It really is a miracle, you can really the difference betweeb the generations like night and day. They just look tough, like they have been throughtl the grinder. Such a difference to the culture of younger Koreans.
Anyone grow up poor and are now well off?
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Letterbomb
Banned
Grew up in a pretty poor household. Christmas consisted of getting pajamas for quite a few years...and I was pretty glad to get them too. My mom was a single parent of five, me being the youngest. Older siblings had to help drive us to school, help pay some bills, et cetera. I got my first job at 16 at a Marie Callendar's. Some kids at my high school had jobs too, but they didn't give a shit about it. Just wanted money to buy their new Xbox or whatever. Did their jobs poorly and some of them were let go. But I wanted to move up, so I gave 100% into shitty restaurant work... Put on a fake smile and pushed through all the shitty customers. Eventually was promoted from bus boy to host, from host to server, from server to assistant manager. Then I found myself a new job.
Data processor --> auditor at the same company. New job.
Life agent --> supervising life agent at the same company. New job.
Administrative assistant --> HR agent at the same company. New job.
Won't say what I am now but I'm making $17 hourly, full time, and this company provides the best benefits I've seen yet. Huge step up from where I was, and I'm still very young. My only goal is to make enough money to where my girlfriend doesn't have to work a day in her life. If she wants kids, I want enough money to support however many children she wants without her having to stress over finance. I saw what that kind of stress did to my mom and I want to make sure she doesn't know any of it.
Data processor --> auditor at the same company. New job.
Life agent --> supervising life agent at the same company. New job.
Administrative assistant --> HR agent at the same company. New job.
Won't say what I am now but I'm making $17 hourly, full time, and this company provides the best benefits I've seen yet. Huge step up from where I was, and I'm still very young. My only goal is to make enough money to where my girlfriend doesn't have to work a day in her life. If she wants kids, I want enough money to support however many children she wants without her having to stress over finance. I saw what that kind of stress did to my mom and I want to make sure she doesn't know any of it.
I don't think we were poor, but definitely working class. Great up on the edge of a housing estate in Leicester in the 70s. We only had an outdoor toilet and no bathroom until the local council renovated our area in the early 80s. My mum used to bathe me in the kitchen sink. My local area was heavily Asian and Afro carribean population, and as a white person I was very much in the minority.
My family are very close knit and most are still in the same area. I moved away up north for university,nthen down to brighton for work and I now live in windsor, a very middle class, very white area. I have a good job and we do ok, but I am shit with money (luckily I have a very sensible wife). I do often feel like a fraud though.
I'm happy with my lot in life and hopefully it will give my kids a decent springboard for when they grow up.
My family are very close knit and most are still in the same area. I moved away up north for university,nthen down to brighton for work and I now live in windsor, a very middle class, very white area. I have a good job and we do ok, but I am shit with money (luckily I have a very sensible wife). I do often feel like a fraud though.
I'm happy with my lot in life and hopefully it will give my kids a decent springboard for when they grow up.
Monocle
Member
Wow, excellent post.
My father immigrated from to the USA from a village in Pakistan. His education amounts to what we would call a high school diploma in the USA. My father's family was dirt poor because my grandfather passed away leaving my father, at the age of 16, the head of the household. He tells me for a long time he didn't know what to do and always planned to go to the army. Eventually, he saved up some money and basically immigrated here through illegal means (not sure about the details on this but he tells me back then immigration was pretty relaxed). When he got to the USA he had $100 in his pocket and the contact information of another man who was from the same village. He went to his acquaintance and got a job at a store with him but unfortunately the acquaintance's wife didn't let my father stay at their house. Sleeping on the bench it was then.
My father decided to get another job because working at the store wasn't enough to support himself so how could he possibly support his family back home. He ended meeting a farmer who took him in and gave him a job. He worked his ass off on that farm and saved every penny while sending money back home to support his family. After a few years my father made a few friends who decided to put money together and buy their own store. This worked out wonderfully for him because by this time my father became a citizen of the USA and was able travel back home and come back to the USA as he wanted. The store generated enough money to buy a home in Pakistan that his family can live in and it was in the city and not the village so his brothers started to work back home.
