
It's fascinating (and scary) to think about your missed connections.
[rebelmouse-image 18357677 is_animated_gif=Haven't you ever wondered what might have happened if you found your missed connection? Though you know there probably hasn't been a time, it's still fun to read the Craigslist Ads and think, "what if?"
u/bark98 wanted to dig a little deeper:
People who actually found your "missed connection" on Craigslist, what ended up happening?
Here were some of the answers.
Hehe Grocery
[rebelmouse-image 18357694 is_animated_gif=My friend was carrying her groceries on a busy subway from Manhattan to Queens and this guy gave up his seat for her. They didn't chat, but locked eyes a few times and as the guy got off, my friend said they smiled and laughed at each other. After she got home her roommate told her to post on missed connections, but when she went on the guy had already posted about her! They dated for a short while, but he then got back together with an ex he'd met through AA.
OPP Party
[rebelmouse-image 18357682 is_animated_gif=Almost 20 years ago I was looking through the missed connections of the local paper and there was an ad that said "Some people are looking for happiness. Some people are looking for love. Me? Im looking for an authentic 'Down with OPP' baseball cap. Can you help me find one?"
It just so happens that the bodega right by my house had a bunch of hats on the wall including a Down with OPP one. So I call the number in the ad and it's just a recording of "Down with OPP" then at the end the guy comes on and says "YOU Down with OPP?" I leave a message about the hat and that's that.
Until next week there is an ad in the same paper that says "To my main man with the Brothrs Market hookup. I now walk tall and proud with my OPP hat. Thank you thank you thank you!" So yeah. I helped connect a guy with a hat. Does that count?
Kinda Cool, Kinda Weird
[rebelmouse-image 18357699 is_animated_gif=I used to browse Missed Connections. I saw one that said something like, "I see you walking your dog on [street] every day. You're cute and I'd like to talk to you." That was my street, and I'd seen lots of girls walking dogs there, so I figured I'd help a bro out.
I sent back something like, "There are quite a few cute girls who walk dogs on [street], you may want to update your post with a description of the girl and the dog. I'm the average looking blonde with the scruffy white dog."
He emailed back saying that I was the one he was referring to! WHAT. So I thanked him, and told him (truthfully) that I was a single mom going through a hard time and wasn't ready to even think about dating.
I got a friendly email back, wishing me the best, and that was that.
Not So Happy Ending
[rebelmouse-image 18349291 is_animated_gif=I had just moved to a new area and hadn't met many people, yet, so to entertain myself (I had yet to hear about Reddit) I would post clear jokes (I was not subtle) missed connections. The post he responded to was me looking for Waldo. He responded to me jokingly, as Waldo, saying he was in search of his love Carmen SanDiego. We chatted for a while and we hit it off. Met a few weeks later. Got married a few years later. Getting divorced a few years after that.
It's Friendship
[rebelmouse-image 18357909 is_animated_gif=I met someone from a missed connection. Once we met, I realized that I didn't have any romantic interest in this person, and he didn't have any in me. But, we became pretty good friends! We were even roommates one year when I was in university. Even now when we both have our own SO's, we still like to get coffee and catch up. He's a really awesome person!
This Takes A Turn
[rebelmouse-image 18357911 is_animated_gif=It was new years eve and i was having a horrible night. i couldn't get a cab from the house party i was at to get to party#2. i was wearing massive heels and had to walk all the way home because i was in too bad a mood to continue my night. as i reached my corner, a super drunk, super gorgeous guy came up to me and wished me a happy New Year's. i was about to tell him to piss off but i noticed that he was freaking beautiful and had a small bloody cut on his forehead. i pointed it out and he shrugged and stumbled away.
the next day, i decided to post a missed connection and he responded by that evening. he said he didn't remember getting a booboo. we hung out for a bit but i stopped seeing him because i didn't want to ONLY have anal sex.
Gay Bus Stops
[rebelmouse-image 18357912 is_animated_gif=I have a good friend that met this guy at a bus stop, I believe. They chatted casually for a few minutes and that was the end of it. Later, my friend was kicking himself for not asking the guy out for coffee or something and posted a missed connection about it.
About a week later, bus stop guy's boss was browsing missed connections and recognized the description of the guy's hat so he sent him the posting.
