It is estimated that nearly 37.9 million people in the United States currently live in poverty.
A shameful statistic, to say the least.
Challenging as it is, however, growing up poor is nothing to necessarily be ashamed of, as many influential people in this world came from humble beginnings.
Even so, many people who grew up poor and found success and financial stability in adulthood still try to hide their childhood from others. But those in the know, or who had the same experience, tend to notice the subtle, tell-tale signs of those whose childhood was anything but luxurious.
Redditor Puzzled-Painter3301 was curious to learn how people could tell if someone grew up poor, leading them to ask:
"What's a sign that someone grew up poor?"
Their Relationship With Food
"When you can’t finish a meal, pulling it apart to at least eat the meat because 'that’s the expensive part'."
"Or just force feeding yourself any meal you buy because you have to feel like you didn’t waste."
"Being hypersensitive to any light left on, door left open, opening the fridge too much, running water too long, etc, because you’re trained to minimize utilities."
"Never pouring more than 1/2 a glass of any drink when at someone else’s house (except water) because you don’t want to be seen as wasteful/gluttonous."
"Making weird snacks out of food that isn’t supposed to be a snack - ex."
"Eating dry ramen noodles like chips, Kool Aid with sugar and your finger to make your own fun dip, eating Kraft cheese slices/cold hotdogs/other things that are normally just a part of a meal."- kountryt
"Scanning the menu for the cheapest options possible when at a restaurant."
“'It’s ok the soup is really enough for me.'”- Call_the_Green_Man
"I grew up poor and my husband grew up middle class."
'Whenever we have guests, I am constantly asking people if they got ENOUGH food."
"'Is anyone still hungry? I can make something else!'"
"My husband will inquire about the quality of the food and if it is to everyone's liking."
"I think when you grow up poor, food is very much quantity over quality."- NoMaineKoonsAllowed
Resistance To Let Go
"Never replacing anything unless there’s absolutely no way to use the old thing anymore, and going to absurd lengths to keep something 'still useable'.”- boymanpal
"Odd hoarding behaviours of things you probably should have gotten rid of out of fear you won’t be able to replace them easily."
"I keep a stack of boxes broken down because there’s still this fear in the back of my mind that I’ll have to move again at a moment’s notice."
"I make a decent salary now and have lived where I am for nearly 7 years, but I still can’t part with those boxes despite the space they take up."
"Under the bed, behind the chest of drawers."
"Yeah. I still have ‘em."- Mr_Lumbergh
"Difficulty throwing things away."- OldSamVimes
"Sentimentality."
"Not that wealthier people can't be sentimental.'
"But my dad, whose parents grew up in the rural South during the great depression, wants to keep every little thing of my mom's."
"Everything."
"He would prefer to keep her bedroom as is."
"I always wondered why he wanted to keep it like that."
"But then I realized, the only thing we have left is my mom's ashes in an urn."
"There was no funeral, no memorial, (she didn't want any and there was no one to come anyways) no tombstone."
"Nothing that feels tangible, personal, etc."
"We don't have the luxury of beautiful personal mausoleums, or headstones, or anything else in the Western death culture."
"My mom's bedroom, and all her stuff is the closest we will ever have to a memorial for my mom.'
"It's a tomb, without a body in it."- InsomWriter
Always Looking For A Sale
"Never buying clothing at full price."
"It just feels illegal."- Totally-trapped
Justifying A Purchase
"For me, I have what I call 'poverty mentality.'"
"While I can afford new shoes and clothes, they have to be falling apart for me to replace."- ciarrabobeara
Appreciation For Nice Things
"Still being marveled by an ice maker and side by side doors."- Difficult_Let_1953
"Realizing I wanted to have the house that all my kids friends came over to hang out at because that wasn't really an option for big chunks of my childhood."- sykojaz
Strictly Sticking To A Budget
"Immense financial anxiety."- natandsneks
Hiding Their Smile
"In the US I’d say poor dental history or teeth."
"Dental work is a luxury."
"Overall, I’d say many hoarders grew up poor because they are so afraid of not having something if they’ll need it so they keep everything."- Leadsingerofthebandd
Should we notice people doing these things, it is of the utmost importance not to judge.
In fact, one can only admire people with an undying appreciation for beautiful things and who never underestimate the value of one dollar.