Around 27 my father got married and bought his own Pizzeria with some family members. Around this time a lot of my mother's family started to come to the USA too. Since all of the family was getting together in NY, my father sold the Pizzeria and moved the family to NY from California (I was around 3 at this time, San Diego represent). In NY my father worked with my uncles and learned how to become a automotive mechanic and eventually saved enough money to buy his own gas station.
At this point the rest was history because we never had to worry about money again. My father now owns the aforementioned gas station and house in Pakistan (both are worth exponentially more than what he bought them for), a house in NYC(worth $700k+), and 3 more properties back in Pakistan. I'm not spoiled and I didn't always get what I asked for but in terms of food, clothing, shelter, and education I never heard my dad say "no". In fact, there has never been a time that my father didn't have money when I asked him, whether he gave it to me or not was a different matter. I have never feared eviction or not having a food or stuff like that. I didn't know people had these problems until I was exposed to the internet/other people in school. I know I lucked out a lot.
So as you can see my brother and I have very large shoes to fill. I am studying to become a Pharmacist while my brother is studying to become a Doctor. Hopefully we can be as successful as our father was.
My father decided to get another job because working at the store wasn't enough to support himself so how could he possibly support his family back home. He ended meeting a farmer who took him in and gave him a job. He worked his ass off on that farm and saved every penny while sending money back home to support his family. After a few years my father made a few friends who decided to put money together and buy their own store. This worked out wonderfully for him because by this time my father became a citizen of the USA and was able travel back home and come back to the USA as he wanted. The store generated enough money to buy a home in Pakistan that his family can live in and it was in the city and not the village so his brothers started to work back home.
Around 27 my father got married and bought his own Pizzeria with some family members. Around this time a lot of my mother's family started to come to the USA too. Since all of the family was getting together in NY, my father sold the Pizzeria and moved the family to NY from California (I was around 3 at this time, San Diego represent). In NY my father worked with my uncles and learned how to become a automotive mechanic and eventually saved enough money to buy his own gas station.
At this point the rest was history because we never had to worry about money again. My father now owns the aforementioned gas station and house in Pakistan (both are worth exponentially more than what he bought them for), a house in NYC(worth $700k+), and 3 more properties back in Pakistan. I'm not spoiled and I didn't always get what I asked for but in terms of food, clothing, shelter, and education I never heard my dad say "no". In fact, there has never been a time that my father didn't have money when I asked him, whether he gave it to me or not was a different matter. I have never feared eviction or not having a food or stuff like that. I didn't know people had these problems until I was exposed to the internet/other people in school. I know I lucked out a lot.
So as you can see my brother and I have very large shoes to fill. I am studying to become a Pharmacist while my brother is studying to become a Doctor. Hopefully we can be as successful as our father was.
HORRORSHØW
Member
I grew up eating government cheese and peanut butter. Now I'm eating canned tuna. Baller.
I grew up wealthy and now I'm poor! I have enough to provide for my family, but we live small. That's how we like it though.
More power to you guys working toward making more! Just remember you can't take it with you man. I watched the struggle for MORE consume my father... It wasn't pretty.
More power to you guys working toward making more! Just remember you can't take it with you man. I watched the struggle for MORE consume my father... It wasn't pretty.
What constitutes as being poor? I grew up in a family of 8 (i have 5 siblings) and i think my parents collectively made like 60 at the peak in terms of income. Worst was when my dad lost his job couldn't even pay $50 registration for school, for a while... That was bad but i've had friends and family members that have had to go through much, much worse.
My Dad grew up in Ghana West Africa on the farm i believe. I think it's safe to say that he's probably richer now then he was back then.
Oh yeah and crap i'm in University, and even though i'm gonna have to pay back like 45k in loans there are many people that would love to have the opportunity so i can't say i'm poor.
