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In America, nearly 11 million children are poor. That’s 1 in 7 kids, who make up almost one-third of all people living in poverty in this country. After growing up, none of those kids take things for granted, and they can clearly see the obvious prerogatives that the privileged and rich are lucky to have.

So when someone posed a question to people “who grew up poor, what do you associate with being rich?” on r/AskReddit, it immediately turned into an eye-opening thread. Below we selected some of the most interesting and thought-provoking responses that make us question simple things like going to Disneyland, buying new, not used furniture, and not having to dread grocery shopping.

Scroll down below, and after you’re done, be sure to check out our previous post with small subtle things about wealthy people that scream they are insanely rich.

#1

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Eating pizza because you want to not because it's $2. That and mom eating along with us normally instead of pretending that the crust is her favorite part and that's why she'd eat the crust we leave.

DirtySingh , Jordan Nix Report

#2

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) There's a line from Nick in new girl that describes being well off as 'filling your gas tank up all the way rich.' That was the rich I wanted to be. Comfortable. Also not having to do math in the grocery store to see what food you can buy.

Top_Confidence_9177 , Wassim Chouak Report

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catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love that I can fill my tank all the way up now, something I couldn't do just a few years ago. I constantly stressed about having enough gas to get to work.

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#3

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Vacations that weren't visiting family.

lastcallface , Ibiza Ibiza Ibiza Report

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or camping. Camping is cheap, once you've got a tent and a couple of sleeping bags from the army surplus store.

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Bored Panda reached out to the Redditor Awkward_Name5898 who said that “being able to buy something you need without having to ask yourself how badly you need it” is something they associate with being rich.

When asked what was the hardest part of growing up poor, the Redditor was honest to say that it was the “feeling like you’ve failed, you think you’ll always be poor and won’t be able to get yourself out of that situation.” They also added that “as a kid, I remember feeling like a burden and that was hard to deal with.”

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#4

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Having enough money to go to a psychologist for mental health.

Tofutofu12 , Nik Shuliahin Report

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Caro Caro
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is infuriating that people who need help don't recieve it because it's unaffordable.

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#5

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Hiring moving men. Especially if they're the ones who pack all your s**t for you, too.
So many times, I would borrow a friend's pickup (and buy my friend's help with offers of pizza and beer) to move from one s**tty place to another.
For my most recent move, my wife and I packed everything, but hired professionals to load and unload it. I felt like a king.

KhaoticMess , Robinson Greig Report

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ZAPanda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

last time i did this the buggers stole a valuable collectors' item coin that had no monetary value in our country. really annoying.

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#6

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Being able to buy something you need without having to ask yourself how badly you need it

Awkward_Name5898 , Pickawood Report

The Redditor shared that growing up on a tight budget made them learn some life hacks. “I did learn how to maximize my food purchases, if I was able to buy food I’d buy things that would have leftovers and be filling, Spaghetti noodles, instant mashed potatoes, hamburger helper or Mac n cheese if I had milk. I lived in a house that didn’t have AC, so in the spring/summer I’d get a towel, wet it, and then lay it over me to keep me cool, the house didn’t have blinds so I used foil to cover the windows to keep out the sun and help keep the room cooler,” they recounted.

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#7

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Indifference. I realized what real wealth meant in high school when we cleaned up trash from a creek and the rich kids wore their Polo shirts, Guess jeans, and Jordan's because if they were trashed they simply would get new. The poor kids wore their grubby clothes they do labor in.

Wealth is shown most acutely by indifference, nothing matters because money will fix it and there is plenty enough to fill black holes.

Waxnpoetic , Alexander Mils Report

#8

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Having nice teeth that don't cause constant, debilitating pain

DeanCrimson Report

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#9

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Regular doctor's office visits or seeing a dentist at all for anything other than an emergency.

didnsignup4dis , Martha Dominguez de Gouveia Report

“The rich assume money isn’t an issue for anyone simply because they have lots of it. They tend to think that poor people stay poor because they don’t invest their money as they do,” the Redditor said. For anyone who’s struggling to make their ends meet, Awkward_Name5898 urges not to feel ashamed to ask for help. “People are more kind and generous than you might think. Hold onto hope, things won’t always be this way,” they concluded.

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#10

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Those fridges with the water dispenser on it

Siyuen_Tea , Francesca Tosolini Report

#11

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Not having to panic if your car breaks down

momcitrus , Marc St Report

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catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, I know this one well. Not being able to afford roadside service.

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#12

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Not knowing EXACTLY how much money you have at any given time.

wrongstuff , Jp Valery Report

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Kanuli
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I know exactly how much we have, how much we spent, and how much we most likely will spend in the next 6 months.

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#13

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Parents buying a car for your 16th birthday

ghosthues , Roland Denes Report

#14

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) A new mattress.

OakNogg , Filmreal Studio Report

#15

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Going to a store to pick out furniture. Like, actually buying NEW stuff, not just taking whatever you can find at thrift stores or garage sales. That seems so luxurious!

Nonsenseinabag , Anastase Maragos Report

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Helenium
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

i have money not loaded but i still buy second hand stuff, especially furniture, new stuff is over priced and you get some real bargains

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#16

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Hiring people to either cook, clean, mow the grass or do snow removal in the winter.