If you've lived through the recession of 2008, you probably have seen the U.S. struggling to catch their bearings again financially. The U.S. has been struggling to regain it's economic balance but truly the wage gap and percentage of our poor population has only increased.
Michael Farr writes that the economy should have been booming since we saw unemployment reach a low of 4% in 2019, but there hasn't been any meaningful inflation, or output of money, in the last decade. The culmination of economic suffering and irresponsible government response has lead us to a top 1% of our population hording all the countries wealth.
It's also known that vulnerable racial and social groups are more likely to experience high rates of poverty in the U.S., as well as in gender and sexuality variants.
You may reading this and yet still not know what it's like to truly be living below the arbitrary poverty line in the U.S.
Reddit user 192335 went to Ask Reddit to find out:
"What do most people not understand about being poor?"
Some of these comments may not be entirely from the U.S., but they definitely speak to the experience of economic hardship that many are facing.
It's exhausting.
"Being poor is f*cking exhausting. It's draining. Mentally. Physically. It's just exhausting."
"Everyone needs a win sometimes. Sometimes that win is finding a way to just afford a f*cking meal out or a movie. Yeah, you do have bills to pay and sh*t to do. But everyone needs a breath of fresh air sometimes."
"A struggle needs a f*cking break every so often."
"I agree. I can't stand when people are like yeah blowing money on a coffee at Starbucks is a rip off when you can make it at home way cheaper. No sh*t. For some people though, it's the one treat they get for themselves."
"So true. Growing up my parents would take me and my siblings 'out to eat' for dinner when they could and only as an adult did I realize it was at a breakfast diner most times."
"Kids get pancakes, they'd get bagels and butter/jelly. And that was our 'big family dinner date.'"
"Sure, it's cheaper to buy bagels at home, but sometimes you just need to get out of the house and have some away time to act normal."
"BreakfastForDinnerCrew reporting in."
Living in constant fear and question.
"The fear. Of something unexpected you haven't budgeted for. Of a knock at the door from a debt collector. Having to choose which of your children can eat more than once today. Having to choose which days you go hungry so your children can eat at all."
Getting dental care can be difficult.
"I am going to the dentist today. I haven't been in about a year. I've got stuff that should have been done ages ago, but I just didn't have the money. Now I've got a decent income and have saved a bit, I can go without too much worry, but the damage is much worse than if I just went regularly."
"With that, the cost of the procedure will be higher. Six months ago, I couldn't have afforded the x-ray they do at the start of the exam, let alone a procedure. I'm just lucky nothing went too wrong in that time. I looked at insurance. Basically nothing but minor stuff is covered by anyone. One bad tooth infection/abscess and I would have been totally wiped out."
"I didn't get to go for years. Dentists wouldn't clean my teeth without x-rays too. I didn't have money for both. So I went without. Then when my situation improved, they had the audacity to shame me for waiting so long."
In the U.S. in 2017, one in five people without medical insurance skipped out on medical care because of cost.
"I just want to jump in to anyone who might come across this because I found the solution I needed. After I fought through 15 years of depression my teeth where a sad reminder of how I didn't take care of myself. I would have never thought I would be able to smile with confidence as dental work in the US is criminally expensive even with decent insurance."
"But today I can and do have a big smile on my face, dental tourism is a legitimate solution. I took a flight down to Tijuana MX to have 4 root canals + zirconium crowns, 4 zirconium veneers (so all my front teeth match), and 8 composite fillings for $5.5k (excluding travel cost)."
"I joked to my dentist once that I might go to Mexico to have work done. I had heard about dental tourism as an affordable option but wasn't exactly sure about it. Their tone immediately shifted from my friendly, neighborhood dentist to a more judgmental 'they don't have adequate dentistry standards like we have here.' It threw me off a bit but it felt like it came from a place of genuine concern. It's as if they think any dentist out of country is your crazy uncle with a pair of pliers running his office out of his garage."
Being poor is expensive.
"How expensive it is."
"Cycle of poverty is no joke. I got really sick from anxiety. My stomach hurt, I developed an ulcer, I had to go to the hospital. Ok so root problem is anxiety and depression. How do I fix it? Therapy and maybe medication. But I'm already in debt from going to the hospital. So I try to do without. Manage on my own. Pay down bills. Anxiety grows from seeing the debt and life under covid. Anxiety. Stomach hurts. We're back to the beginning."