My Dad grew up in Ghana West Africa on the farm i believe. I think it's safe to say that he's probably richer now then he was back then.
Oh yeah and crap i'm in University, and even though i'm gonna have to pay back like 45k in loans there are many people that would love to have the opportunity so i can't say i'm poor.
Both parents were quite poor, but worked up to the middle-class in Hong Kong before moving to Canada. We struggled in the lower-class in Canada and managed to somewhat make it into the middle class again despite limited income and disabilities.
Put myself through school with limited support, and now I take care of my parents with my professional income.
It's always a stark reminder of how hard it actually was back then when my current income is more than both of their incomes combined at their peak. That's why I don't like to look at my paycheque and save as much as I can for now and the future, so I don't forget my roots.
Put myself through school with limited support, and now I take care of my parents with my professional income.
It's always a stark reminder of how hard it actually was back then when my current income is more than both of their incomes combined at their peak. That's why I don't like to look at my paycheque and save as much as I can for now and the future, so I don't forget my roots.
ChuyMasta
Member
Not poor, but we didnt have money....he had....stuff: Chickens, pigs, geese, tomatoes, corn, peppers fields, etc. You know, farming/ranching. It was weird for me to go to the supermarket to buy food. We always had it. Our "problem" was that I had to work to get it...not for money though. I woke up in the morning to do whatever was needed then I would go to school.
I remember grinding corn so my mom could make tortillas. Or I remember picking up eggs, washing beans etc so I could have a great breakfast.
I remember grinding corn so my mom could make tortillas. Or I remember picking up eggs, washing beans etc so I could have a great breakfast.
I'm kind of slumming it currently. Personally I'm monetarily poor, but my family is fairly well off, so I've never considered myself truly poor (I never have to worry about paying bills). I grew up in poverty because my mom was crazy, but I knew luxury, because historically and culturally my family was very well educated and doing rather well. And had a lot of privileges that other kids didn't even my mom found a way to make sure I got to go see stage productions and go to museums and have vacations.
The only promise I made to myself is that I'd never have to go hungry again.
The only promise I made to myself is that I'd never have to go hungry again.
adamsappel
Member
I was raised by hippies in West Virginia. It was kind of like being raised by wolves, but wolves are more attentive. Food stamps, free school lunches, child-support payments, communal living and probably some weed-dealing kept us from ever going hungry, but the hippie part meant we shopped at co-ops and ate lots of rice, lentils, mung-beans, etc. My mom made her own bread, yogurt, granola; she grew bean sprouts. Deserts were made with honey or carob. I would probably enjoy those things now, but as a kid you just want to eat like everyone else. I would get a new pair of overalls for my birthday and wear them all year long. Socks and underwear came from Grandma (my WV grandparents grew up truly poor). One year I got new shoes and my old shoes had been 3 sizes too small. I walked by myself long distances to school.
My dad's second marriage was to a woman from a very, very, very wealthy family. It lasted a couple of years and when she ended it he could have walked away with a huge settlement, but he took nothing. Which he at least now admits was a mistake. I got a nice bike out of it (at least for one summer) and a math tutor to help teach me what the alternative hippie school didn't.
My wife recently received a large settlement from a wrongful death lawsuit, and now we are well-off. But, I totally understand when the OP talks about not understanding money. When I was a kid, the most money I would ever see was a $20 bill, usually a present. It was hard for me to spend it, because I wouldn't see its like again for a while. I have many vivid memories of the things I shopped for but didn't buy. So, even as an adult I got very nervous buying things in that price range. I had no problem dropping hundreds of dollars on videogame consoles, because large amounts of money were never a concept to me.
My dad's second marriage was to a woman from a very, very, very wealthy family. It lasted a couple of years and when she ended it he could have walked away with a huge settlement, but he took nothing. Which he at least now admits was a mistake. I got a nice bike out of it (at least for one summer) and a math tutor to help teach me what the alternative hippie school didn't.
