What It Is Like To Be Poor. (Quick, Easy, Non-Paragraphed Read For You Lazy Dudes)

[mitchellicious]

I do a LOT of stuff on that list.

#POORLYFE

 

[let me post]

u dont make sense bruh

pretty self-explanatory.

poor AND unable to comprehend...yikes.

 

[cobra kai]

Being Poor
SEPTEMBER 3, 2005 BY JOHN SCALZI
Being poor is knowing exactly how much everything costs.
Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.
Being poor is knowing your kid goes to friends’ houses but never has friends over to yours.
Being poor is knowing you can’t leave $5 on the coffee table when your friends are around.
Being poor is not enough space for everyone who lives with you.
Being poor is relying on people who don’t give a damn about you.
Being poor is an overnight shift under florescent lights.
Being poor is finding the letter your mom wrote to your dad, begging him for the child support.l.
Being poor is the police busting into the apartment right next to yours.
Being poor is people thinking they know something about you by the way you talk.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually stupid.
Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually lazy.
Being poor is a six-hour wait in an emergency room with a sick child asleep on your lap.
Being poor is having to live with choices you didn’t know you made when you were 14 years old.
Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful.
Being poor is knowing you’re being judged.
Being poor is checking the coin return slot of every soda machine you go by.
Being poor is hoping the register lady will spot you the dime.
Being poor is feeling helpless when your child makes the same mistakes you did, and won’t listen to you beg them against doing so.
Being poor is a cough that doesn’t go away.
Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.
Being poor is seeing how few options you have.
Being poor is running in place.
Being poor is people wondering why you didn’t leave.

these are just the ones i dealt with in life.

never really would say i was poor. we didn't have much, we had enough. but my fam all lived together and did a lot to keep me from knowing when we didn't have something.

 

[thadocta]

u dont make sense bruh

pretty self-explanatory.

poor AND unable to comprehend...yikes.

you're the one who could not comprehend my original statement.

my point was not to say that everyone should get equal things whether they worked hard or not my point was more toward everyone having equal opportunity to advance and succeed which some people dont for various reasons which might be not having a good family structure or not getting a good education.

and u calling me poor without knowing anything about me shows just how much of an idiot you are

 

[ricky409]

I don't consider myself greedy, but I can not get down with equal distribution of wealth. I work harder than some other people, and have invested way more time and money in myself to get better results...so I should be entitled to the spoils of my labor.
That said, I do think that every human being should be entitled to the bare necessities of life...food, shelter, clean water, a great-by-international-standards education. We are not a primitive society. We should at least be able to ensure that much for people.
Also...and here's where I become the Bad guy...many of these list items mention kids...we live in an age of where if you don't want a child it won't happen unless you're careless...People need to understand that Other people don't give a **** about your kids. You had em, you feed em. Children are one of the biggest drains on your two vital resources...your time and your money. If more people understood that there would be quite a few less children running around.

preach!!!

Making babies while youre struggling = poor decision.

 

[Coupé It]

sometimes i wonder if we can all be equal econmically and no classes should exist but then i think of how greedy ppl are and know it wont work

CUBA

 

[durantula]

If this article was written by one person, I can't help but to think that they just want attention and sympathy. This article feels as if there was a survey of like 50 people somewhere and they just took one answer from each person.

 

[crcballer55]

Being Poor

SEPTEMBER 3, 2005 BY JOHN SCALZI


Being poor is getting angry at your kids for asking for all the crap they see on TV.

Being poor is deciding that it’s all right to base a relationship on shelter.

Being poor is knowing you really shouldn’t spend that buck on a Lotto ticket.

Being poor is making sure you don’t spill on the couch, just in case you have to give it back before the lease is up.

Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.

While I do sympathize with many points on the overall list, these in particular if addressed would help many people living below the poverty line get themselves out and into a better life.

There's a reason why payday loans are only in certain neighborhoods and it's not just because those are the people that use them. They use them because they're desperate and can't do the math on how much it's really costing them to not wait an extra couple days for that money.

"Poor" neighborhoods are also the ones that make up the majority of lotto revenue. If the amount most people spend on the lottery was invested instead there would be a lot more millionaires in those neighborhoods.

