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30 Luxuries That Are Apparently Necessities, According To These Former Poor People Online
“In a world where only the strong survive, only the strong survive,” — Starship Amazing.
Despite the comical nature of the song title by the chiptune synthpop duo from Anchorage, Alaska, you can’t but see the truth in it. Living entails a lot of struggle in order to survive.
And it doesn’t matter where you live—living in a progressive and civilized part of the world doesn’t save people from being poor and living in poverty. But not all hope is lost.
Redditors have been discussing this, in the form of an r/AskReddit thread where user u/Metforming[Runs] asked those who used to be poor, but have managed to make it big(ger) in life, to share products, activities, or just things that they can now afford, but ones that made them realize they should be available to all, regardless of financial status, like a human right.
One modest handful of upvotes later, the post drew some attention and generated enough good points to get the internet talking about the things that actually matter.
Bored Panda invites you to read though the best responses from the AskReddit thread, upvote the ones you loved the most, ponder life, share your thoughts, ponder some more and (optional) share some more in that order. Or just share the things you think should be in this list in the comment section below!
More Info: Reddit
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
This is a little TMI but I just noticed how many "fancy" pads I use now that I can afford them. When I was making barely enough to afford rent, I would buy the cheapest pads and try to wear them for as long as possible. Female hygiene wasn't really taught well to me and my feminine health was just never taken seriously.
So I think I used maybe 3 pads a day? I didn't realize that I was allergic to the material and had a lot of skin issues because of that, as well. I just thought it was part of the "pain of having a period." Never even tried the fancy pads.
The first thing I bought when I had more money were the "fancy" pads.. just to try them. The kind made with special, hypoallergenic material and has no bleach. I go through like 10 a day just because I want a clean one every hour. It's f*****g insane how much my experience with a period has changed.
Oh, and good f*****g toilet paper.
Headless Roach 3 years ago (edited)
Some companies and schools make hygiene products available for free to those in need, but that's a drop in the ocean still. "Period poverty" is a real thing!
N Miller 3 years ago
I got heavily downvoted at one point because tonality is lost in text and I pointed out that a pack of 30 tampons is (or was at the time) only a quid. My point (that I did actually go on to explain) was that if a quid is beyond the budget of some women we've gone terribly wrong as a society, and that only a quid should mean more places could afford to offer them to their staff/pupils/visitors for free. But apparently "only a quid" means "it's dirt cheap so manage your money better" because some people are privileged idiots.
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Angela Turrall 3 years ago
Seriously, these products are a basic necessity and it's maddening that people still are suffering period poverty. Now for the thing I'm going to be downvoted to heck and back for... A pad an hour 'just to feel clean' is disgustingly wasteful (unless your flow genuinely requires that - been there - but that's not what they're saying here), and the 'fancy' pads and tampons are often are no more great for the environment than the cheaper ones. The fact we buy the expensive ones is part of what allows these corporations to MAKE them expensive. You're perpetuating the issue.
Catherine Graffham 3 years ago
I don’t feel you should be downvoted for that. It feels incredibly wasteful to me too, especially coming from a poorer background. At some point you’ve got to consider the environmental impact of your choices and changing pads hourly unless your flow is really heavy (in which case you should go for a higher absorbency or see someone about it because bleeding through a top absorbency pad in an hour is a lot of blood) is something that is an easily changeable habit to help lessen the landfill and micro plastic we generate.
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Jac Sp 3 years ago
TMI for some I am sure but also the cheap products don't work as well on heavy flow. In fact some of the more expensive ones don't either. I use a mooncup these days so don't know if it is the same but Tampax were terrible, Lillets were excellent.
Whitefox 3 years ago
I have been using Instead Soft Cups and will never look back!!! I use one of those a cycle and a few panty liners. Compared to having to use both tampons and overnight pads every 2-3hrs because my flow was so heavy!
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Amy Taylor 3 years ago
I never knew about this so I started making donations to the shelter. I had a hysterectomy so I spend what I used to on myself..I can't imagine having no access to basic things like this :(
Disgruntled Pelican 3 years ago
I have endometriosis and no specialist is able to figure out why my periods are SO long. TMI, but I had my period for 10 MONTHS in 2018. I cringe just thinking about how much I've spent on period products over the last decade or so.
Mz Phit 3 years ago
OH WOW that's extreme! I hope you can get answers soon- that is a huge burden to deal with... physically emotionally and financially
Load More Replies... Performingyak 3 years ago
If ypu are in Australia there is a charity " share the dignity" where you can donate (monetary or products) for hygiene products for women who can't access or afford them https://www.sharethedignity.org.au/
Lara Kristelle 3 years ago
For me I love Kotex pads! It doesn't irritate me unlike cheap brands.
RELATED:
#2
Dr_Julian_Helisent said:
Space. I grew up sharing beds and bedroom with three other sisters. Imagine four kids shoved into a queen bed. Now I have a 1500sqft home and only share my bedroom/bed with my husband because I want to. It's so freeing
Blackrose06 replied:
As an introvert, having my own space for the first time felt like the biggest luxury. It was a small one bedroom apartment but it was luxury to have it all to myself.
Rens 3 years ago
I love living alone I definitely need my personal space. I've got the best situation because I am in a relationship with a man who lives in my building; we don't live together. We spend time together when we want to be together, and time apart when we want to be apart and it works d
Barbara Kayton 3 years ago
Space is a necessity- an absolute necessity- is you are disabled. If you can’t get through a good or into a room in your own home because of your wheelchair/ walker / etc, that’s messed up big time. And so is the fact that the equipment / vehicles/ modifications you require to get around, pick up groceries, go to medical appointments, etc is insanely expensive and out of your reach price wise.
Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
I am 59 & had never lived alone, alone (single parent at 17) until 2004. I can walk around naked without being gawked at or sexually mauled? Win. And - I'm kind of embarrassed to admit this - but I jumped up and peed in the sink. Just because I could. (And yes, it was thoroughly cleaned with Lysol after).
#3
My dog got hurt last week. Rushed her to the emergency vet. She got some stitches. The bill came to $800.
As I slipped our debit card in the pinpad, I turned to my husband and said “honestly, I can’t believe that’s our bank card and we’re not scrambling to check if we can split it between our remaining Discover balances.”
Puppy is doing fine now :)
Headless Roach 3 years ago
Vet bills are the equivalent of dental bills - how come it's so expensive?
$cagsy 3 years ago
I heard that vets have to study longer than doctors to get their license so there'll be tuition fees. On top of that vets reportedly have the highest suicide rate of any profession. Lastly, and definitely most cynically, we love our pets so they know we'll pay.
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Seonag Udell 3 years ago
Apparently due to people wanting a pet in the Covid pandemic and the economic crisis now, lots of pets are being given up by people than can no longer afford them. It's so sad.
pug nose curly tail 3 years ago
I'm so happy for you and your pets. 💜 Still struggling with mine here but the get the best of me.
Summer Mason 3 years ago
Just a suggestion. But check out pet health insurance. My cats get spayed nutured for free and two year shots are only 10 USD dollars and my dogs dental check was only $15. I pay 20 bucks a month for it.