My wife recently received a large settlement from a wrongful death lawsuit, and now we are well-off. But, I totally understand when the OP talks about not understanding money. When I was a kid, the most money I would ever see was a $20 bill, usually a present. It was hard for me to spend it, because I wouldn't see its like again for a while. I have many vivid memories of the things I shopped for but didn't buy. So, even as an adult I got very nervous buying things in that price range. I had no problem dropping hundreds of dollars on videogame consoles, because large amounts of money were never a concept to me.
AaronWatermelon
Member
Grew up in a pretty rough town, only Dad to look after us. Not going to pretend like we starved, but we were definitely on the poor spectrum of things.
I'm actually pretty thankful for that environment. I treasure each and every little success I have, because I know how easy it could be to slip back into a lifestyle like that. Now if you don't mind I'm going to treat myself to some AAA quality McDonalds.
I'm actually pretty thankful for that environment. I treasure each and every little success I have, because I know how easy it could be to slip back into a lifestyle like that. Now if you don't mind I'm going to treat myself to some AAA quality McDonalds.
marimorimo
Member
Reading these stories about people pulling themselves from the bootstraps are inspiring. Kudos to this thread!
I grew up lower-to-mid middle class (in a third world country) and never had to worry about food or education, but that was due to my parents. My Dad was the youngest in a brood of 8 and one of the few among his siblings that became significantly better-off than when they started. He tells me he was a mediocre student when he was still studying at his hometown but when he went to live with his sister's family in the capital in high school and doing all the chores for them at 5:00 in the morning, he decided that he can't live a life like that forever and vowed to pull himself up. So he would read his books while waiting for the bucket of water to fill from the faucet, etc. He got top grades in high school and even passed the exam for the top school in our country but unfortunately nobody could support his living expenses while studying so he had to give that up and returned to his hometown. He went to a local agricultural university instead (one he could walk to everyday). When he graduated, he got hired into a bank but they didn't give him a bottom-of-the rung position even though his degree had nothing to do with finance. He told me he made sure to impress them enough not to give him a position so low in the totem pole that it would take forever to advance. He went up the ranks until he became a branch manager before he retired.
We're not rich by first-world standards, but if my 12-year old self saw me now, she would think I'm absolutely made. Multiple trips abroad a year, all these gadgets, living in a first-world country (Japan), able to buy most of what I want within reason. I'm living everybody's dream back home. The funny thing is when you reach the "dream," you realize how small the dreams of people in the third world seem to be. A dream life for them is the regular life of a middle-class person in a first-world country!
I grew up lower-to-mid middle class (in a third world country) and never had to worry about food or education, but that was due to my parents. My Dad was the youngest in a brood of 8 and one of the few among his siblings that became significantly better-off than when they started. He tells me he was a mediocre student when he was still studying at his hometown but when he went to live with his sister's family in the capital in high school and doing all the chores for them at 5:00 in the morning, he decided that he can't live a life like that forever and vowed to pull himself up. So he would read his books while waiting for the bucket of water to fill from the faucet, etc. He got top grades in high school and even passed the exam for the top school in our country but unfortunately nobody could support his living expenses while studying so he had to give that up and returned to his hometown. He went to a local agricultural university instead (one he could walk to everyday). When he graduated, he got hired into a bank but they didn't give him a bottom-of-the rung position even though his degree had nothing to do with finance. He told me he made sure to impress them enough not to give him a position so low in the totem pole that it would take forever to advance. He went up the ranks until he became a branch manager before he retired.
We're not rich by first-world standards, but if my 12-year old self saw me now, she would think I'm absolutely made. Multiple trips abroad a year, all these gadgets, living in a first-world country (Japan), able to buy most of what I want within reason. I'm living everybody's dream back home. The funny thing is when you reach the "dream," you realize how small the dreams of people in the third world seem to be. A dream life for them is the regular life of a middle-class person in a first-world country!