And now, several years later, my friend and bus stop guy are married.
My friend still has a screenshot of the missed connections post saved in his phone.
Good Things Come
[rebelmouse-image 18357848 is_animated_gif=I saw this girl at Starbucks that was just gorgeous. Looked like she was distracted going through some stuff on the phone so I didn't say anything. (don't wanna be that guy who can't read social clues)
Left and kicked myself over it later so next day I posted in missed connections. (although I was positive nothing would come of it, just felt good putting it out there).
Around 3 days later get a response. Not from her, but from another girl who read it and liked the sincerity in it. We ended up talking and exchanging numbers and have been dating since. (about 6 months now )
Mother Mary Comes To Me
[rebelmouse-image 18349989 is_animated_gif=I found one about me written by a long-gone ex. I let it be.
Nope Train
[rebelmouse-image 18347331 is_animated_gif=In college, I got dragged to a barn dance by my friends. Stood around bored for an hour or so, and left. The following week, there was an ad in the local classified section (this was in the 80's, so that was our "Craigs List " back then) from a guy describing me to a T. Said "I saw you there and would love to meet you and get to know you better "
Flattered, I agreed. We decided to meet at a local bar. I got there right on time and looked around. It took me a while to find him because HE SHOWED UP WITH FOUR FRIENDS. He didn't even talk to me for most of the short time I was there, because he was playing stupid drinking games with his buddies and ignoring me. One of his friends stayed hitting on me and grabbed my -ss. So I left.
He called THREE DAYS LATER and said "You left!" And I was like, "You just noticed?"
It Was Over
[rebelmouse-image 18357913 is_animated_gif=I noticed that I'd see the same Ford Focus ST several times a week during my commute. The driver was a total cutie. I caught him staring at me a few times, so one day I waved at him and he waved back. This went on for a few weeks. I posted an ad to see if he was out there, and I got about a dozen responses from guys claiming to be him. I knew immediately who the real one was, because he replied asking if I drove a red WRX.
We exchanged phone numbers. We texted a bit back and forth, but when he sent me this long gushy text about how it was fate and love at first sight, I got cold feet and panicked. I had just gone through a particularly nasty breakup and wasn't ready for anyone to talk about love at first sight.
Wedding, Wedding!
[rebelmouse-image 18357914 is_animated_gif=Best friend was crushing on a guy she saw at a bar. Put an ad in Missed Connections. His friend, who'd been with him at the bar that night, pointed it out to him.
They've been married about 10 years now. :)
Wild Ride
[rebelmouse-image 18347330 is_animated_gif=Went to see an oddly specific show. Outside, and then all throughout the evening inside, this very tall, but strikingly beautiful woman kept making prolonged eye contact with me. I was with some friends in a different city, and they wanted to leave the bar right after the show, so I didn't get a chance to talk to her. That week, back home, I posted a MC in her city, and she responded. It didn't really go anywhere, but she shared her SuicideGirls profile with me that had some more pics, so there's that...
Wasted Opportunity
[rebelmouse-image 18349985 is_animated_gif=Not an actual missed connection, but I was well known in an area I lived in as the "At&t sign girl"
A guy posted on missed connections looking for me and come to find out, he just wanted to give me free tickets to Busch Gardens that he got because he worked there.
If I hadn't gotten another job when I did, I could've gotten more free tickets from him.
Awwwwwwwwwww
[rebelmouse-image 18357915 is_animated_gif=I met my boyfriend almost four years ago at a bar that used to be down the road from where I lived. I would go to play darts with my best friend but I didn't drink. He was there that night playing in pool league. I went up right when we got there and asked him to take a picture of his shirt to show someone else. We didn't actually become a couple until October of 2014 but we are still together and I'm 6 days overdue with our baby.
Meet Cute
[rebelmouse-image 18357916 is_animated_gif=My step brother posted missed connection for a girl he saw when he was at traffic court. She was there for a speeding ticket just like he was so he thought he had a good meet cute story. She responded to his ad with a polite "thanks but no thanks".
He did end up meeting his wife on Craigslist a few months later, but just by posting a regular ad though.