"How do you fix it? Money. They say money can't buy happiness, I call BS. 75% of the things that bring me stress could be fixed by money."
"Having money's not everything; not having it is."
What is the sweet spot?
"They say money matters up to around 75k a year."
- Winpigg
"That was one study done in 2010; adjusting for inflation the figure is about $92k now. Other studies have found that wealthy people are indeed happier than working class people."
If you're interested in learning about it, Forbes wrote about the study from Princeton University.
Time is money.
"It takes up all of your time."
"Yep. I remember not being able to stock up on necessities. So I would have to run to the store a lot more frequently. I couldn't afford a car so I would either have to bus or walk. All of these little things eat up so much time."
- djflossy
If you're struggling to pay off debt, wondering how to get back on track financially, or struggling to find ways to get food on your table, you're not alone.
Feeding America is a resource that can help you find your local foodbanks. On the USA.gov site, you can also see if you can benefit from government assistance programs.
You can also check out the Mutual Aid Hub where you can find local organizing that's benefiting your community and helping the most vulnerable.
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People Break Down Their Craziest 'It's Expensive To Be Poor' Experiences
I have to admit. I was not fond of being poor. I was ten when I realized my family had some financial issues. My mother sat me down to explain that she needed to go to the food drive to get somethings. It had been a hard year and she wanted me to be prepared in case someone we knew saw us. It was heartbreaking.
My mother has always been a hard worker and she hates asking for help. So that's why it infuriates me when people try to say that being poor is just a mentality and the poor should just try not to be poor. My mother did make it out of several financial holes but it was always an uphill battle, because the truth is... being poor only makes you more poor. The system is designed that way.
Redditor u/26point2PipeDream wanted everyone to start realizing that the game is rigged, often by the system keeping the poor, poor. They asked everyone to explain by inquiring... In what way is it expensive to be poor?
There are so many small details from the everyday, mundane that people with out an endless well of money have to do to survive. And it all may seem like nothing, but the nothings add up. They add up to spending and debt that can be necessary to survive. Look at real estate. Paying outrageous amounts of rent is fruitless. And mortgage is cheaper. But who can afford down payment for a mortgage? Maybe if you could get a free year of rent you could save for it. Hmmm....
Clothing Transport
cats laundry GIFGiphyI saw a lady coming out of a laundromat, loading her baskets of clothes into a taxi (there is zero other public transport where I saw this happen and only a few taxis).
Not being able to put enough money together at one time to buy a car or a washing machine (she probably rented so this maybe wasn't even an option) was costing her a fortune. Just being nickeled and dimed to death.
Don't Accept
If you're ever desperate enough to take out a title/payday loan you'll discover you just stepped in financial quicksand.
About a year and a half ago I forgot to leave enough money in my bank account for a payment that needed to be done. It wasn't much, around $500 maybe, but didn't want the late payment and fees that come with it, so I decided to look into the payday loans. I needed $500 to last until Friday (when I would be paid)... I checked on it on Monday.
When I was to click "Accept", I read the entire thing... it said I had to pay back $950 IF I paid on Friday...or about $2,500 if I went with their payment plan.
I NOPED out of that bull as fast as I could, called my bank and I luckily had overdraft protection or whatever, payment went through and all I had to pay was like $15 or something for the overdraft.
Fees, fees and fees...
There are late fees for everything. Overdraft fees at the bank. Sh!tty jobs usually don't have good healthcare plans. If you're poor, you need credit cards just to survive, but interest rates are higher for those with low credit scores (see late fees above). Crappy cars are always breaking down, and that's expensive.
Death is Easier
Healthcare. That's the big one. If you don't have a healthcare plan, or have a crappy one you don't go to the doctor unless it's life or death. That means small problems that could have been caught in the beginning become hugely expensive problems later on.
Just Walk
Like parking tickets. I couldn't afford the £2 to pay to park my car so I get a £30 fine, after 2 weeks it goes up to £60 and so on. If I didn't have £2 to park in the first place I don't know how they think I can pay more.
Have you ever watched "killed by my debt"? That was about how a parking fine spiralled into severe debt and worse.
When you're poor you have to crafty. You also have to be thrifty and smart ,but crafty is often overlooked. See poor people are constantly in a fight to survive so learning how to maneuver is a key going forward. You just have to maneuver very carefully. Don't fall for the financial traps. They're always ready to get you. Case in point...