The Shadow
Member
I grew up incredibly poor. As a matter of fact, I didn't know how poor until I went on a little tour of some of the houses we used to live in when I was younger a few years back. I do know there was a year span where we were literally homeless and had to split up, living in different relatives' homes.
In any case, my sisters family, my mother, and my own firmly are middle-class or better whereas my dad is living in a tiny apartment living paycheck to paycheck.
Just goes to show you that one person's pride can shut down an entire family pretty easily.
In any case, my sisters family, my mother, and my own firmly are middle-class or better whereas my dad is living in a tiny apartment living paycheck to paycheck.
Just goes to show you that one person's pride can shut down an entire family pretty easily.
CeramicDragon
Banned
My parents were refugees from Vietnam. I am doing well with a house, kids and a career.
Northeastmonk
Gold Member
My dad made good money growing up. Anything I wanted I basically got. When he died it was like I hit the streets of some slump. You don't know how much you're taken advantage of once that happens. I was poor for a while, homeless, etc. I had to get it together. I'm much better off where I am now. I still get irritated by people who like to control everything.
I went from having a very low gpa to being in nursing college. I think a lot of those people love control. They love telling people what to do. lol I think my background taught me differently. Even though you get some things you want, there's always someone there telling you you're wrong. I don't have a wife, a kid, or even a gf. I'm just trying to finish school.
Whatever I went through made me this nontraditional person I am now. I didn't just jump on the band wagon to get married or have the kids. That stuff can wait. I don't want that kind of lifestyle right now. I think you can succeed and still enjoy life. The college students I met whose parents never divorced, there was always someone doing the punishments live boring and controlling lives. I had to see what's at the bottom to know what I really wanted and it's great. There's a lot out there to experience.
I don't even know if I like the field I'm in, but all that college has made me smarter. I was a second year senior in high school. I busted my ass in college and it was a lot of wasted time and money to be honest. I got hung up on grades and became this "typical person". I look around sometimes and I wonder who I am and what I really want in life. This traditional stuff sucks for a guy whose enjoyed being single for the majority of his 20s.
I went from having a very low gpa to being in nursing college. I think a lot of those people love control. They love telling people what to do. lol I think my background taught me differently. Even though you get some things you want, there's always someone there telling you you're wrong. I don't have a wife, a kid, or even a gf. I'm just trying to finish school.
Whatever I went through made me this nontraditional person I am now. I didn't just jump on the band wagon to get married or have the kids. That stuff can wait. I don't want that kind of lifestyle right now. I think you can succeed and still enjoy life. The college students I met whose parents never divorced, there was always someone doing the punishments live boring and controlling lives. I had to see what's at the bottom to know what I really wanted and it's great. There's a lot out there to experience.
I don't even know if I like the field I'm in, but all that college has made me smarter. I was a second year senior in high school. I busted my ass in college and it was a lot of wasted time and money to be honest. I got hung up on grades and became this "typical person". I look around sometimes and I wonder who I am and what I really want in life. This traditional stuff sucks for a guy whose enjoyed being single for the majority of his 20s.
andthebeatgoeson
Junior Member
Mom got divorced when I was 2. Still remember those blocks of cheese and that cheese slicer with the wire.
NipplesAndToes23
Member
I want to be like you. I ain't trying to go back to the hood. I am not one of those negores who try to glorify the hood. There is nothing cool about roaches, rats, drugs, and high crime rates.
Winterfang
Banned
Heck I wouldn't even go that far. I was poor in a third world country and now I'm poor in a First world country. I struggle with my minimum wave income, yet I have a way of life I only saw on movies and magazines. I honestly never though I was going to get out of that.
Christopher
Member
Waves arms.
Grew up in the projects and now have a Big house and nice car! Education and persistence gets you everywhere.
Lived on peanut butter and jelly and Rahman noodles going to school that I worked 2 jobs to pay for.
Grew up in the projects and now have a Big house and nice car! Education and persistence gets you everywhere.