Not All Is Meant To Be
[rebelmouse-image 18346351 is_animated_gif=Randomly my friend saw my name and description mentioned on one of these missed connections and sent it to me. I decided to followed up and went back to the store I originally met her (the girl who posted) and asked her for her phone number. We went on some really nice summer dates. Long walks and talks, drinking beer etc. September rolls around. Then one day we meet up for lunch but she was a little stressed about money and rent. So I said I would see if i could help her get a job at the place I worked at. Some warning signs started to appear like when I asked her to make a personalized cover letter instead of a generic one and she got upset by that. In any case, she made a new one and submitted it. At work, I put in a good word for her and eventually she was hired. At this point the relationship wasnt past the point of mere dates but that was OK as I was soon going abroad for half a year and didn't want more. Soon this girls true colors revealed themselves. I noticed early on that it was tricky getting a hold of her at times deducing it to some people being unattached to technology. But realized she had a pattern of selectively getting back to anyone. My Co worker one day tells me that she saw her name on a weekly schedule and didn't want to work one of the shifts so she just took a pen and scratched her name off. Without alerting the manager or finding a replacement. As in a grown adult scratching her name off a disposable schedule thinking that that would make everything ok. Anyways long story short: she was a bag of issues and seemed to be stuck in a world that involved bending reality to meet her needs. I wrote her a message on Fb one day telling her how i regretted helping her and then deleted her off my Fb which was like a slap on the face back then. The end.
Nope-De-Nope
[rebelmouse-image 18357917 is_animated_gif=I posted this before but it applies here too.
A guy once posted a missed connection about me (easy to figure out with the description he gave and the location he saw me). My boss actually showed it to me because even she figured it out. I was 18 at the time and when I told my mom about it she told me that I should email him and say hey. (She didn't know better and I was naive and eager to hang out with him, as I remembered who he was). I messaged him, we hit it off, hung out for a while and everything seemed cool. Then things got nuts. In the few short months we hung out, he found out that his clinically psychotic ex girlfriend was pregnant. She got kicked out of countless homeless shelters for starting fights, and her mom wouldn't let her live with her because she was freaking insane, so she moved back in with CL guy.
While he was upset to have her back in his life, he was happy to have a baby and was eager to take care of it (he was going to fight for full custody after it was born because of mothers issues) .. the entire time she was pregnant, she drank, smoked....they would get into screaming matches. Eventually he tried to move out. After one particularly bad fight, he packed everything up and went to a hotel without telling her so she wouldn't try and follow. While he was out, she snooped through the stuff he left behind and found the ring he was going to use to propose to her before she showed her true psychotic colors. She thought he bought it because of the baby, started wearing it and posted about it all over Facebook. Through all of this, I was there to help support him emotionally and be an escape from his life. I certainly never saw him as someone I'd be in a relationship with but I enjoyed hanging out with him. Then, when psycho girl announced that they were "engaged", he decided "ahh.... alright whatever let's do it". So they moved back in together and she made him cut all connection with me (no problem.. that was too much drama for my liking).
A few days later, I get multiple long messages from this girl, her cousin and her second profile she made after I blocked her. She accused me of being a home wrecker, saying that she was going to call the cops on me (no idea what for) and that I needed to watch me back because she "knew" where I lived (She didnt... the town she said I lived in wasn't even in the same county of where I actually lived). I kept blocking her and eventually she shut up. 3 years later, that guy messaged me on Facebook. They had the baby, mom's in a mental hospital and he has full custody. He wanted to meet up and "pick up where we left off" but I noped out of that.
So Horrible
[rebelmouse-image 18348646 is_animated_gif=My roommate was biking home after a party in a particularly flamboyant jacket. Later that night there was a missed connection describing his bike route and jacket.
He reached out to the woman (also an avid cyclist). They dated for 3-4 months. Then, one day, she was hit by a truck while cycling in the bike lane. Died instantly. I used to pass her white bike every day on my bike commute.
I'm Out
[rebelmouse-image 18347332 is_animated_gif=I was at work one day when a co-worker, named Erika, told me I'd had a missed connection written about me. I worked at a bookstore, downtown in a big city as a visual merchandiser. I had read the Missed Connections before, dreamed that one would get written about me, but never thought it would happen-cause that's the stuff out of a Rom-Com. Never the less she sent me a link to the missed connection and this is it:
Working at (Name of my bookstore) on Sunday (20th of December) (the address of my old bookstore)- m4w
You were pushing a cart or trolley full of books, I was in a rush as I passed by you. We locked eyes a few times though. You had long dark hair, and I was wearing a toque and black leather Jacket.