Sidhe 3 years ago
My oldest daughter is a vet. 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of vet school, 1 year small animal rotating internship, and 3 years of a small animal internal medicine residency. She makes about half of what a human physician makes during her residency (25k a year) and is still expected to pay on her student loans, which are a LOT. There's no pet insurance that's cheap for poorer folk, so vet services have to do what they can, when they can, which is not easy. Their equipment is just as expensive, if not more, then human hospitals, because it has to be specialized. The suicide rate is off the charts. Vets are vets because they absolutely love animals. They're not in it for the money, because compared to human physicians, they don't make very much. As every vet I know likes to say, "Real doctors practice on multiple species" ;-)
NannyChachi 3 years ago
Our local vet is a gem. Took one of our chickens to her because it broke its hip somehow. Exam and euthanasia was $30. Called one time for an appointment for a skin issue. "Just try such and such. That should take care of it." No charge.
Cassondra Graser 2 years ago
Pets are expensive, people that get them & can’t afford vet care are selfish
#4
The biggest thing for me is just free time. At one point I was working 7days a week. My weekday job barely paid enough to pay my bills. I needed the weekend job so I could afford groceries, gasoline, and other necessities. It was brutal there for a bit; the only days off I had were when one of my jobs was closed for a holiday. There’s a lot more detail about this but to keep a long story short, I was hired by a job that pays me enough that I only need the one. Having time on my weekends back has done so much to increase my quality of life.
Amy S 3 years ago
I'm from the UK and did similar for about a year, back when I was broke. I usually had a day off about once every 8 weeks.
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Praecordia 3 years ago
No matter where this is it’s just sad. I’ve also been in such a situation. Minimum wage needs to increase to keep up with realistic cost of living. Having to kill yourself to survive is such greedy b******t!
ravenswood1000 3 years ago
Having a weekend to call your own is great therapy to the work week. So many of my friends, family and employers what to make my time, their time....
Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
I was a single parent back in the early 80s & worked 3 jobs while going to school. I literally had to have a wallboard to let me know where I needed to be & when. Biggest gift of my life was when my Mom moved into the apartment directly below me. She would come up and sleep on the couch when I had to work nights so my son was never left alone. She'd also pound her broom on her kitchen ceiling, getting me to go to mine and ask "Whatcha making for dinner?" Sh*tty apartments, GREAT Mom.
#5
Being able to buy higher quality items That last 4x longer. I remember grocery shopping and I could get double the amount of food for 20% more which would be so cost effective but just couldn’t afford that extra 20%
Poor people aren’t bad with money, they just don’t have enough to make the ‘smart’ financial choices. We know that it’s cost effective to spend a few more dollars, we just don’t have the dollars.
Christina Born 3 years ago
I grew up poor and spent most of my adult life there as well. My husband did not. Our financial situation now is closer to what mine was (not near as bad, but definitely tighter than what my husband is used to). I keep trying to explain this concept to him and he just can't seem to grasp why Costco is NOT a good idea for us. It's a budget breaker for us and there is no space in this tiny house either, but he insists it is cheaper and therefore better. So we have a 5yr supply of aluminum foil, but no fresh veggies this week. Or a 24 pack of microwave Mac n cheese bowls for the kids instead of a 4 pack AND lunch meat AND a bag of apples.
Gini Sarver 3 years ago
actually poor ppl ((most anyway)) are extremely good with their money, i mean look what little money they have and what some do accomplish… it’s sad, i hate to see ppl struggle, i have been there myself GOD bless
Marty BlackEagle-Carl 3 years ago
it was great finally being able to buy groceries, and not have to keep a running dollar total in my head.
John Burns 2 years ago
Terry Pratchett’s Vimes Boots Theory of socioeconomic unfairness is one of the truest things he ever wrote “ The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money. Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles. But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford 50 dollars had a pair of boots that'd still be keeping his feet dry in 10 years' time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent 100 dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet”
#6
Dizzy_Sprinkles_9294 said:
Dental care. And happiness.
dragongrrrrrl replied:
DENTAL CARE!!! It is so important! The more I learn about how much dental care is connected to physical health problems…it just blows my mind. Plus, your teeth are like the one part of your body that can’t fix itself even a little bit.
Headless Roach 3 years ago (edited)
Why is it so damn expensive too? I am not asking for a diamond implant there, just glue the hole, man.
Bec 3 years ago
Eyeglasses too, even with insurance had to pay several hundred
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StrangeOne 3 years ago (edited)
A dental hygienist asked if it was ok to scrape away a bit of plaque on my daughter's molars. I told her we came here for a cleaning. By all means, it's important to see if there's anything that needs more work underneath the gunk. Why do you ask? Then the DH hit me with "Oh, because it's an extra $90 for me to clean the plaque off." I was already paying out of pocket for the cleaning. Like, what? I agreed to it, but damn. Just tied up my hands and cut off my digits. I think this dental clinic overcharged and gouged people. On another visit I was actually asked if I wanted my daughter to have a local anesthetic for some fillings cos it cost more. My response was "Well, of course. I'm not a monster mom willing to have my kid going through agony." It took a few months to pay off the dental bill in installments.
Demongrrrrl 3 years ago
For my first filling, my dentist decided to go without Novocaine, and told me to raise my hand if it hurt. He started drilling, and my hand went up so fast I punched him in the nose.
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Melissa Boufford 3 years ago
In the U.S., Dentists have a PAC(political action committee) that lobbies against regulation of costs. So each dentist office is its own entity and can charge whatever tf they want.
Bec 3 years ago
I basically didn't go for 10 years from college through underemployed, sucked to play catch up
Disgruntled Pelican 3 years ago
My husband is fighting this battle right now. It's awful.
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Samantha Brown 2 years ago
My dental problems are effecting my health. I can’t afford to get my teeth fixed. I miss my smile. On the plus side I have almost 40lbs lost. Even tried go fund me. I just hope the next infection doesn’t take my life.
Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
Right? We just had to get a "CareCredit" card for my husband's $5800 upcoming dental bill for the dentures that have metal implants. We (US) have coverage through his work, but dental is basically a joke, like cleaning only. HUH? He doesn't have any teeth LEFT!
AK to LV 3 years ago
I wasn't able to afford the dentist for 10 years. When I went in I needed a deep cleaning (?), 4 crowns, 2 root canals, and a filling. We bought dental 'insurance' that brought the cost down but it was still $8000 US dollars. I'm on disability and couldn't afford dental care again for 6 years. This time it was around $10k. Luckily, both times I had parents that were able to help out.
#7
A social life….
That sounds dramatic but I was paying for my own toiletries and clothing by the time I was 12. I remember looking around at my classmates in highschool and thinking they were “silly” and “immature” because I left at noon to go work at McDonald’s and help feed my family. I wasn’t in clubs, I didn’t go to my prom, I just worked.
Now I graduated college and have a decent job and for the first time ever I can regularly hang out with friends or just read a book or something. Rest and Fun are not luxuries. They are necessities.
El Dee 3 years ago
I did this too. Worked long hours before and after school and weekends. Wasn't good for my school work or health..