Lived on peanut butter and jelly and Rahman noodles going to school that I worked 2 jobs to pay for.
a secret-boss
Banned
yup live in 3rd world country, in a ghetto, and live in a house with a lot of people
finally in America and bought my own car
finally in America and bought my own car
I grew up poor. Independent now but my family is still poor and still drags my life down.
Father was a gambler, rest of the family, Mum and brother, decided to dig themselves deep holes with the banks.
Has had a lasting effect on me. I have no confidence when it comes to financial matters or life for that matter.
Its hard being from the struggle. Can't wait till I can begin a new life.
Father was a gambler, rest of the family, Mum and brother, decided to dig themselves deep holes with the banks.
Has had a lasting effect on me. I have no confidence when it comes to financial matters or life for that matter.
Its hard being from the struggle. Can't wait till I can begin a new life.
Angelus Errare
Banned
You rock. I'm printing this post sir.
Particularly black baby boomers. That's basically the story of both my parents.
Growing up in the Jim Crow South my mother grew up without running water (she had electricity but they rigged it up themselves). Both my parents are the first people in their entire families to go to college. Now my dad has a six figure job. Admittedly, the main thing that probably got my dad out of the trap was the military, paying for his college and giving him a 30-year career as an officer.
I grew up on low income, my parents didn't have much, what they did have, they put aside for education of me and my brother. I got a bachelors degree in IT, and did well, but as OP, having money was something new.
I blew every last penny from my paycheck almost as fast as it came in, always living on a zero bank balance.I had a bigass TV, high end sound system, a big pile of videogames, and I was living on scraps.
Now that I have a little kid, things for different. I'm always saving money, because she might need it.
I blew every last penny from my paycheck almost as fast as it came in, always living on a zero bank balance.I had a bigass TV, high end sound system, a big pile of videogames, and I was living on scraps.
Now that I have a little kid, things for different. I'm always saving money, because she might need it.
I grew up in this similar environment
I'm by no means well off, I live in a crappy studio apartment and have to share a bathroom with two other dudes. But I'm doing fine living on minimum wage, I have HDtv, game consoles, tablet, high speed internet. I'm grateful.
I didnt have the "wealthiest" of childhoods. But man I see that picture and it helps me be grateful, so thank you and much love for you man to get out and do something for yourself. You never know what is going on around the world. But I think coming from this type of lifestyle it makes you a more humble person. And really appreciate what you have. So again thank you man.
When I was born in the early nineties my family was definately lower middle-class. These days we would probably be considered rich. Both of my parents were born to poor families.
Mom was born to a family of three older brothers and five older sisters. They lived a few kilometers away from the Russian border in rural northern Finland. The land was poor, conditions real harsh during most of the year (-30C winters or even colder with a meter of snow) and her dad was an alcoholic. IIRC they didn't even have a fridge when she was a kid in the sixties. She never had the chance to attend high-school back there. Moved to southern Finland with most of her sisters in search of a better life. Met my father when she was 17. Got a job as a bank teller with just a primary school education. Became a stay-at-home mom after giving birth to my sister in 95. Decided to finally get a high-school degree in her forties. After that she finished a business degree in college. After being a stay-at-home mom for over 10 years raising three kids she got herself a job as a senior bank teller. After working in that position for five years or so she applied for the position of branch office director and she got it. Did that for another five odd years and was in the end bought out of the director position by the bank. Hasn't been looking for a new job for over a year, since she doesn't necessarily need a regular day-job anymore.
Dad was born to a family of two older sisters and an older brother. They originally lived on a farm in northwestern Finland. They moved to southern Finland when he was about five I think. He was bullied by his older brother while growing up. He wasn't interested in school, but more on causing mischief. Flunked fifth grade (iirc) twice. Worked odd jobs in construction during the summers from his early teens. Parents got divorced. He had anger-management issues. Somehow managed to get an electric technician-degree from college after his army-service. Worked at multiple different companies. Decided to become an entrepreneur with a bunch of his old school mates back in the early nineties when they realised that this thing called the internet would become a big thing in the future. Founded and sold two IT-companies during the following ~24 years. Still works in the second company that they sold. Will most likely retire early; probably in the next five years. They've been investing in real-estate for many years now, and have been investing money in smart ways to ensure me and my sisters futures for decades to come.