Now this may seem pretty vague, but it's me. Nobody else was in that day and merch people push carts like it's nobody business, and the other merch girls on that day were a red haired girl and a pale brunette.
So I responded. Mostly because I don't like to leave people hanging. People should wonder "whatever happened." HE GOT CREEPY REAL QUICK. I mean 0-stalker in 60 seconds. I went on vacation with my parents (Christmas time) and he emailed me 3 times in the span of 5 days being like "Where'd you go?", "You still there?", "Drop off on me?" He added me on FB and IG without me telling him what those handles were. He started liking pictures I'd been tagged in on my friends Instagram. Visited my ex's pages. He kept pushing for my phone numbers or saying he "was going to be around my work" on days I wasn't even working. Luckily I had already found a new job.
Sometimes you only need to experience something once, to know it's a never again situation.
I always say, try everything once.
Well, now that I'm older, a caveat to that is... try it all within reason.
How many things have we all walked away from saying the one time experience will suffice?
In fact, knowing when to say no is one of life's wisest choices.
Redditor Croakied wanted to discuss the times we've all said... "once was enough!" They asked:
"What is one thing that you will NEVER do again?"
Love. Did it. A few times. Moving on.
Stay Still
"Jump off a moving train."
DenseDriver6477
"My dad used to jump on a train when he was little to go to school. He broke his nose like twice doing it. He also would not recommend."
Darphon
“vaportini”
"Smoke alcohol. Me and my friends bought something called a 'vaportini' in college where you could pour alcohol into a bulb and after low heat separated the alcohol from the liquid, you could inhale it thru the glass straw you inserted into the bulb. Basically you got drunk directly into your bloodstream/brain and it never hit your stomach."
"If you did too much, your body wouldn’t make you vomit or something, there wouldn’t be a simple self regulation/safety measure. You’d just get alcohol poisoning. Felt very dangerous, the drunk wasn’t a regular drunk feeling. We used it once and were like okay, never again. I’d be surprised if you could still buy it, although it would be incredibly easy to replicate at home."
michelangelho
It’s heartbreaking...
"Fall in love with a drug addict."
Rains_Lee
"Good call, don’t do it. The drugs will always come first. Can’t go out unless their 'ok' with how much drugs they have and money left over if any, cant make love unless they have their fix for the night and even still it never feels normal, can’t trust them after the lies to get drugs and the manipulation they put you through, and you can’t change them no matter how much you try and wish they would. It’s heartbreaking."
Cvilla411
More me time...
"Give up my life for work. F**k going the extra mile for a place that doesn't value you and pays you crap even though you go the extra mile for them. You have 1 life with only so much precious time to enjoy it and slaving away at some job is not worth it. Do what you can to reduce your workload and find better employment, or hell try to change the working conditions at your current job to improve things for everyone if you can."
Mrhappytrigers
Well Obvi...
"Donate a kidney."
ToffieMonster
"Well, you could donate the remaining one. You just won’t be around to say anything about it."
shavemejesus
This is definitely list I can relate to. No thank you on a lot of this!
I Quit
"Smoke cigarettes, it's been two years since I quit."
SuvenPan
Forget It
"Climb mount Kilimanjaro. Toughest thing I've done and it's not worth it. I'm all about tough treks and camping but to put yourself under tough conditions and suspectable to altitude sickness only to get to the top for 10 minutes for a picture. No thank you."
Monks_
"I agree, it was memorable. Once was enough for my husband and I. Thankfully we stayed at American style hotel run by the US Navy with a hot tub and bar. Alcohol was definitely needed after all that."
Whatsherface112
I'm living alone!
"Sign a lease with a stranger without hanging out with them a few times beforehand. My past roommate experiences in college were terrible. Roommates either ignored me, hosted parties til 3 AM on weeknights, made the house the hangout and drug-den for them and their buddies. Meet up once and they'll put on an act for you. If you can, try to see how they act drunk or frustrated."