Autistic McWolferson the Forth 3 years ago
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
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Autistic McWolferson the Forth 3 years ago (edited)
Is anyone else noticing how absolutely indefensibly FAKE this one is? Here, I'll add notes "left at noon [at the age of 12] to work at McDonald's [McDonald's would not hire ANYONE under the legal age to work which is WAY over 12] to support my family [if the family was THIS disfunctional they'd CLEARLY be in a foster home]. I'm sorry, hate-downvote me if you want if it makes you feel stupid having the SUUUUUPER OBVIOUS pointed out to you through critical thinking (which you should do on your own and not rely on strangers to do for you) but this is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO fake... like Professional Wrestling levels of fake. I'm sorry but holy c**p this is one of the fakest posts I think I've seen in a while. *at the age of 12* "I remember looking I remember looking around at my classmates in highschool and thinking they were “silly” and “immature” because I left at noon to go work at McDonald’s and help feed my family" - If you're going to create fake post like this go all out. Say "When I was 5 years old I was working 12 hour days to buy food for my family" or something - At least that way it will be funny and people won't be stupider just for having read it... talk about doing a disservice to society as a whole by posting this obviously OOOOOOOOBVIOUSLY fake post...
Maria Robb 3 years ago (edited)
They say they were in high school in regards to when they were working, not when they were 12. The 12 was about buying their own toiletries.
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#8
Ha-bah-bah said:
Being warm and being able to eat till your full
Used to freeze all night, had tensions in the shoulders/back because I would shake most of the time.
lolarent replied:
On the flip side, I love the luxury of not having to eat every last bite because "food is expensive, you need to eat it all up!". If I'm full, I will stop eating now.
whattheefftiff replied:
Yes, HEAT! We’d frequently have stretches without heat growing up and now I’m like “I don’t care what the bill is, I am gonna prance around this house in shorts and a tank even when it’s 10 degrees out”
Stephanie A Mutti 3 years ago
Growing up we weren't poor but my parents were frugal. I made the decision early on that as an adult, I would be warm in my house during the winter and cool in the summer. So many things I'd give up before I give up HVAC.
El Dee 3 years ago
I live in a cold country. Growing up we didn't have central heating and there was often ice on the inside of the windows and on the floor inside too. When I first lived in a centrally heated house I couldn't believe how different it felt. I could actually wear a t shirt in winter in the house!!
Pamela Blue 3 years ago
I've never been "really" poor, and we've always had heat in the winter (I live in Canada), but I still, even today at 72, think it's a luxury to walk into a warm home after being out in the freezing winter weather.
Whitefox 3 years ago
I actually like the cold, so that never bothered me. But I feel the food thing in my soul. It's only recently that I came to terms with the idea that I had food insecurity issues and a great deal of my time revolved around planning on food. Now, It's not such a big deal because I know there will always be something to eat. It's a surreal feeling when you've not really had it before.
Mi Westberg 2 years ago
Eating up, has with respect for the plants, for the animals, for the farmers and so on. Not only with how expensive it is, change mindset and minimise the waste. Doesn’t matter how much money I have had so far, if I eat the same luxury, fancy meal every day, it most likely will loose its value, if my mind hasn’t been programmed in a certain way. Once upon a time oranges and bananas were very expensive, where I grew up. Nowadays just an ordinary fruit. And honestly, smaller portions, then you enjoy it for longer time! Yes, to stop eating when almost full, it often takes a while for it to feel the whole meal.
Isabel Care 3 years ago
I am happiest with my home about 15 C. I have got used to handing visitors jumpers, hats and hot water bottles. When I had dogs, they too had lots of snuggly things to burrow under and hotties. It was just my attic rooms in my parents' home that had no heating or insulation and I got used to it, quite helpful when riding a motorbike year round.
#9
msstark said:
Healthy food. I’d go weeks on frozen meals and grilled cheese, and was severely underweight.
Animasylvania replied:
Seriously. I just realized today that the reason I might have gotten so ridiculously sick from a common virus when I was a teenager was because I was being neglected and didn't have the food I needed.
It really messed me up and I still have health problems from back then... I just think it's wild how much growing up in poverty/neglect can impact the rest of your life.
Sorry to ramble. I just put this together today and I'm kind of pissed.
Squirrelly Panda 3 years ago
Quality frozen meals cost more than veggies. $1 frozen meal. 25 cent Ramen. Or $1/lb for many veggies, and the price goes up from there.
John Ambrose 3 years ago (edited)
It's more about calorie density. $1US of produce is maybe 300-400 calories. That would be three bananas, which is the most I could think you can get for the money, except maybe carrots. But no fat or proteins. A crappy $1 frozen meal could be up to 700 cals and even though the ingredients are poor, they contain a wider array of micros and macros.
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Stannous Flouride 3 years ago
Also, nutrition is DEFINITELY connected to emotional and mental health.
GirlFriday 3 years ago
Not in all places. There are frozen meals that cost $1 each - that is way more expensive than vegetables. When you live in a food desert, those frozen meals are all you can get sometimes.
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HeidiFree said:
Good shoes. Such a difference in how your feet and legs feel. Sad they are at least 100 dollars these days.
Agonist28 replied:
Not always having holes in my shoes is new for me now. I still get the $30sh dollar ones but I can buy a new pair every couple of years instead of every 5 or so.
It took a long time to not brace for impact when it started raining or if the sidewalk was wet. Walking with warm dry feet in the rain still feels like magic.
Eat Dirt Crow 3 years ago
I still remember having enough money to buy a second pair of shoes. We only got replacements in April when the tax return check came. You had to wear them regardless of what condition they were in. I've walked through many a layer of duck tape.
BoredPandaSucks 3 years ago
was thinking the same way. Now, I love my crocs. wear them all the time. would never be without a pair of them , but I consider them a utility, not "good" footwear. and yes, i think they are uglier than monkey butt, however, not dissuaded by that at the slightest.
Load More Replies... Lydia Nijland 3 years ago
Nope, that is the choice to go to if you don't have the money for proper shoes.
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TheElderNom 3 years ago
I could stand the wet, even if I hated it. The worst thing was snow building up in the hole and turning into some kind of ice rod. No amount of socks or plastic under the innersole protected against that.
ROSESARERED 2 years ago
Absolutely good footwear...wore cheap ones to work on my feet all day. Wreaked my feet, heel and ball of the foot spurs...agony. Buy the most comfortable supportive footwear you can...look after you feet, not dealing with constant pain in your feet, worth every $$$
Miss Frankfurter 3 years ago
In the good old days you could take your shoes to the mall to the shoe repair shop. New soles for a fraction of the price& fixed other issues at a fraction of the price.
Jackie Lulu 3 years ago
You can get good shoes for less than $100. Buy on line watch for sales.
ChickyChicky 3 years ago
Not so much 30 years ago, but since eBay, you can buy good expensive shoes for a fraction of their original cost. You could at consignment and thrift stores too, but only if you lucked out. With online buying and selling, you can set up a search for your exact favorite shoe and get notified when a pair is available.
#11
Something that hasn’t been mentioned yet is items in bulk. Buying in bulk saves you money but the problem is having that “extra” money to buy everything in mass quantities. It’s so helpful when you have multiple people using supplies and eating food but not everyone can front that extra in order to buy more to save money. So they have to spend more to get less. It’s a vicious cycle and I hate it. I buy everything I can in bulk from feminine products, toilet paper, and certain foods. It saves so much and you also have to have the space to store it all…..Which leads to someone else’s comment about having more space.