And leasing furniture? Almost as bad as the above two.

Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.

Tell me, which one of those I quoted isn't a choice?

 

[meek meals]

This picture really says it all.

Spoiler: Warning%3A%20Spoiler!

Spoiler: Warning%3A%20Spoiler!

But seriously, alot of these were rough to read. Must be a miserable life.

 

[jordanscrub]

Love the title

And I agree with one of the first post. For many of these, it does not mean you are poor.

 

[maliz]

There's a saying that if you distribute all the money in the world equally, those who were poor before will likely be poor after and the rich would once again become rich.

If lack of money management, upbringing and poor decisions. When I was in HS and worked at a call center I met many ppl with these circumstances. Most didn't want to put in the work but was wanting for a Baller or some handout. Having 3 kids with a dude that baby slang who eventually goes to prison while you out struggling with a 25k job. Then you want sympathy...I don't understand especially with the opportunities you have especially with the women's university here in Dallas that helps mothers while supplying a good, accredited education for a reasonable price (which would probably be free for a women with 3 kids though).

Hell if your family is poor enough you get free college education through federal fin aid. Yet those some of those disadvantage people rather not take that opportunity and us who would LOVE a free college education has to work our *** off to pay off loans and grind for scholarships.

 

[pharelfor3]

I just feel bad for the kids

 

[champcruthik]

To nitpick, I will say some of the listed components could be considered frugal or economically prudent rather than "poor." You can be frugal and not be poor. Matt Bonner, for example.

I consider it wise to be financially cautious and aware. Better to always be prepared for a rainy day.

 

[thunderchunk69]

Being responsible is not having children

 

[Mound Raised]

lotta high horse riders in here

 

[tr1ll]

Being Poor


SEPTEMBER 3, 2005 BY JOHN SCALZI



Being poor is getting angry at your kids for asking for all the crap they see on TV.


Being poor is deciding that it’s all right to base a relationship on shelter.


Being poor is knowing you really shouldn’t spend that buck on a Lotto ticket.


Being poor is making sure you don’t spill on the couch, just in case you have to give it back before the lease is up.


Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.

While I do sympathize with many points on the overall list, these in particular if addressed would help many people living below the poverty line get themselves out and into a better life.


There's a reason why payday loans are only in certain neighborhoods and it's not just because those are the people that use them. They use them because they're desperate and can't do the math on how much it's really costing them to not wait an extra couple days for that money.


"Poor" neighborhoods are also the ones that make up the majority of lotto revenue. If the amount most people spend on the lottery was invested instead there would be a lot more millionaires in those neighborhoods.


And leasing furniture? Almost as bad as the above two.

Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.

Tell me, which one of those I quoted isn't a choice?

Being poor is getting angry at your kids for asking for all the crap they see on TV.

Just to entertain...

Being poor is getting angry at your kids for asking for all the crap they see on TV.

What are you supposed to do, lie?

Being poor is deciding that it’s all right to base a relationship on shelter.

Sleep alone under the bridge or sleep in this fat chicks bed?

Being poor is knowing you really shouldn’t spend that buck on a Lotto ticket.

The poor doesn't want to be poor, will do anything to not be poor.

Being poor is making sure you don’t spill on the couch, just in case you have to give it back before the lease is up.

What? Their supposed to sit on the floor. Oh, because they're poor they're second class citizens? If you're poor you cant afford to buy a couch outright. And No, people don't put furniture on the curb in the hood. Usable furniture at least. Oh, you want them to burn gas they can barely afford riding around looking for a couch?

Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.

Power bill was due on the 25th and unemployment doesn't come in until the 3rd. They're supposed to sit in the dark?