Renting is like Credit
Credit Card Money GIF by HustlersGiphyRenting to own anything is really bad. You pay 4X the value of whatever it is you're renting to own. And if you miss a payment they repossess it and someone else might start at the beginning of attempting to pay for it again. Not only that you very well might be paying 4X the new value for a used item.
And only low quality items are sold rent to own. Ashley furniture, crappy used cars, the cheapest big screen TVs available at wholesale. Houses might be better, but rent a center, and JD Byrider are worse than loan sharks.
Skyrocketing rates
Being stuck with higher interest rates because you don't have enough credit to get low rates.
The fact that rent payments aren't added into the credit score equation is bull. Or even just into mortgage lending.
How a lender can ignore me paying upwards of $1500 a month in rent while contemplating a mortgage loan that is equivalent to $850 a month. You'd think that would be a pretty safe bet right there.
The Pre-Pay Options
You can seldom buy in bulk, so you end up paying more for thing. For example, our local butchery sells ground beef cheap if you buy 2 kg or more at a time. If you're paid weekly and can afford only 500 g per week, you end up paying more.
Buying in bulk is a huge money saver.
And it's so damn expensive.
You don't just need the money in advance to buy the groceries. You also need a freezer or cooler large enough to store it. And of course a vehicle to get it home. So many things to pre-pay before you can start saving.
Luxuries
I'll add that when you have less money the power relationship is flipped in nearly every financial interaction you have.
When you have money, banks and companies compete to get access to your reliable spending, be it with low interest rates on borrowing or better deals for early payment. They have to compete because you have the option to go to someone else who will gladly take your payment history and stable income.
You're a safe bet, so you have the luxury of choice.
When you don't have money institutions know you have nowhere else to go. So they happily gouge you knowing agreeing to horrendous loan terms is your only option.
I teach econ and always remind my kids that commercials boasting about "no credit, low credit, no problem!" know exactly who they're getting in the door. People who have nowhere else to go.
Time for Restructure
story justice GIF by PrimerGiphyThe justice system. If you can't pay a fine, the state will make things more expensive by adding fees on top of fees on top of fees, then they will incarcerate you for not paying the inflated fees. Then you have to pay the parole officer who is keeping an eye on you while you care unable to get a job that pays enough to pay him.
Keeping Clean
Not having in-home laundry is a great example.
Say it costs you $4 to do your laundry each week (which I think is very cheap). In 5 years you will have spent over $1000 on laundry.
For $1000 you can get a good washing machine that would last you through those 5 years, then another 5 years, and maybe a lot more. And that doesn't count the time saved doing laundry at home, and any transportation costs.
Transport Worries
My car has a leaky seal on the transmission. It'd be about $250 to replace the seal and flush the transmission. I don't have $250, so I keep topping up the fluid and keep driving it because I'll never get $250 if I don't get to work. But, in time, that's going to destroy the transmission, which will be about $1200 to replace.
Edit: I never thought I'd say this in my entire life, but please stop offering me money. (I know. I'm insane, right?)
I'm getting by and my world will not end if my cars dies. It will be irritating and problematic, but I have other options I can make work, if the worst happens. In the mean time, plans are in place to resolve the issue and I have every reason to think that my car will survive until I can repair it.
I cannot tell you how much these offers mean to me. It has really made my night to have so many people want to help. Please, I ask you to turn your generous offers to others who are in a much more dire situation than I am.
There are several who commented on other threads on this post (as well as at least one who commented on this thread). I would not feel comfortable taking money under these circumstances when I have other options available to me. In short, other people here need it more.
Know that your kindness has made me smile on a day when really needed some brightness. I cannot put into words my gratitude. Thank you all.
For Walking
happy reno 911 GIF by Comedy CentralGiphyIf you're well off, you buy 1 pair of boots for $150 and they last a lifetime.
If you're poor, you buy boots for $30 and they last a winter.
You end up spending more, because you can't afford to spend more. Terry Pratchett uses it to explain poverty via Sam Vines in one of his City Watch books.
Shady Funds
If you can't maintain a minimum balance or don't have a bank in your neighborhood or were raised to be suspicious of banks and don't have a bank account, you've got to pay fees to cash your paychecks. Then there are fees to buy money orders to pay your bills-- or the cost of getting TO the utility office or car dealership or wherever to pay in cash.