EDIT: to add, when I was growing up we were too poor to afford to buy in bulk at places like Costco and Sam’s Club so this stuck out to me. I use to by my clothing at the dollar store, so no big bag of toilet paper for us.
$cagsy 3 years ago
I agree but reckon there's another obstacle here too. Cold storage and freezer space. It really hurts if you luck out at the supermarket and find half a dozen steaks for £1 each because they're short dated, only to realise that your shoebox-sized freezer compartment can accommodate two and no more.
TheElderNom 3 years ago
When I moved away from home my mother gifted me a freezer. Just a basic one but for us it was still an expensive thing. But I've saved so much money thanks to that freezer and my mother's sage advise. But I feel I must point out that though we were poor, we were still comfortably poor and could make use of sales and buying in bulk, though there us shopping together even after I moved out helped a lot.
Load More Replies... Hypoxia Smurf 3 years ago
A USA high-school dropout (I went on later), I worked minimum-wage casual labor jobs. Shopping involved literally counting every penny at home and weighing every vegetable at the market, deciding what to put back in the store bins. One carrot too many could break me. TL/DR: poverty sucks.
Noltha 3 years ago
Not exactly. In the OP case, I would try to buy stuff together with some neighbours or relatives and split the contents of big packages between us. In case of shoes it's impossible ;)
Load More Replies... N Miller 3 years ago
This is something businesses do - it's called economy of scale. It's also kind of how (prior to the current energy crisis) communities could coordinate together to get a sort of bulk discount on their energy tarrifs by all signing up together. (Bit more complicated than that, but you get the gist).
leah 3 years ago
We only buy certain things in bulk. My husband and I eat oatmeal for breakfast almost daily and the girls like granola so I do bulk oatmeal. I do a lot of scratch baking so I always buy flour, salt, and sugar in bulk. I also buy rice, dish soap, and trash bags in bulk. My parents have a Sam's Club membership so I just go with my parents every so often and get my bulk items that way.
JRequiem 3 years ago
Its not hard to use Costco, I dont make a lot of money as a single parent and 300 at Costco gives me A lot more than 300 anywhere else.
Amy S 3 years ago
But when you only have have 50 for this weeks food it can be an issue. Plus you might need to get the shopping home on the bus and have somewhere to keep it at home buying in bulk be impossible.
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Jessica Cifelli 3 years ago
Best thing I bought when I finally had the money to buy it was a deep freezer. I can fit so much into it.
#12
Going to a boutique (not mall brand) bra shop and getting properly fitted for a bra.
So many women wear the wrong size. I was one of them. I wore what sorta fit and was cheap. The amount I was “off” on my sizing was astonishing.
The first time I did this, I could only afford a single bra. And that was the best fitting bra I had ever owned to that point. Seemed like such a “luxury” to do this but now see that it is/was absolutely worth it to spend a few more $ on a proper bra in my proper size.
Bouche Clay 3 years ago
I just let the girls breathe. As heavy as I am, I've wasted tons of money on bras guaranteed to fit. None ever has. Church? I'll wear one and be uncomfortable for a few hours. Anything else, forget it.
Isabel Care 3 years ago
Happily unleashed and wearing stretchy camisoles.
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Deborah Harris2 3 years ago
Bras are so expensive if you are not an average breast size. The only place us ladies have that actually measures us for bras is Marks and Spencers in the UK, and I think that they've stopped doing that since Covid hit.
Aunt Riarch 3 years ago
If you are D or over, go to Bravissimo. As long as you wash them carefully, they last for years
Load More Replies... StrangeOne 3 years ago
This is one of the reasons why some women are so cranky all the time. It's not just because of our periods. It's also being uncomfortable in ill-fitted bras, with straps cutting into our skin or hanging off us, and underwire poking out and stabbing us in the armpit or tits. And then all the pads and tampons stuffed down there that get moistened like a full diaper we have to sit in and walk around, especially when we're in situations where we can't just go to the washroom and change it. On top off that hormone fluctuations that dictate our uncontrollable mood swings. And then we get bozos telling us "Calm down. Control yourself." "Smile. You'll look prettier." "Oh, every girl says she has a cramp cos of their period. Get running." "Those clothes aren't fitting you right. You should loose some weight."
Miss Frankfurter 3 years ago
Went to a place like this to get properly fitted after my breast reduction. 😳 My correct fit was the size I thought I was before my surgery. Turns out I was 3 sizes bigger than that before surgery. What a revelation. So glad I did. Even splurged and got a couple from France.
Rens 3 years ago
I live in the UK I am a plus size and also very large-breasted, I buy all my bras and clothes and shoes from Yours. I discovered moulded cup bras other way to go because they provide support around the body which means I don't have massive dents in my shoulders. I know my size without having to check and for the first time in my life I have a bra for every occasion. I never wear the one same bra two days in a row so they last very well; I have some that are 4 years old and still haven't worn out.
Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
I'm "busty" so I go to Lane Bryant for bras. Victoria's Secret has NOTHING for girls with actual boobs.
lakitha tolbert 3 years ago
Yep! As soon as I had the money to do it I bought a more expensive bra, instead of a cheap ill fitting one. I looked and felt better. My clothes fit better. Not going back to the cheap ones.
#13
I grew up in poverty in the north of England. My dad couldn’t afford feminine hygiene products so I would have to improvise, and he couldn’t afford to keep the house stocked with food.
I now love having access to feminine hygiene products whenever I need them, and full cupboards. I made do with what I could before, I was very young when my dad’s financial struggles started and just accepted that we couldn’t afford to do certain things.
It’s very, very different to how I grew up. The heating is a big one too. If I’m cold, I can put the heating on. More often than not there would be no money on the metre at home to do that when I was young.
$cagsy 3 years ago
That is one of the most dastardly injustices of modern society. If you can afford a monthly payment, you can access cheaper energy tariffs through direct debit. If you can't, then you are stuck with a prepayment meter which you must be in credit on in order to access energy. You pay the highest rate on the market for that little privilege, too.
ali lilley 3 years ago
Prepaid energy meters are just another tax on the poor. A bloody disgrace!
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#14
I’ve said this to my friends several times. But my luxury is knowing that the bills are paid and I don’t have to juggle money. Having the weight of all that worry and anxiety removed from your shoulders is so liberating.
Phoenix Connor 3 years ago (edited)
Yeah. My bio dad stopped paying his mandatory $1000 a month child support and we are struggling big time. Pretty sure we won't make mortgage this month and we haven't gone grocery shopping. I have a part time job but I don't think my parents will let me help out, even though we desperately need it. We can't take our Great Pyrenees to get groomed and get her nails cut because we can't exactly do it ourselves.(her hair and nails are super thick and she hates us cutting her nails) I am going to try and stay at my current job until I reach a year and maybe go to a higher paying one. What is worse is that my mom has health issues but she is fortunate to work from home for a health care company, so they aren't total shitheads.
harpling 3 years ago (edited)
Feel free to ignore a stranger on the internet, but this might help a bit: Whatever health issues your mom has, there is a good chance you can find a support group online related to her diagnosis that might help with expenses. Contact local Child Support Agencies to get help making your bio dad pay (and possibly provide some temporary funds) (https://www.acf.hhs.gov/css/resource/state-and-tribal-child-support-agency-contacts). Ask your dog's groomer if they can extend credit or if they'd accept some other form of payment, such as bartering yardwork or paperwork or cooking or anything else you and your family members could do to help. Churches or schools in your area might be able to help with groceries if you ask. I know how much it sucks to ask for help, and it sucks to be in your situation. When things seem too bad, pet your dog until you feel better. *Sending you good vibes from a stranger on the internet.*
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Robert Trebor 3 years ago
Using a card and knowing that I have enough to pay the whole bill at the end of the month. No debt. None. Not one cent.