"Try to hang out with their buddies too so you can see the type of people who could be coming into your future place of residence. As soon as I can afford it, I'm living alone! Now, I investigate a potential roommate's social media and hang out at least twice before signing a lease with them."
fleursdefer
Stay Away
"Take back a cheater. Know your worth my brothers and sisters."
santichrist
"Ughhhhh going back and forth on this one. My boyfriend of 5 years has cheated on me. Several times, actually but says he’s really changed and is ready to settle down and wants me to move in with him. I’m on the fence. So they never change???"
madlecroy
Sleeptime
"Take a laxative and sleeping pill at the same time."
karmaredemption
Once, twice, three times... I'm out. Bye.
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People Imagine How They'd React If Their Significant Other Wanted To Sleep With Other People
There is an age old question that has been getting more traction surrounding sex for partners the last decade or so.
And that is... "is just one enough?"
Were we really meant to only be with one person forever?
There are so many flavors to taste.
What if your partner wants more cookie dough with your strawberry?
Redditor Pineapple-Status wanted to hear everyone's thoughts on opening the bedroom to others. They asked:
"What would you do if your long term SO suddenly wants to have sex with other people?"
I say I'd be ok with it, but I'm remembering my last relationship and I feel like I'm not a "put my $ where my mouth is type" on this issue.
Bye
"Wish her well and spend the next 2 years getting myself back to a place where I am ready to get hurt again."
wickedblight
It's Time to Roll On...
"Personally I would leave them."
"I think they're the ones leaving you. I don't think the relationship changes at that point; I think it ends. If you have a monogamous relationship, they are telling you they want to end that. They might be suggesting starting a new, non-monogamous relationship, but that is a separate thing. The original relationship is over."
octopoddle
ethical non-monogamy...
"OP, it's no different than anything else they want: you either agree and stay together, disagree but stay together, disagree and break up, or even agree and break up. What you're talking about is called 'ethical non-monogamy.'" The seminal book to read is called The Ethical Sl*t."
"It basically boils down to be whatever you want, just don't lie about it. The tricky thing is that this is something that was not present before, but is present now. So it's a potential fork in your road. If you're against it, it's up to your SO to decide if sex with other people is more important to them than a life with you."
Tokugawa
a different story...
"I think it depends too how intently they're interested. If it's a thing they bring up because they're curious but it's not a dealbreaker for them, I'm fine with that even if I don't want to proceed. A solid relationship involves open communication, and it'd make me happy if my partner trusted us and our bond enough to voice that curiosity with me."
"If it's something their heart's absolutely set on, then it's a different story. Either way, it's kind of strange to me how these posts always assume simply asking your partner how they feel about opening the relationship means they're now wholey invested in the poly lifestyle and they'll resent you or cheat if you say no."
donkeynique
Others
"Happy that we have common interest, sad that it's different 'other people."
i_lick_icicles
Sex is always an issue. Remember when it was just fun?
Mine
"Leave her. I’m far too possessive and jealous to be able to mentally accept polyamory. If she has a desire to be with other people I’m not going to stand in her way but I’m not going to be there when she gets home either."
Thiek
Not Me...
"Break up. My parents were poly and it's just not for me. I've been honest with every relationship I've been in that I'm not interested in any type of open relationship. If they want to be with someone else that's fine but we'll be over. My husband is aware of this and on board (and has been for over twenty years!). So if he came to me with this yes I would be heartbroken but I'm not willing to budge on this and it would be the end of our relationship."
GoldDustWitchQueen
Let's Talk
"Counseling time! We're married. I'm chronically ill (stage 4 breast cancer) and have no libido. We try to make intimacy work, and obviously in that case it wouldn't be working. So. Time for a pro to sort out the marriage, and possibly a sex therapist for me."
insertcaffeine
Awkward Positions
"I’ll put myself hypothetically in this position. My partner and I only want each other. We’ve made this abundantly clear to each other. However, if she came to me with desire to open our bedroom and she wanted to sleep with people outside our marriage."
"I would simply express how I vehemently do not an open bedroom and that it would kill any desire I have to want her, be with her, love her, etc. Our couple dynamic has been working well through our ups and downs. Involving some stranger in the ONE thing I find most sacred with my partner is the best way for me to lose any interest or passion for the relationship."
RedFlaim
Farewell
"Break it off, because they definitely already have someone in mind and you telling them no won't change the fact that they were only one step away from following through with it."