Mouth Matters
So is one dental cleaning every 6 months (the reason its 6 months is because that is the time when cavities can form). Root Canals are now thousands of dollars and those dentists demand up front payment for those expensive services. Most people don't have an extra 2 grand in their bank account for a root canal.
Big Plans
scared homer simpson GIFGiphyMental health. Or more specifically stress. You will always have stress about future, always making decisions based on your poverty so that it won't affect your situation in bad way.
What Really Hurts
Everything is expensive when you're poor. Jokes aside, this is true. I've been poor for most of my life and I'm still not in a great financial situation. And the biggest problem is that you not only don't have a lot of money, but all the prices stay the same, so literally ANYTHING that you buy feels like a fortune.
I walked to the grocery store do buy some stuff to make a special dinner on my daughter's birthday and I spent about R$100,00 (about 20 dollars I think, Idk), and I swear I'd win an Oscar for how I kept my poker face. The second I walked out of the store I bursted out crying. Everyone on the street could see me crying as I walked back home. Seeing my daughter's smile later that day during dinner made me feel a lot better, but those R$100 ($20) REALLY hurt.
The Assist
If you're poor you already have no or very little money to invest in yourself, so you have to take on debt to do so. If you want to get technical certifications or degrees. Sometimes there's financial assistance but a lot of the time taking on loans is necessary.
Miles and Miles and Miles...
Tires! Used tires cost 1/3 price and get about 20% of the life of a new tire. Also you are paying mount and balance every time, plus worry about blow outs. Even a new tire at $80 with a 30K mileage expectancy or a $100 tire at 65k mileage warranty. Over twice the life, little more than 20% in extra charge.
A Hole
donald duck disney GIFGiphyDebt. Basically if you're poor you need to borrow some money to either get a house or buy food and after a while the debt keeps getting bigger and bigger.
In this moment the country is in the throws of cultural and financial battles. As I type, we await the Senate rulings on a financial plan for Covid. And the squabbling is endless. One of the main sticking points is raising the minimum wage to $15 and hour. Some Senators act like people are asking for a million dollars. Because God forbid we give the poor a leg up and shave a few measly dollars off the top from the super wealthy. You know, the ones rigging the whole game. Mhmmm.... Stay vigilant people and save those pennies.
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There are many services available that purport to helping the low-income demographic, but there is inevitably a catch.
Most wealthy businesses and organizations – while they seem to have your best interests in mind – are still wanting to come out on top.
They accomplish this by falsely touting their philanthropy under the guise of fighting poverty and hoping we don't notice.
In an attempt to expose this notion, Redditor -Tauradonna- wondered about the things that actually hurt the poor by asking:
"[Serious] What is something that most people don't realize is anti-poor?"
Mass Transit
"99% Invisible's episode 'Missing the Bus' pointed out that having only a bus pass or single fare transit system disadvantages poorer people, since they can't pay the total price for the pass at the beginning of the month, but ride just as much or even more than people who can, paying the single fare each time."
"They suggested a system that allows people to pay single fare, but if they reach a certain amount of trips in a month, rides become free, which is actually what my city did. I really hated having to continually load my transit card but now I see why it might be helpful."
Charities
"Charities to give away things to poor countries. There is a documentary called exporting poverty that explained this pretty well. So a charity would bring in say a ton of free clothes and just dump them on a poor 3rd world country, the local people that make clothing go out of business and become poor as well, when the free clothing stops coming in, the previous shops and jobs are gone. Same goes for other things such as farm goods, especially live stock which takes years to raise an animal and make money on it. By 'helping' by flooding the local marketplace with free products it's killing local businesses and worsening the overall poverty."
Full-Time Work
"Jobs that are totally full time, but only hire 'contractors' to get a FTE without those pesky benefits. Sometimes they even charge equipment fees and stuff for things required to do the job. Harkens back to the company store days."
Extracurriculars
"The emphasis on extracurriculars and internships in college and job applications."
"Extracurriculars can be expensive, and teens who need to work to support themselves or their families are never going to be able to compete in that regard. Unpaid internships also give well-off young people (who don't need to spend their time working) relevant job experience, while poorer kids are taking extra shifts at fast food places."
Paying In Installments
"Rent to own stores. They prey on uneducated people with poor money management skills by convincing them it's smart to take something home today and pay a fee every week plus interest for many months."