#15
groovy_woovy said:
I'm not even "middle class", but easy access to laundry. I'm not even talking having an in-unit washer/dryer (which seems like a pipe dream, lmao), but even having a washer/dryer in the same building is vital.
cstaylor6 replied:
Having a in home w/d is seriously a whole life changer. My washer leaks but even with the clean up it’s way easier than going to the Mat.
Friday-Cat replied:
God yes! I used to take my underwear into the shower with me and wash them and anything else I could hand wash because I didn’t have laundry and and had to take everything out to the laundromat, which I did as infrequently as possible. I would re-wear pants and skirts several times and probably I smelled. I now was pretty much everything after a single use and having unlimited access to laundry has been life changing.
Bec 3 years ago
Laundry is definitely an example of being expensive to be poor. Time and travel cost on top of actually paying for the wash and dry
Summer Mason 3 years ago
I bought mine used off of fb market place 5 years ago. They are old Kenmore ones from the early 90s but they still run strong. I only spent 50 bucks. I can not express the joy of not going to Mats anymore.
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LaurA Struthers 3 years ago
As a British person, I always find this one odd, even as a very poor family in the early 90s we still had a washing machine at home. I mean we had a boiler that didn't work and no heating but we had a washer 😁
Jac Sp 3 years ago
Ditto but no tumble drier I have literally never had a tumble drier.
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Wendy Semko 2 years ago
I got my first washer and dryer when my daughter was six months old. I still think it is the most exciting thing that ever happened to me.
Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
I felt like an actual "grown up" when we bought our house. I'm 59 years old and just this year bought a BRAND NEW washer & dryer.
Miss Frankfurter 3 years ago (edited)
I have to take my clothes to the laundromat now. Have had to for 25 years. If I get to move to where I hope to live, I’ll have a full size washer and dryer. I’m so excited. As far as rewearing clothes, I’ve found Febreeze to be a Godsend. Hang up what I wore and give it a spray. But underwear and the like,it’s hand wash and onto to folding drying rack.
Hypoxia Smurf 3 years ago
@Friday-Cat: We learned to travel light, one bag each, carrying clothes suitable to wear&wash in a lodging's shower. Outside foggy zones, most stuff dries overnight.
#16
Raindrops_on_r0ses said:
Medicines (like Tylenol or Pepcid)! Growing up they were unnecessary because you can tough it out.
Metformin[Runs] replied:
Woah, this is such a big one. When I had to go to the doctor a few years ago.. she looked at me like I was crazy for not taking any pain medication for what I was going through.
She said, and I quote, "You don't have to live your life unmedicated. When you finally get medicine, you'll see the massive difference."
Praecordia 3 years ago
Depends if you have insurance or not. At least in the US it does. Many times I toughed it out due to not being able to afford medical treatment.
Ka Se 3 years ago (edited)
I don't know. At least in my place ( middle europe) you can get Ibuprofen 400 mg 50 pieces for 14 to 20€. 500 mg Paracetamol 60 pieces would be 10 to 6 €. A Diclofenac 2% Gel 100g would cost 15 - 18€. And that are the brand products, you can get them even cheaper if you go for generica. Is this really that expensive (tax included, no insurance) ? Or is it more expensive elsewhere?
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Ursula Johnson 3 years ago
No one should have to do without their medications. For those in the US, two options you may not know about. One is GoodRX Gold. You might know about the free app. They have a service called GoodRX Gold. For $10 a month, you are guaranteed 80 to 90% off generic meds. No insurance needed. Second is Marc Cuban's Cost Plus Pharmacy. Cheaper than most insurance copays. He's the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and he wants everyone to pay less for their meds. He's put his money where his mouth is. Lookup your meds and enjoy much lower prices.
Mz Phit 3 years ago
Even with a middle class income And good insurance in the US, I have to choose which meds I will actually fill - (chronic illness) my most needed medication is crazy expensive in extended release variety, so I've asked my Dr to prescribe the cheaper immediate release, which I dose through a schedule of alarms. So, throughout the night an alarm wakes me every three hours for doses (otherwise I suffer consequences of a skipped dose). So my husband and I get shitty sleep, but we're not struggling with the pharmacy bills. TL/DR med types exchanged for lower costs resulting in worse quality of life
El Dee 3 years ago
We used to have charges (flat rate) for each prescription written. This was MUCH cheaper than paying for it but was still out of reach for those in work (out of work, disabled, pensioners got it free) if they had multiple prescriptions. Now we have free (at the point of use) prescriptions and there is no reason NOT to take your meds. Turns out it cost more to collect the fee from those who were due to pay than it brought in..
#17
samjski said:
Going to the grocery store and not having to budget, put things back or decide between two items.
patpatpat_pat replied:
When my wife and I were in our early 20's, not married yet, barely scrounging every penny to barely (and not always) get by, we had to budget groceries to a fucking T. We lived next to 4 different grocery stores, and we knew how much certain groceries cost at each one. Keep in mind, this is based on 2013 pricing, but we would have to get produce at the 99 cents store (basically an ultra dollar store that had groceries), meat at Albertsons (cheaper there for some reason), certain condiments and drinks at Kroger w/ our card, and the rest at Winco or Walmart. We were having to feed both of us for about $150/mo and we weren't getting assistance (idk why, we should have).
I often forget about this type of thing and the absolute convenience it is to walk into whatever grocery store I have the willpower to get myself to and just.... get what I need. I don't even really splurge. Those days scarred me. I'm not even rich now, just mid/upper middle class. I take this for granted so much. I remember how we would have arguments because a brand name (that half the time was the same thing), wasn't as good, and we couldn't budget the extra .75 cents for the real thing.
$cagsy 3 years ago
When you get to the till and know you're close to your available balance, and put your card in.... the scariest word in the world appears: Authorising... I swear there is a direct correlation between how little money you have and how long it takes to 'approve'. It's almost as though it's physically counting out every single penny in your account before delivering it's verdict. I'm ok financially now but those little machines have scarred me. I still break out in a sweat even though I know there's money there.
StrangeOne 3 years ago
So embarrassing when it declines and people look at you like you're THAT person. I try to remember that at least I'm not trying to steal a cart load of groceries like some people do, or beg for someone to pay things for me.
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Whitefox 3 years ago
Oh, I feel this one too! Ever have to buy gift cards for gas and food, write a check to cover because you need those things now and pay day is 2 days away and you can't afford a payday loan?! And also have the turn around time for each grocer figured out so you know exactly how far out you can float a check? That sucked! I am glad to be in a better financial place now!
StrangeOne 3 years ago
I miss being able to grocery shop at Safeway, where the checkout lanes are not too long and there's no aggressive receipt checkers and having to wait in 2 lines to leave the store, or be treated like a criminal. Talkin' to you, Walmart.