Caressticles
Well it feels like a lot of people still believe in one partner, happily ever after. Good for y'all. But big props to these couples who have open and honest conversations about their wants and needs.
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Many of us sometimes fantasize about what we would do to our worst enemies, especially in the moments when they're actively making our lives worse.
While most of us would never actually do any of the things that we contemplate instead of screaming at that super annoying person at the office, we do get pretty creative with the ideas.
Redditor take_me_there_ asked:
"What WOULD you wish on your worst enemy?"
This One Would Hurt
"A conscience. Let her realize the horrific things she’s done."
- Jenny010137
"Seriously. Introspection, self awareness, and empathy are traits that would improve a lot of sh*tty people."
- el_muerte17
"Oh I wish I had thought of this one. If my enemy had a conscience, wow life would be much different."
- Shelbysouth43
No Pearly Whites For You
"I’d like all their teeth to turn really yellow and stay yellow no matter what they do."
- toothfixingfiend
"What did I ever do to you?"
- Spideredd
"I don't even know you! Give me back my enamel!"
- AngryMustache9
Everything You Own Is Orange Now
"Permanent Cheeto fingers. Just orange cheese dust getting on everything."
- cocoapuff1721
"This has to be one of the most evil things I ever heard, yet absolutely hilarious."
-Merk0411
"The Midas Touch: Snack Edition"
- MaryVenetia
Ouch, But Forever
"Stubbing and breaking their toe and right as it’s about to be done healing it happens again over and over for the rest of their pitiful time on this hell we call earth."
- No-Bee-2971
"Sisyphoot"
- Alpha_6
"More of a Toemetheus imo"
- PykeTheDrowned
Self Reflection
"For them to realize how big of an a-hole they are."
- mayhemanaged
"Same for me. The trouble is mine probably knows what a tremendous a-hole he is, and just doesn't care (it's what defines him, is his outlook more than likely), so, give mine a conscience as well, he undeniably lacks one."
- RhoadsOfRock
"a crushing moment of self realization is something that can destroy you mentally. I wish that on them."
- chancetodream
Bury Them Under A Mountain Of Minor Inconveniences
"Always being hungry two hours after eating no matter how large the meal. Slow internet. Traffic jams no matter the location. Self doubt. Allergies. Favorite shows spoiled."
"Nothing major enough to be life altering but constant, low grade inconveniences that wear on your soul every day."
- I_Love_Small_Br**sts
"Every bite of food they eat/drink they drink being slightly the wrong temperature."
"Coffee? Warm but not hot. Cola? Cool, but not cold. Muffin? Ever so slightly frozen."
"Not enough to ruin their life, but just enough to not quite have full enjoyment of anything.."
- HappiHappiHappi
They'll Never Be Able To Use Their Computer Again
"Quick scan with McAfee on their computer."
- halflife_3
"You f**king monster."
- Orion_2kTC
"The constant pop-ups from McAfee is too far."
- _Land_Rover_Series_3
That's A New Level Of Evil
"Bed bugs."
- thrawn1825
"Currently dealing with bed bugs, and I can absolutely confirm this is the kind of thing I would wish upon my worst enemy. It is miserable and painful, and I've tried everything to get rid of them at this point."
"I would easily wish this upon my worst enemy, x10."
- ArbitrarilyStagnant
"Oh hell no, you went there... Hopefully they aren't living in an apartment complex or you've cursed everyone in the building."
- expect_less
Well of course I know him. He’s me.
"$100,000. I sure could use it."
- Sparklesperson
"'It’s no surprise to me I am my own worst enemy'"
- FishyVonFishenHymer
"Lol I thought this was that deep sh*t like 'pray for those you resent to have all the things you want in life….' Then I realized."
- No-Chipmunk9527
Forever Constipated
"That they can never have a satisfying poop. They always feel like they have to go to the bathroom and when they do nothing comes."
- [User Deleted]
"Wow. That's evil. Always feeling the need to pee would be good (as in horrific) too."
- ipakookapi
We definitely don't recommend implementing any of these plans (not that most would actually be possible), but here's some new ideas for the next time you're stuck in a meeting with your most annoying coworker and need a little fantastical escape.
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I grew up poor, and I remember the little things that made me smile when we just happened to have enough that week.