Showing my age but rich people didn't need lay away to afford back to school or Christmas shopping

I don't remember ever having name brand items, food or clothing. It was all generic Kmart. I bought my son a pair of Nike shoes and thought I felt rich for doing so.

thatstaceygirl , Boris Debusscher Report

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BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Going back to school was always embarrassing because the other kids had new supplies and we didn't. My mom did the best she could.Teachers would get onto us for not having things on the list and humiliate us in front of the other kids, and the other kids could be so mean. On the other hand, sometimes there would be a kind teacher who would discreetly hand me some things, or a fellow student who would share.

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#17

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Everyone having their own room. We all slept in a single room.

CostSoLow , Daria Shevtsova Report

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Adam C
Community Member
2 years ago

privacy or just somewhere quiet to do your homework

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#18

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Getting an appetizer and/or dessert at a restaurant in addition to an entree.

Frankfluff , Kamil Kalbarczyk Report

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Niall Mac Iomera
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do Americans call the main course an "entree"? It literally means 'entry', as in the first part of the meal.

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#19

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Parents that didn’t fight. Mine and my other poor friends’ parents were always fighting. Most of the time my parents fought it was over money. You could tell that they were just scared whether or not we were going to make it and that’s how it manifested. You just never really saw that same type of fighting at the friends parents who were comfortable.

Like obviously there’s more factors but there’s a unique chaotic tension in poor households that is hard to describe.

Elegant_Extreme3268 , Priscilla Du Preez Report

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BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because the constant lack of money just never lets up. Add to that, the fact that partners will disagree how the money is spent. Something that is important to one is not important to the other.

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#20

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Paying all your bills without eating Ramen noodles.

RadiantTangerine3920 , Fernando Andrade Report

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Chris Freeman
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol, brings back a sharp memory of mine from college. One week before a paycheck or national guard check arrives, no gas in the tank, and absolutely no food. Scrounge around car seats and couch and find $1.35. Free pop at work so I work extra shifts, and walk to grocery store and Ramen on sale for 12 for a dollar, (1990). That is what I did all week, walk to school and work, and ate Ramen at home. I now appreciate having $20 in my pocket and credit cards. Its a life changing experience to be THAT broke. It teaches you discipline when it comes to money.

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#21

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Stairs. I've always lived in an apartment, so for me, I really hope that I'll one day have a house with stairs.
Also well balanced meals, three meals a day.

Trikger Report

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Samantha Lomb
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

After you fall down the stairs a couple of times ( particularly if you wear socks but no shoes) you will find they are overrated.

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#22

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Have the heating on in the winter

Pretzel_Lady , Julian Hochgesang Report

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BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can remember my mom turning on the oven and all the burners, and us huddling around, because we had no heater. We were kids; we didn't know how dangerous it was.

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#23

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Not having to worry about food or bills. Paying out of pocket at the dentist

Longjumping-Price-42 , Tara Clark Report

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catmarshall57 avatar
BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most of my parent's fights seemed to be about money and bills. That's another thing poverty causes.

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#24

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Being allowed to go in the fridge and get something to drink or eat without having to ask or worry about being yelled at

StraightSho , nrd Report

#25

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Fresh fruit and vegetables. Anything we ever got was frozen or from a can. Frozen and canned last longer too.

People that openly had fruit bowls on their tables was the epitome of lavish for me as a kid.

Just-Seaworthiness39 , Emily Powers Report

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Dre Mosley
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We only had that because we grew our own oranges, grapefruits, and peaches.

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#26

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Kids that went to summer camp. I got sent to long distant family and worked on family farm.

Jim105 , Artem Kniaz Report

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got kept at home to scrub the floors and paint the exterior of the house, and we were NOT poor.

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#27

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Eating out. Birthday presents and Christmas presents that's not clothes or school supply. New clothes that's not hand me downs. And haircuts at a hair dresser.

AbnormalSkittles , freestocks Report

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BusLady
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We almost never got new clothes. When we got new clothes as gifts, we got really excited. Even today, I buy used most of the time. You can get some great stuff at thrift stores.

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#28

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Having food delivered. $5-$10 mark up?? Are you kidding?

For that matter, just going OUT to eat was a luxury.

malaprop5 , Jon Tyson Report

#29

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Knowing what a duvet cover is and owning one. I remember when my wife and I were newly weds and she was telling me how we needed a duvet cover for our bed. I had no clue what a duvet cover was prior as I always though people just purchase sheets and/or the big ass blankets with the lion/tiger prints. Suffice to say, my mind was blown away.

hominian , Ty Carlson Report

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Monday
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Pretty sure that's just a sign of not being American. Buying a duvet and a duvet cover is usually cheaper than buying comforters or blankets.

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#30

People Who Grew Up Poor Share The Subtle Signs That Show A Person Is Rich (30 Answers) Showing my age but having a shower in your house. Back in the day only people with money had showers, we all only had baths.

Guru6676 , kevin Baquerizo Report

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Otter
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now the low-rent apartments have just shower stalls, and just the better places have bathtubs.

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