Mabelbabel 3 years ago
My parents both had a decent income but were absolutely hopeless at managing their finances and preferred to spend it on cigarettes and alcohol. They bought a lot "on tick." Where we lived, there was a mobile butcher, a costermonger van (for fruit and veg), a bakers van and a milkman who sold cheese, yoghurt and eggs as well as milk. The meat lady would deliver on Thursdays, the milkman on Fridays etc. The price of their stuff was 3x what it would cost in the local supermarket, 4x that of the local discount store, but they got business because they let you run up a tab. As long as you paid off a small amount every week, you could run up a bill over months, getting charged ridiculous prices and ridiculous levels of interest. They wouldn't let you go over £100 so if you were near that, you weren't allowed to place any more orders. I suppose it was a useful service, but it took advantage of those on limited income.
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
I remember growing up, my parents would go through all the catalogues for specials and visit three supermarkets to get the items they wanted to fit in their budget. Also, Thursday night was always shopping night because that when the government payments came in. This was so common for people that Thursday nights there were extended trading hours at most shopping centres.
Isabel Care 3 years ago
Having to put some things aside and get a running total to see if you can afford the one or two "fun" groceries (like generic nutella) this month. Used to get £1 worth of frying steak a month as a treat
#18
Being able to use water just once. I grew up I'm the Arizona desert and we didn't have a well. So, we had to haul water from a business that would let us use their well for a fee. So, ever drop had to be used multiple times. Washing water was used to flush the toilet with a bucket or water the garden, etc. Toilets weren't flushed until they were almost overfill. Not having to worry about whether there will be water to drink or wash with is huge.
Powerful Katrinka 3 years ago
If this horrifying drought doesn't end soon, this will be the reality for everyone who lives in the American Southwest. Maybe even by next year.
Chich 3 years ago
I live on the coast. The salmon are dying here as they can't make it up some of the rivers to spawn. Haven't seen any rain since early July.
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 3 years ago
Not just because of money, but also because of the drought when I was growing up, we collected the shower water for toilet flushing and watering the garden. When we were in 3a water restrictions you also weren't allowed to wash cars using a hose, so this water was used for that too, and could only be done on a certain day. We also were very familiar with the phrase 'if it's yellow, let it mellow, if it's brown, flush it down'.
M O'Connell 3 years ago
Some people's thumbs just bend that way. It's genetic.
Load More Replies... #19
Quality healthcare providers, dental and eye care, my own place, not worrying about having to choose between food or my health, ability to relax and not be in survival mode all the time, buying new clothes and shoes, being able to take off work, escaping abusive situations.
Charlotte Grace 3 years ago
Being able to escape abusive situations. My older sister's used to berate my Mum for not leaving our abusive father before he left. But where was she supposed to go? With four young kids, no welfare, no women's refuge, no family...
#20
- New beds and pillows : ours had been passed down since my mother was a child.
- an education: I worked instead of going to school so my parents wouldn’t lose our house. I regret it daily and would never subject my children to that. But let’s be honest, I’m not having children.
- doctors appointments : like not just for emergencies, which we rarely went to unless it got out of control or we were dying, but I mean check ups, shots, antibiotics for infections etc. we typically healed but I have some lifelong damage from others.
- the freaking dentist : this was a luxury in our house. We could not afford check ups let alone braces or root canals. So I was 27 before I went to my first dentist. It took eight weeks of every Monday going in for them to work on a new area of teeth. Cost me thousands to fix but thankfully it was fixable for the most part.
- fruits and veggies : a human needs to eat more than the least expensive canned food and microwave meals. My parents both worked two jobs with 9 kids between the two of them. They couldn’t do better. Thankfully they’re much more well off now that we’re all adults and out of the home. But my mom still finds eating veggies difficult. They mess with her stomach. It changed how her body breaks down food. Thankfully I love them because they’re like candy, something I never got at as a kid but really wanted.
- new shoes every six months to a year until you’re an adult. Kids feet grow too quickly not to. I have messed up feet now. We all scrunched into what we could and passed down what we could. We made it work and only the eldest got new after a long struggle trying desperately not to need new shoes.
If I think of any more I’ll add an edit. I’m one of 9 and only two of us escaped poverty. “Anyone can escape poverty but not everyone can.”
TheReader19 3 years ago
Thank goodness contraceptives are widely available. Hopefully in this day and age people won't have kids they can't afford. But I can really see why a lot of people who grew up in abject poverty choose not to have children.
AK to LV 3 years ago
Some religions don't allow for contraception and birth control costs money!
Load More Replies... Mi Westberg 2 years ago
Even when people has enough money, they sometimes don’t listen to their children. I babysit a 9 year old child and I said: Let’s take a walk. And she answered me: My shoes are newly washed and they hurt when I walk. My mom says it will better after some weeks. We went to a shoe store and measured her feet, they were chocked and said her shoes could ruin her feet. And no the shoes could grew that much as she needed. The mom didn’t bother at all.
Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
The new bed I can totally relate to. I was in my mid 30s when I bought my first NEW queen bed. I had always had hand me downs or "Goodwill" sets. Felt like a genuine adult that day.
#21
Altruistic_Peach_791 said:
A bathroom I don’t share with 4 other people.
fkntiredbtch replied:
Shared a house with 11 people growing up. When my husband and I got married I told him I would only share a bathroom with him if there were two sinks, otherwise his bathroom would be the guest bathroom.
GirlFriday 3 years ago
I was the youngest of 13 children and there were two bathrooms in our house. One was in my parent's bedroom and was off limits. When I moved out and finally had my own bathroom, I thought I had hit the jackpot.
️ saturn the furry (she/they) 3 years ago
Dang I have a four person family but one bathroom and that’s hectic
Load More Replies... Mabelbabel 3 years ago (edited)
I was the first person in my family that could afford to buy a house with an en-suite bathroom. It was a fairly standard 3 bedroom house with a family bathroom (bath, separate shower cubicle, sink and toilet), a en-suite shower room with toilet, and a separate toilet downstairs. 3 toilets for one person-when family came to visit for the first time, I had to show them round the various bathrooms and toilets. It was amazing how excited they were over that. And having a separate room downstairs, not just a kitchen and living room-I had a family room/den as well, and they all wondered how I was going to fill up all that space.
Penguin2224 3 years ago
While obviously having your own bathroom is a luxury, most people i know share 1 bathroom with the rest of their family of 4 or 5
Heather Talma 3 years ago
Is it really that big a deal to share a bathroom? Aren't bathrooms for everyone?
#22
phonehome186 said:
Warm clothes for winter and a good wintercoat.
tvp204 replied:
I bought myself a new coat last year when I was 26. First new coat since I was 11 or 12. I’m so much warmer now it’s not even funny.
MyLife-is-a-diceRoll replied:
Postmark has literally saved my freezing a&s the past couple winters.
I just picked up a used higher end ski jacket for dirt cheap to replace the snowboarding parka I managed to find a couple years ago.
StrangeOne 3 years ago
Our local shelters are always accepting winter wear and other donations. It's such a necessity when temperatures can get dangerously low with brutal wind chills. I've seen people out in the dead of winter layered up in sweaters and runners. Not even a toque and scarf. I know how intolerably cold it can get when you do dress warm. I just don't know how they manage.