"They are banking on the fact that people won't realize they are often paying a lot more over time than they would if they saved the money by themselves and bought it outright somewhere else."
"I had a friend who fell victim to them regularly even when I tried explaining it every time. It wasn't odd for him to rent a TV, console, or laptop and end up paying $100 or more than the thing was worth brand new. There were even a few times he couldn't keep up on the payments and had to return it, so they got to keep whatever he returned and all the money he had paid them up until then."
"AND they can arrange your account to charge you fees you don't deserve."
"Example from the article:"
"Say you're a student with $50 in your account. You make 3 consecutive purchases for $10 each. That leaves you with $20, but you still need to buy a $40 book for class that evening. You decide to swipe your debit card anyway under the assumption you'll be charged a $35 overdraft fee just once."
"Since most banks will process largest to smallest transaction the $40 book is deducted first leaving the student with $10 then the three $10 transactions are deducted. That would the bank to collect and overdraft fee two times instead of one."
"It also impacts deposits, if you deposit money during that time but it's small checks or small bills and not the largest value of the day, they can rearrange it to be at the end."
A Failed System
"Work requirements for government assistance."
"It sounds really nice because why should the government give you food stamps if you aren't willing to work, but the reality is that the threshold for receiving government benefits is so low that the only way for many people to survive is to not work."
"For example: Let's say you're homeless. No fault of your own. You're working a job you love that might lead to more opportunities but you make just a little over minimum wage, or maybe you even make minimum wage. Rental prices have been rapidly increasing and your landlord wants to get in on the action by remodeling. He gets everyone out by not allowing people to resign leases. You look around for a new place to live but you're priced out of everything. You try to get assistance with housing but no one actually cares until you're literally sleeping on the street (not that they really care then, but...). So you couldn't get housing assistance before you became homeless and now that you are homeless you're incredibly high risk for health problems. You can't get healthcare through your job because it's unaffordable. You apply for Medicaid. You make too much money for Medicaid. You apply for food stamps, thinking that maybe if you save money of food you can save up for a deposit on an apartment or pay for health insurance. You don't qualify for food stamps."
"You have a job. Full time. It doesn't cover the necessities and no one will help you. So you quit your job (it was hard to hold onto anyway, seeing as you were sleeping on the ground and didn't have access to a regular shower or a clean work clothes). Now you have healthcare and food stamps and someone is trying to help you find a place to live."
"BUT"
"They want you to work. Any job will do you just have to work. You know the second you start working you don't qualify for any help anymore. You tell them you only want a job that will pay enough that you're able to survive. They tell you that's not enough and you need to work. You get a low wage job, you get kicked off benefits, rinse, wash, repeat."
Minimum Wage
"Saying that minimum wage jobs are for students. If they're for students then why do they hire adults in the first place?"
Misconceptions Of Social Assistance Programs
"It kills me when people absolutely jump on folks on social assistance programs. They're 'afraid of work' or 'too lazy to work.' But that's ridiculous. They're making a decision that best serves their family, and I can't fault them in the slightest.
"I mean, come on, be honest:"
"Work minimum wage (because you don't have the skills or experience to do better - and you can try to change that, but it's not a quick or easy process). Make enough maybe for rent and basics, but you're not able to save money, you can't afford health insurance (state Medicare is inconsistent and many states only extend it to single mothers or very low income families with children). Very high risk."
"Don't work, and get state assistance instead. Now, you get subsidized rent, food assistance, and free healthcare. You're much better off - but if you make even a tiny bit too much, you lose everything."
"Which would you choose?"
The Problem With Disability Benefits
"This is also a similar situation for disability benefits."
"Disability benefits prevent you from rejoining the workforce because anything you make at a job is taken out of your benefits."
"Like, let's say your disability prevents you from working full time hours, but part time is fine. part time minimum wage won't pay for sh*t, but, if you had disability benefits, it'd make it survivable and could work towards better managing your disability, finding a better job, and getting off benefits."
"It doesn't work like that. if you're given $1000/m in benefits and then make $800/m at a part time job, benefits will take that $800 of your paycheck out of your benefits and only give you $200/m. so you still only make $1000/m whether you work or not."
"The whole system is designed to make you feel like sh*t for not working but punish you for wanting to."
The Criminal Justice System
"The greatest injustice isn't that the rich have access to good legal representation. It is that the poor do not."