 

[mgrand15]

There's a saying that if you distribute all the money in the world equally, those who were poor before will likely be poor after and the rich would once again become rich.
If lack of money management, upbringing and poor decisions. When I was in HS and worked at a call center I met many ppl with these circumstances. Most didn't want to put in the work but was wanting for a Baller or some handout. Having 3 kids with a dude that baby slang who eventually goes to prison while you out struggling with a 25k job. Then you want sympathy...I don't understand especially with the opportunities you have especially with the women's university here in Dallas that helps mothers while supplying a good, accredited education for a reasonable price (which would probably be free for a women with 3 kids though).
Hell if your family is poor enough you get free college education through federal fin aid. Yet those some of those disadvantage people rather not take that opportunity and us who would LOVE a free college education has to work our *** off to pay off loans and grind for scholarships.

Lack of money management, upbringing or not understanding "the system" is VERY different than not wanting to put in work. Most "poor" people work to the bone. Consistently work overtime, work two jobs - just to crack 30k. Some people are lazy, yeah - but the majority of people are working as hard as they can trying to provide for their family.


Then that second part - - a lot of people don't understand the college system and end up making poor decisions because of it. A lot of people think right from the start that they won't be good enough for any colleges and don't even bother. Others don't understand how much financial aid can help. If you come from a family that has never had anyone go to college and you're not surrounded by people that understand how to succeed and want to help, it's going to be VERY difficult to get out of the "poor" cycle. Some people definitely do it but they have to earn it a lot more than those of us with good influences around us.

You might think you made it all on your own but you need to think of ALL the factors around you that shaped you and how different those factors are for others.

 

[lakersusctrojan]

This is all based on POV. Not everyone who is poor monitors the costs of everything. Maybe that's why they are poor. In business, there are two important people. Those who make money and those who save money. If you are neither, I can see how you end up poor. Look at Vince Young. $30 million and broke.

 

[maliz]

Lack of money management, upbringing or not understanding "the system" is VERY different than not wanting to put in work. Most "poor" people work to the bone. Consistently work overtime, work two jobs - just to crack 30k. Some people are lazy, yeah - but the majority of people are working as hard as they can trying to provide for their family.
Then that second part - - a lot of people don't understand the college system and end up making poor decisions because of it. A lot of people think right from the start that they won't be good enough for any colleges and don't even bother. Others don't understand how much financial aid can help. If you come from a family that has never had anyone go to college and you're not surrounded by people that understand how to succeed and want to help, it's going to be VERY difficult to get out of the "poor" cycle. Some people definitely do it but they have to earn it a lot more than those of us with good influences around us.
You might think you made it all on your own but you need to think of ALL the factors around you that shaped you and how different those factors are for others.

Hope I didn't came off unsympathetic and ignorant of those who are less fortune (by American standards).

Never said all people though, yes there are people who worked to the bone. I come from an average family. My grandparents to most would say they did well for themselves until you see they have four kids. My mother raised me by herself with no support whatsoever from my father. Outside of my uncle and older cousin no one else in my family has graduated college. I come from a very poor neighborhood. With all that said, I have a friend and my girl came from worst circumstances. So I appreciate my blessing and my upbringing.

Trust, I know many people who as you described worked to the bone. I also know some who are as I described. Circumstances vary between different people but I was more less speaking on the people who waste their opportunity while crying for sympathy. Meanwhile those who work to the bone might have never been presented that opportunity due to ill family members, mistakes as an adolescent or physical disability. I couldn't agree more about not understanding college while no one in a person's family has been or completed. I truly applaud them.

 

[va757va]

lotta high horse riders in here

smh@yall blaming people's being poor on them having kids early...

and i can see yall saying 'work harder' are truly blind to the situation and never really been in truly hard times...

growing up, my grandfathers car broke, so he rode my damn huffy to work everyday at 4am...double shifts, dont get home until 9...hardest working man ive ever met...period....been on this earth 23 years, my grandparents just moved out of public housing now....

rarely let internet talk strike a nerve in me...but i identify personally with this topic...and some of yalls logic is silly...

somebody said college was free but poor people dont have the drive to take advantage...show me that free college man...we gotta grind our poor @ss off for scholarships too man...so that was dumb

'i work hard so i should get the fruits of my labor' - high horse NTer..  dude probably doesnt know what hard work is...

first phone..first pair of jays...first car..first apartment..everything ive had in life ive had to work for.. since high school if i wanted sumn i worked for it...didnt call daddy for the platinum card, didnt get some money wired from mom...nope..never knew what that was like...

some of yall ignorance comes from being out of touch...and thats not your fault, nobody should know what that list feels like..but dont throw silly solutions out there(maliz,mgrand,tc69) if you dont truley understand the situation...if you aint lived it personally first hand, you dont know the first thing about changing things for the better..

free college cause ur poor???do people really think poor people get free college???