The Starsong Princess 3 years ago
In Canada, one of the things the schools do is make sure all the kids in need have a warm coat, hat, mitts and often boots. When my sister was teaching, she’d check the kids out and get the ones who didn’t have everything what they needed. We had strict instructions not to get of any winter coats we didn’t want - my last one went to a high school girl who got sprayed by a skunk and the family couldn’t afford to replace her coat.
ChickyChicky 3 years ago
In this day and age, with online consignment purchasing possible, online groups for giving stuff away for free, and fast fashion and people throwing out perfectly good stuff, I think it's easier than ever to get good warm clothes. Even higher end stuff, because rich people just get rid of their perfectly good items for new stuff all the time. On my local moms group (I know people deride these all the time but mine is a good one), if someone says "I need a warm coat for my kid" there are instantly a bunch of offers and "do you needs boots? warm pants?"
AK to LV 3 years ago
This is assuming that a person can afford wi-fi or having the electronics to use Wi-Fi. If you're lucky, the local library has online access but this luxury is based on the fact that you can get there and have the time or education to use it.
Load More Replies... M O'Connell 3 years ago
Visit the thrift store and silence any voice in your head that cares what it looks like. My favorite coat for the last 10 years cost less than $10. It's a "Dri-Duck" canvas overcoat that had been embroidered on the back for an HVAC contracting company. It's a size too big so I can wear layers under it when the weather is especially cold (down to -20F).
#23
Just having three meals a day, I can now buy/eat whatever I want. Venezuela 2014-2016 was tough. Another I can think of, are haircuts and proper outfits. Is hard to adapt to whatever the cheapest clothing is
TheReader19 3 years ago (edited)
I remember reading and watching documentaries about that situation, I actually felt scared for the everyday people. But that maybe the UK in 2023. I swear the government is trying to make us kill ourselves.
#24
Car insurance. I was able to buy a beater after years of savings but spending $70 a month was damn near impossible. I drove like a little old lady and still have a fear of traffic cops even when I’m doing nothing wrong.
Headless Roach 3 years ago
Even more important if you crash - repair can be ridiculously expensive
Rosie Bannister 2 years ago
more important... if you hurt someone then they will not have help they need
Load More Replies... TheReader19 3 years ago
It's not just car insurance, you can end up paying 1000's for repairing a worthless car because you can't afford a new one.
#25
Having clothes that fit. Growing up most of our clothes came from yard sales or stores that sold “irregular” clothing. My bras never ever fit and most days I would have welts in my skin from wearing them all day. I didn’t have new clothes until I started making my own money.
TheReader19 3 years ago
When kids grow up like that, I'm sure it leaves a permanent anxiety in their mind
Huddo's sister 3 years ago
I know lots of people complain about hand-me-downs, but to me they were fantastic, because they usually came from family friends who bought higher end clothes than we could afford, and I got 'new' clothes more often than otherwise. Now I still buy 95% of my clothes second hand because I can change my wardrobe more often, and it is more ethical. The one thing I do buy new is bras/underwear, and I buy more expensive ones than the kmart/target ones I had growing up, that did dig in very often because we couldn't buy new ones as quickly as I grew.
#26
Hair conditioner & body wash.
Growing up in poverty meant only having access to cheap drugstore shampoo at best, or dish soap at worst… my skin and hair is much happier for having the extra products these days!
Rens 3 years ago
I still have the habit of stockpiling items I really like, I always have this fear that I might not be able to afford them in the future.
TheReader19 3 years ago
Rens, there's nothing wrong with this. I stock pile enough soaps, toothpaste etc for six months. In case I don't have money. Unfortunately I hoard food too.
Load More Replies... willy van de paverd 3 years ago
Yup same here specifically canned goods smoked Dutch sausage spam canned fish canned fruits Al the cheapest brands spice mixes.
#27
The ability to pay an expert to do things for me. For instance, my sink broke recently and I was able to pay a plumber to come replace it instead of having to do it myself. I picked the sink I wanted and within an hour it was installed and everything was cleaned up. It would have taken me a day or two to figure everything out myself to make the repairs, and the work wouldn't have been done as well. There are so many things I learned to do because I couldn't afford to have an expert do them and being able to trust a professional to install things is such a huge relief. There are a lot of tweaks I want to make to my house, and I can plan and budget to have a professional build a pantry or install drywall, and the results will be so much faster and nicer than if I have to do it myself. It's a huge change from being poor and having to do things clumsily with the cheapest possible materials and hating the results.
M O'Connell 3 years ago
A main-line drain clog I was unable to reach with my own snake, and was unaffected by drain cleaner: $648. Ouch.
Load More Replies... Celtic Pirate Queen 3 years ago
Right? We have a "guy" now. My husband & I are more than capable, but it's so much nicer to be able to just call Robert.
#28
a good, high quality jacket. it seems a little silly but going from sweatshirts to many years later, a high end jacket to keep me warm in the winter honestly made me sad how I wasn’t able to afford one when I was younger because I could’ve been so much warmer.
alas, I’m incredibly thankful I have one now
#29
House cleaners. Even just once a month if that’s all you can afford but especially if you want to live in a clean home but are too overloaded mentally to clean. Not only is it a time saver, allowing you to spend time on other things, but often they clean things you don’t get to because you’re so busy trying to keep up. Also a lot of mental health issues get in the way of cleaning. My house cleaners add to my mental well being.
Miss Frankfurter 3 years ago
I get you on the mental health issues with cleaning. Just getting it together enough to do that, but also we often don’t notice things. I don’t know why, but we don’t notice things others may. Glad if I get to move to a much smaller space. Will be much easier.
Whitefox 3 years ago
I do not know why someone down voted you. I upvoted because you speak the truth.
Load More Replies... Huddo's sister 3 years ago
We actually had house cleaners more often when we were poor than now, because they are provided free once a fortnight because of the government assistance scheme we were on. I didn't appreciate it as much as I should have either, because I would get annoyed that mum would make us clean before they came, because they would only do the floors, not put stuff away etc.
StrangeOne 3 years ago
Not sure about other people, but for me cleaning helps clear my mind and gives me a sense of reassurance that even when things get messy they can be cleaned up, and when things are cleaned up to my liking it feels like I have that one aspect in my life I can do right and control.
Pamela Blue 3 years ago
Yes having a tidy and clean home helps with one's mental health. But I have arthritis really badly now and tidying and cleaning can be painful chores. I wish I could afford a cleaner, even if it was just once a month, but I have so little money that I've had to move in with my daughter, as house prices, rents and mortgage rates have skyrocketed here, and I now can't afford to live on my own. Homelessness has become an epidemic in my city.
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#30
Having a car. I no longer need to walk 10 blocks to get groceries and then carry everything back with my bare hands.
Mabelbabel 3 years ago
My personal "I've made it, I'm financially safe" was being able to buy a car that didn't need an MOT. In the UK, cars over a certain age have to pass an examination of roadworthiness, and you can't get insurance without an MOT pass, and driving without insurance is illegal. When I was younger, my car was always old and a bit beaten up, cheap to buy but expensive to maintain-I used to have to save for months before the MOT was due because I knew I'd need major remedial work for it to pass. When I finally could afford to buy a much newer car, I realised that its actually cheaper-the initial outlay was more, but running costs were far, far less and overall, the newer car worked out cheaper.