The little things that a truly rich person would not think twice about.
Ah, the luxury of it.
What spells luxury for you?
Redditor ConAir161057 wanted to compare notes about the things in life that feel like items only money can buy. They asked:
"For people who grew up with little money, what always felt like a luxury?"
New clothes. I had so many hand me downs and thrift store clothes... new seemed like a dream.
Anxiety
"After growing up in a home where every unexpected problem was a financial emergency, my idea of wealthy became 'I just want enough money that if something breaks I don't get anxiety about how to deal with it.'"
Obiwan_ca_bl**me
Literature
"Getting to buy something from the scholastic book fair."
Rich*itch3232
"My school, at the end of it a bunch of books were 'donated' and then spread out on a table in the library. We all got to go pick one book. So even if kids didn’t get to purchase a book, in the end they had a chance to still get a book. It’s actually how I got my first Harry Potter book. Was a cool idea for any school staff or parents active in their kids’ schools."
glass_pillow
Christmas
"Getting new clothes at Christmas from relatives. I don't know if that is exactly a luxury or the kind of answer you are looking for, but we never had a lot of money when I was in middle school. I went an entire year wearing the same pants everyday. The funny thing was my parents didn't even buy them for me."
"I got them for Christmas from my Grandparents. All the kids use to give me so much sh*t for wearing the same pants everyday. I always told them that I had 5 of the same pair which made me feel good inside and kind of made them ease off even though I know they didn't believe me."
"I remember I fell on the school bus one day and the jagged floor cut a hole right in the knee cap and the panic that went over me was just insane. It was one of the worst feelings of my whole life because I knew that I didn't have any other pants to wear and that now all of the kids in my school were going to know that I only had 1 pair. Needless to say I could not wait for the last month of school to end."
themagicman_1231
I'm Away
"Summer camp, or basically any school trips that had to be paid for. At my school the kids who couldn't afford to go on trips that happened during school hours still had to come to the school, we just sat in a room and did extra work like it was detention."
Helpful_Yams
"I was lucky. If you taught at the day camp your kid could go for free. That was just day camp though not sleepaway camp. My mom found a camp teacher who had no kids of his own and he signed me up as his kid so I could get free day camp. Did that all through elementary school."
randtcouple
Big Deals
"Going out for pizza was a big deal. Those free mini pizzas for reading books were huge."
Shroom4Yoshi
Food is always an issue when you're broke.
Damage
"Being able to turn on the heat in the cold and pay a professional to fix damaged appliances, plumbing, and other issues."
Liggettef
Spoiled
"When my grandma would come pick me up and spoil me. My parents didn't have much money and were addicts so when my grandma would come get me I would come back with new clothes, video games, toys, etc. I used to think my grandma was rich but she actually just had a stable income."
nawlepen
"I was in this position when I was younger. I always thought my grandma had SO much money… but all she did was go to work everyday. Always made sure I had clothes and all my school supplies. I miss her pretty bad."
Keywork29
Water
"I am from a small island in the Pacific. While I mostly still take cold showers, I have always felt that a hot shower is the finest luxury one can experience. I had my first hot shower when I was 22 years old and I can never forget it."
FSMPIO
"This is the kind of luxury I think people take for granted, I always avoided showers in the winter as a kid since most of the time they where cold showers and the temperature here was around 12c° during those times."
PowerfullDio
Showerware
"Towels. Honestly, I was almost 10 When I realized people didn’t just put back on their dirty clothes after a shower because my family was so large (12 kids total including myself) and extremely poor. I thought towels were just for hotels or were maybe a prop on television. I went to a friends house and she asked for my help folding her towels. I remember laughing and thinking she must be rich."
"Long story short, I wasn’t sure which way to fold the towels, and begged my mom to buy them after I revealed that my friend, Simone, had them. She bought a box of used ones from a local auction and I walked around with them on my head feeling like a frigging empress after that, even though—-let’s be clear… these were second hand towels!"
shakezula1025
Or BK...
"Grew up poor and when I was a kid I used to think you were rich if you had a dishwasher and a millionaire if you had one of those refrigerators that have a button for ice. McDonalds was also a luxury, a couple times a year on our birthdays."
chinderellab*tch
Everyone should have access to all of these things. Why is life unfair?
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