"The Common Law legal system is adversarial by design. If you show up under-equipped, then you are going to have a bad time."
"In theory, the duty of the prosecution is to merely present evidence that supports each and element of the offense(s) laid out against the accused. This also includes providing evidence that does not support any element of the offense(s) laid out against the accused."
"The criminal justice system, again by design, is meant to give the benefit of the doubt and the advantage to the defendant. Because the power of a state is so overwhelming against any private individual (even people like Jeff Bezos can instantly be brought down by the sheer might of the SEC), and the consequences of loss of liberty so dire, the system is designed that each and every element of an offense must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt; that, is, a fact finder must be sure. A defendant rarely has the burden of proof and it will almost be to a lower standard of balance of probabilities (or preponderance of the evidence), meaning more likely than not."
"The problem with the American criminal justice system is that your prosecution authority is elected. In theory, it sounds great to have the prosecution represent the concerns of the people and be accountable to them. In practice it means you have a prosecution service whose entire mandate is based on convictions to satisfy the public, not justice. Justice isn't about public opinion."
People Who Grew Up Poor And Now Live Comfortably Explain What Simple Things They Cherish
Living above the poverty line is easy to take for granted.
Having snacks, necessary toiletries, and hot water are everyday things that many people don't have to think twice about. Unfortunately, there are households that can't afford everyday luxuries like regular meals or even heat in the winter.
Redditor u/slightly_above asked people who grew up poor about the things they cherish that normal people wouldn't think twice about, and people gave eye opening answers about the things others are lucky to never have to worry about not being able to afford.
10. Being able to afford to live
"Being comfortably broke. As In, all my bills are paid and my accounts are lower than I'd like but still in the positive. There is such a difference between being broke and content, and being broke and worrying about your next meal or bill being paid."
9. Free reign of the thermostat
Giphy"Being able to set the thermostat however high I want. Stepping out of the shower into warmth instead of a freezing cold bathroom."
8. Having all the necessities
"Having a well stocked home. Never running out to toilet paper/paper towels/ soap / shampoo/ conditioner/ food.
Tps probably top 3. Ladies use a lot of toilet paper and when you're poor sometimes you dont know the next time you can buy some."
7. Being able to give your family a better life
"I grew up without hot water, infestations of rats and roaches, a mother who hoarded animals and no central heating and a/c. Now that I own a home with my husband the thing I'm most grateful for is having a warm home in the winter. Every year when we need to turn in the heat on it just hits me how grateful I am to have my kids grow up in a warm house. It stops me in my tracks and I have to call my husband and tell him how blessed we are and how lucky we are, to not only have each other and our babies, but to have a comfortable home for them to grow up in."
6. Having extra food hanging around
"Candy dishes/fruit bowls/DISPLAY FOOD
I have a stocked pantry and always keep a fruit bowl on the counter. Growing up poor in interior alaska fresh fruit is EXPENSIVE AF. I remember getting a fresh pineapple as a kid and everybody clamoring for peices! I visited an aunt for a few weeks in the lower 48 as a kid when my mom was in rehab, and she always had multiple jars of candy/snacks around. I was FLOORED, I couldn't wrap my head around the concept. To this day whenever I put out candy or nut dishes I get all warm and fuzzy."
5. Fresh produce
"Fresh fruit. The kids don't really get it, but in my house we always have fresh fruit. I have gone out to walk half a mile in -20 to go buy more when we ran out before.
I just remember it not being an option for so long, all we had was beans and rice because they were cheap.
My kids always have access to fruit."
4. No more second hand clothes
"New clothes just for me. I was one of the younger kids in a large relatively poor family. For years every thing I wore was a hand me down. Then it was buying super discounted remnants and seconds."
3. Having big holiday meals
"The concept of actually having food. I had crying for dinner a lot of the time because we just couldnt afford it.
One thanksgiving, someone dropped off a huge box of food on our doorstep in the night so we woke up to a turkey with an ice pack, and every side and dressing imaginable and I remember just sobbing uncontrollably that I finally had something to be thankful for."
1. Multi-floor houses
"My son can go upstairs. Or downstairs. It's a townhouse, sure, but when I was a kid, living in a trailer, I thought that having an upstairs was what rich people had. Now that we have an upstairs and a finished basement, he doesn't know how lucky he is."