#31
gasoline
i remember the days when we weren’t driving anywhere but to school/work and back and even then you tried your best to get rides places to conserve gas. and the day before payday you were praying that the car didn’t run out of gas because it was running on vapors
now i don’t think twice before filling up my tank and i take it for granted more often than i should
#32
So many things, I don't even know where to start. A good physical therapist who specializes in my particular issue who comes to my home and spends two hours per visit, plus does some massage as well. I'm able to get a decent amount of it reimbursed through insurance by billing out of network, but no way could I afford the upfront cost beforehand and then wait for a refund. Being able to shop around for doctors that can actually help with my health problems. A good mattress that doesn't exacerbate my neck and migraine issues and cause me to wake up in pain every day. Ergonomic furniture and a variety of equipment at home to help with my back and neck problems - massage gun, heating pads, a small home gym setup to do more of my PT exercises at home, etc. Being able to afford good prenatal care. I love where I go so much, but heck, even the parking lot costs $20 and there's no on-street parking nearby. Notice how all of these are health related? Other things that aren't health related include: in general, not worrying about budgeting and simply being able to get something because it is the best fit for whatever I'm doing, or tastes the best, works the best, is the highest quality, lasts the longest, etc. My hair looks much better now that I can go to a good salon and afford nice shampoos and hair care products. Also that required some experimentation, which meant spending some money that didn't always pan out. Being able to eat better and more healthy foods. In general, feeling more confident and like I'm treated better in society since I'm able to dress better. More comfortable bras. True and Co for everyday and the Lululemon Like a Cloud bras for working out have been amazing. Having maternity clothes. Being able to make donations to causes and institutions I care about, and getting some social recognition for that in the form of being invited to dinners or honored at our synagogue, etc. Being able to donate a lot to causes like the National Network of Abortion Funds and feeling like hopefully I'm doing something so what helpful in this terrible time for women's rights, and also to a number of Jewish community and youth programs. Being able to have a variety of backup plans in life. Fully funding retirement accounts, having appropriate insurance coverages, having a will, having a good financial advisor who has helped us with so much, securing lower interest rates on things like mortgages, being able to make a cash offer on our house during a tumultuous real estate market, etc. Having the flexibility to pursue things I actually want to do and not feeling trapped due to needing the money from a job I hate. Being able to prioritize family and relationships first.
#33
mandamary said:
Paper towels idk how i lived without them and dollar store toilet paper is not ok.
cstaylor6 replied:
Paper towels, while awful for the environment, are such a life saver! My SO and I have 3 dogs, 2 cats, and a special needs 6 year old child….it’s a must have now.
I grew up with dish towels only, which work just fine but I don’t want to spend time hosing the rags off that are covered in cat vomit, human mess, etc if I don’t have to.
AndThenICommented 3 years ago
For me it was the luxury of having dish towels and not thinking twice about washing them. No more paper towels, just nice tea towels and washing towels
#34
I went from poor to not-poor (not sure if I'd be considered middle class or not?). Anyway... I like to say that I can afford to buy shelled nuts at the grocery store.
#35
Gym membership. I never would have believed it back then, but it is honestly such necessary. The ability to work out properly, with good equipment and guidance, priceless.
AndThenICommented 3 years ago
True, but access to community and professional guidance is priceless.
Load More Replies... Performingyak 3 years ago
Had a mate who built his gym weights from paint tins, scrap metal and cement. It worked for him. Use what's in your environment, gym membership may serve to get you tailored help and motivation but not a necessity.
What do you think ?
Must Be Bored Again 3 years ago
One I hated. I was raising 4 boys by myself so money was always tight. Right before school starts, took them all shopping, all got coats and new shoes then divide what was left and get them pants and shirts. Never much but at least all got something new. Then about third week of school, basketball coach has a parent meeting. Kids who got free lunches also got sports fees paid for. The coach starts out all jolly, good boys, good schedule. Then he says "We are going to something a bit differently this year. We have decided that the entire team is going to be wearing a 'TEAM SHOE'! Then he proceeds to hold up the very most expensive new Nike Michael Jordan shoes, that all team members will have to wear or they will not be able to play. I wish they understood how cruel that was. For us, grandma would come through But.how did other families do it.
Mari 3 years ago
Thanks. I am really worried about what is going on in Europe, the energy-crisis, everything becomes expensive...
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Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
Good shoes. Being able to buy a really good pair of shoes. Cue Same Vimes Boots Theory of Economics. I love comfy shoes that fit. It's an indulgence but also, IMO, a necessity. Happy feet are happy knees!
Caroline Starr 3 years ago
And hips, and backs, and shoulders and necks. As the song says, in reverse.
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Deborah B 3 years ago
Having an emergency fund. When you are living paycheck to paycheck, with no reserve, a single unplanned expense can tip you over the edge from barely-managing, to in-debt, and with interest costs and the poverty penalty, that can be a downward spiral. With cost of living increases, this is going to start to bite for more people. I'm immensely relieved to know I have a safety buffer, small as it is, and I wish everyone else did too.
I'mNotARoboat 3 years ago
I knew this before but this BP/reddit post really highlights how expensive it is to be poor.
Asteríx Viking 3 years ago (edited)
I feel for people who can not go to bed and still be hungry for maybe not eating cause they didnt have money.
TheReader19 3 years ago
I live in the UK, the government from next April is reversing the help they're giving us for heating. My fuel bills will be more expensive than my rent.
Must Be Bored Again 3 years ago
One I hated. I was raising 4 boys by myself so money was always tight. Right before school starts, took them all shopping, all got coats and new shoes then divide what was left and get them pants and shirts. Never much but at least all got something new. Then about third week of school, basketball coach has a parent meeting. Kids who got free lunches also got sports fees paid for. The coach starts out all jolly, good boys, good schedule. Then he says "We are going to something a bit differently this year. We have decided that the entire team is going to be wearing a 'TEAM SHOE'! Then he proceeds to hold up the very most expensive new Nike Michael Jordan shoes, that all team members will have to wear or they will not be able to play. I wish they understood how cruel that was. For us, grandma would come through But.how did other families do it.
Mari 3 years ago
Thanks. I am really worried about what is going on in Europe, the energy-crisis, everything becomes expensive...
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
Good shoes. Being able to buy a really good pair of shoes. Cue Same Vimes Boots Theory of Economics. I love comfy shoes that fit. It's an indulgence but also, IMO, a necessity. Happy feet are happy knees!
Caroline Starr 3 years ago
And hips, and backs, and shoulders and necks. As the song says, in reverse.
Load More Replies... Deborah B 3 years ago
Having an emergency fund. When you are living paycheck to paycheck, with no reserve, a single unplanned expense can tip you over the edge from barely-managing, to in-debt, and with interest costs and the poverty penalty, that can be a downward spiral. With cost of living increases, this is going to start to bite for more people. I'm immensely relieved to know I have a safety buffer, small as it is, and I wish everyone else did too.
I'mNotARoboat 3 years ago
I knew this before but this BP/reddit post really highlights how expensive it is to be poor.
Asteríx Viking 3 years ago (edited)
I feel for people who can not go to bed and still be hungry for maybe not eating cause they didnt have money.
TheReader19 3 years ago
I live in the UK, the government from next April is reversing the help they're giving us for heating. My fuel bills will be more expensive than my rent.
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