding. 10 percent of the richest people in the United States own almost 70 percent of the country's total wealth, meaning that the remaining 30 percent of the wealth is (not equally) divided among 90 percent of the people. And the top 1% own 45% of all global personal wealth.
I grew up in a middle-class home. I have experienced more than half of this list. I am amazed by how much some people get.
Makes me feel more grateful for everything that I have. My parents moved to Canada when they were around 30 and now we have a 3-level house and 2 cars and all those luxuries. I thank God for helping our family to have these and bless the people that don't.
I still discover things today that remind me of how poor I was growing up and how poor we were when our children were little. I used to dream, as a kid, of going into a restaurant. I imagined what it must be like and wow - a hotel!! That must be amazing! We wore second hand clothes and played with second hand toys. The house was cold and damp as there was no central heating and sometimes we ran out of 50 pence pieces to put into the meter. Years later as a mother I found myself repeating the cycle. My children had second hand clothes and second hand toys. When on day trips to the beach, I would scour arcade venues for dropped coins, hoping to get enough to treat us all to a chippy tea. Everything was bought on the cheap. Now I have a good job and finally we have money to have proper holidays, to eat in restaurants and even to stay in hotels! But I hope my kids have learnt the value of money. To never take things for granted and never throw good stuff away.
I always thought i was the only one that grew up poor on the internet but i grew up to be grateful not like the other girls from school when they their kate spade bags and michel kors
My God. I’m middle class and reading this made me realize how good I have it. I’m never going to complain again.
I remember some of the things I thought were luxuries as a kid. Having your own room was definitely one. Being able to buy new clothes. Eating at a restaurant that wasn't fast food. But the one thing that I thought really meant someone was rich: having matching anything. Matching furniture sets, matching dishes, matching towels. That sh*t looked fancy af to me. One of my aspirations growing up was to have things that matched. I'm ridiculously picky about my bathroom towels; if they're not all the same brand/color/style, it bothers me, because it makes me feel like I'm not succeeding at being an adult.
Neglect, not really poor but food has always been a thing now that I am a mother and adult. I never had food growing up, like a jar of jam in the fridge, nothing else kinda thing. My dad would bring supper home, hamburger patty, instant potatoes, just one small serving or pizza, one piece. It's the reason my fridge, freezer and cupboards are full and my kids have never gone hungry.
Things we were too poor to afford growing up..... Real orange juice (we always had frozen orange juice concentrate). Name brand anything. New clothes (I got 1 new outfit for school and 1 for Christmas church each year, everything else was hand me downs). Vacations. Store bought Halloween costumes. More than 2 pairs of shoes (I was the only kid on my softball team without cleats). Braces. Fresh bread (my mom would shop at the "day old" bread store, not sure if that still exists.) Take out.
I got to give my mom a Christmas present. We had spent two years living in a van, and finally found a shelter. They had a program where you you pick out two gifts for your family. She got a blue sweater and earrings. To be able to give something was just astounding. I felt like the king of the world. Also, milk in cereal, as opposed to water.
mom was awesome. and, so was the chinese family that has a little corner market w/a meat counter. le, the owner, figured out mom was struggling working 2 jobs & raising 3 kids. he called her down to the store one day & had his wife show her how to cook stir fry w/little meat but lots of veggies to save $. will never forget that kindness. also, the time i complained i wasn't taking another tuna sandwich on a field trip as it would stink up the bus (tuna was all she could afford). that day i had chicken salad. how? mom later told me she drained, rinsed tuna & seasoned w/chick boullion, mayo, celery, pepper. mom-you were/are great - miss you!
My parents and I moved to the U.S. when I was little. They always worked so hard to give me a normal life that I didn't realize we didn't have much money - and thanks to them we're doing well now. But I remember the day my mom cleared out our bedroom and made it my bedroom. Up until that day, we all shared a room. But my mom decided I needed my own space, so she and my dad moved to the couch in the living room and I got to have my own room. It actually took me some getting used to - I was accustomed to sleeping in the same room as my parents. But I remember absolutely loving having my own space. They could have easily taken the bedroom and given me the couch but instead she prioritized creating a safe space for me. I also always got to have a pet - most of them were hand-me-down hamsters, but as an only child these were so special to me. My parents are lab scientists so once we got a hamster who had a tumor... my dad operated on her and she lived for a long time after.
Reminds me to never take for granted how truly blessed my life has been.
We don't know what kind of person is behind " Robert Catte" name. Maybe is someone with some kind of desability. Or he just have a different sense of humor, or he thinks okay, is like to say, I agree. Bored panda is well known for being a kind place. Let's keep this way and come down a bit
