How poor are you?

Differences of view on life.

Published on January 23, 2006 By XX In Life

I posted this in reponse to person in other blog...

"I live on much less than that. I get about $6,000 a year plus about $3000 in college fin. aid. I don't feel like I'm poor at all. In fact, I got a nice laptop, computer, car and good place to live. My total monthly bill is just $600 including gas and food. Rest is spent on college bills.

The more stuff you have or want, the more you have to pay in order to support your higher standards of living. I live in little more than a room and have a good but old car that is fully paid off.

If you consider having your own apartment, car and just basic needs met such as food poor, what is bums? worse than poor?? I remember the days of living on $350 a month, in an 3 bedroom apartment with 5 other adults. I had to use bicycle to ride to store to buy food. I remember having my back hurt by hauling heavy food in the backpack and using bicycle handles to hold bags with milk jugs in it.

Considering that, I am definitely not poor now. Your standards of "poor" is much, much too high."

It's funny to me that there is such a major difference in standard of living. I have been poor most of my life. I don't consider myself poor lately, although, some (or many?) people would consider me to be very poor based on my income of just $9000 a year. That's not even 5 digit income a year.

I suspect that "poor" definition depends on person's own experence of living standards. People getting $20,000 a year may have higher standards of living and would consider owning 20 year old used car to be "poor". I may own a 20 year old car, but it runs very well and is very effective (for it's age) mileage per gallon. It's about 25 to 30 MPG, depending on weather.

It's same as place to live. I just live in a room. It's all I need to have at this point of living. I certainly will need more if I ever marry and have kids. Right now, It's all I need.

It, of course, don't mean I'm purely happy to stay at this level forever. I want improvement. I want to have a better standards of living, but that's why I'm going to college.

What do you consider poor? Why?

Comments (Page 2)

garsgolfer

on Jan 27, 2006

The more you make, the more bills you have to pay

This is only true if you're spending and buying more then you earn. Quit spending so much, get rid of the gf that likes money if she's not chipping in and live within your means.

Being poor isn't something we as individuals label upon ourselves while standing in front of a mirror, that's being pompous. Poor is when you have limited food, no job or a very low income and to many mouths to feed. Poor isn't when we have 5 TV's... it's when we have to sell one TV at time for food and transportation costs or to repair a tire on the car. Poor is when you have to decide what gets paid, rent or buy some small Xmas presents and needed cloths, or when a special days comes around and there's no money for even the smallest of gifts so you make gifts out of what's in the house. Poor is when you make large batch's of simple foods knowing seeking leftovers for many days, and meat is something you see on the TV you sold yesterday. It's when you hock your watch or ring for what ever amount so the kids get to eat and you pass on food that day in favor of paying some towards the rent you missed last week or month.

If someone feels poor setting in a decent rental or home they in fact own that's even half furnished with hand me downs, and a car that runs sets in on the street out front, eating 3 squares and no holes in your cloths, you can catch a movie now and again, and smile a lot, then the real truth is their values are distorted big time.... They should go look in the mirror and slap them self at least 5 times, get their attention ... and should be ashamed.

Which reminds me of an event in my office many years ago. A twenty's something beautiful young lady, x-USC arrived in our offices seeking a job. After she'd progressed through various interviews, they lead her into my office for the final. After exchanging pleasantries I began asking her questions. She appeared level headed, well mannered, dressed to the nines and seemed ok until I posed the proverbial question "what salary are you looking for" and why. No sooner had I asked, she blurted out that living in Newport isn't cheap, and then began to cry. Mind you she hadn't shared an amount yet, nor did I press her. I said to myself this isn't good especially for liability reasons, got up opened my office door so my secretary and others within ear shot could hear what was going on. She then abruptly stated like a demand that she needed "X" to cover her small BMW, pointing to her dress, her Nordstroms bill isn't cheap, keeping up her appearance, rent at the beach and other sundry costs. Nothing was mentioned regarding her lack of experience or skills and the amount was considerably higher then most fresh grads get. This for a degree in sociology and 4 major changes while attending 5 years of college. At this point all I want was to get her out of my office and the building which was accomplished soon there after.

She was a pitiful growing example of someone that felt poor yet didn't have a clue about what being poor really feels like.

on Jan 28, 2006

Great examples.

The more you make, the more bills you have to pay

This is only true if you're spending and buying more then you earn. Quit spending so much, get rid of the gf that likes money if she's not chipping in and live within your means.

That's true. The more you want things, the more bills you will have to deal with. If you fully paid off the expensive car, you still have to pay more to insurance. In some cases, large increase in insurance bill indeed...

Same applies to buying a house. There's a whole lot of bills usual apt renter don't have to deal with.. like property tax, sewer, and bills normally paid by apt owners. It can easily total to about $200 to $400 more, on top of new house payments, if not paid in full.

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