 

[the hater boxden]

lotta high horse riders in here

How are we supposed to know what its like to be poor?

 

[SneakerProSr.]

lotta high horse riders in here

smh@yall blaming people's being poor on them having kids early...

and i can see yall saying 'work harder' are truly blind to the situation and never really been in truly hard times...

growing up, my grandfathers car broke, so he rode my damn huffy to work everyday at 4am...double shifts, dont get home until 9...hardest working man ive ever met...period....been on this earth 23 years, my grandparents just moved out of public housing now....


rarely let internet talk strike a nerve in me...but i identify personally with this topic...and some of yalls logic is silly...

somebody said college was free but poor people dont have the drive to take advantage...show me that free college man...we gotta grind our poor @ss off for scholarships too man...so that was dumb

'i work hard so i should get the fruits of my labor' - high horse NTer..  dude probably doesnt know what hard work is...



first phone..first pair of jays...first car..first apartment..everything ive had in life ive had to work for.. since high school if i wanted sumn i worked for it...didnt call daddy for the platinum card, didnt get some money wired from mom...nope..never knew what that was like...

some of yall ignorance comes from being out of touch...and thats not your fault, nobody should know what that list feels like..but dont throw silly solutions out there(maliz,mgrand,tc69) if you dont truley understand the situation...if you aint lived it personally first hand, you dont know the first thing about changing things for the better..


free college cause ur poor???do people really think poor people get free college???

Preach

 

[crcballer55]

 

There's no entertainment besides tv? There aren't any games to play? Multiple studies have shown that for every hour of tv you watch per week, you'll spend an additional $200 for the year. If the average person watches 30 hours a week, that's $6000 extra that family could have had that year to spend on needs.

Being poor is deciding that it’s all right to base a relationship on shelter.

Sleep alone under the bridge or sleep in this fat chicks bed?

family, friends? I'll admit, I don't know a lot about this particular one, but what I have seen from my teammates in college, most of those relationships weren't particularly healthy and their financial positions weren't improving either.

Being poor is knowing you really shouldn’t spend that buck on a Lotto ticket.

The poor doesn't want to be poor, will do anything to not be poor.

I'm not buying that. The lottery is a tax on poor people and those who can't do math. If they wanted to do "anything" they would try to increase their financial literacy instead of taking million to one odds to get there. If someone only invests $50/mo. (which is the average lottery player's "investment") by the time they retire they'll have about $600,000.

Being poor is making sure you don’t spill on the couch, just in case you have to give it back before the lease is up.

What? Their supposed to sit on the floor. Oh, because they're poor they're second class citizens? If you're poor you cant afford to buy a couch outright. And No, people don't put furniture on the curb in the hood. Usable furniture at least. Oh, you want them to burn gas they can barely afford riding around looking for a couch?

We can start with Craigslist. We bought a fairly good couch set for $50 and there are plenty on there that people are giving away. Once again, a service designed for people who either can't do math or are unwilling to save for something they want, thus reducing their overall cashflow.

Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.

Power bill was due on the 25th and unemployment doesn't come in until the 3rd. They're supposed to sit in the dark?

Like Christmas, you know when it's coming, so why not plan? Priorities should be, Food, clothes (work), lights, then shelter. Everything after that can wait if there isn't enough cash.

Unemployment isn't a long term thing. It's temporary until you can get something permanent. Most people who have been looking for a job for a year or more have merely been sitting at the computer filling out applications instead of meeting the employer face to face and allowing themselves to stick out from the thousands of other applications.

 

[teamjordan79]

sometimes i wonder if we can all be equal econmically and no classes should exist but then i think of how greedy ppl are and know it wont work

CUBA

DENMARK.

 

[atlien seeko]

Being poor give you real life experience that never being poor will never provide.