My parents are my role-models. I wish I had even half of the drive for working your ass off that my dad has. I have mad respect for them both.
Mom was born to a family of three older brothers and five older sisters. They lived a few kilometers away from the Russian border in rural northern Finland. The land was poor, conditions real harsh during most of the year (-30C winters or even colder with a meter of snow) and her dad was an alcoholic. IIRC they didn't even have a fridge when she was a kid in the sixties. She never had the chance to attend high-school back there. Moved to southern Finland with most of her sisters in search of a better life. Met my father when she was 17. Got a job as a bank teller with just a primary school education. Became a stay-at-home mom after giving birth to my sister in 95. Decided to finally get a high-school degree in her forties. After that she finished a business degree in college. After being a stay-at-home mom for over 10 years raising three kids she got herself a job as a senior bank teller. After working in that position for five years or so she applied for the position of branch office director and she got it. Did that for another five odd years and was in the end bought out of the director position by the bank. Hasn't been looking for a new job for over a year, since she doesn't necessarily need a regular day-job anymore.
Dad was born to a family of two older sisters and an older brother. They originally lived on a farm in northwestern Finland. They moved to southern Finland when he was about five I think. He was bullied by his older brother while growing up. He wasn't interested in school, but more on causing mischief. Flunked fifth grade (iirc) twice. Worked odd jobs in construction during the summers from his early teens. Parents got divorced. He had anger-management issues. Somehow managed to get an electric technician-degree from college after his army-service. Worked at multiple different companies. Decided to become an entrepreneur with a bunch of his old school mates back in the early nineties when they realised that this thing called the internet would become a big thing in the future. Founded and sold two IT-companies during the following ~24 years. Still works in the second company that they sold. Will most likely retire early; probably in the next five years. They've been investing in real-estate for many years now, and have been investing money in smart ways to ensure me and my sisters futures for decades to come.
My parents are my role-models. I wish I had even half of the drive for working your ass off that my dad has. I have mad respect for them both.
Silphonica
Banned
Really don't know what you consider well off to be honest.
My mum fell in love with a drug addict and we ended up homeless constantly on the run from the police living in ratchet "flats" barely with enough to eat.
Now that im older, I rent a room in an apartment with 3 other people renting the other rooms, I have a job and I can afford food and I can save (slowly) for some things that I want.
It is not how I would define "well off", but i am well off compared to how I used to be. I play the euromillions with high hopes though.
Edit: As stinkles said, Scotland poverty etc etc.
My mum fell in love with a drug addict and we ended up homeless constantly on the run from the police living in ratchet "flats" barely with enough to eat.
Now that im older, I rent a room in an apartment with 3 other people renting the other rooms, I have a job and I can afford food and I can save (slowly) for some things that I want.
It is not how I would define "well off", but i am well off compared to how I used to be. I play the euromillions with high hopes though.
Edit: As stinkles said, Scotland poverty etc etc.
Yeah, my family didn't had much money at the beginning, we kept renting houses but after my parents separated I knew true poverty, I lived for years in one of these:
All that changed when I started working as a programmer after high school and now I have my own house and enough to make a decent living. I hope to get more money though.
Isn't that a TECHO house?
Yeah, I did. Not to some of the extremes in this thread, but certainly I felt relatively poor. We lived in a pokey little council house on a fairly grim estate, my clothes were hand-me-downs (sometimes with holes patched with sofa catalogue samples). I was noticeably poorer than all bar a handful of kids at my school. Now I'm thoroughly middle class to anyone on the outside, with myself and my wife earning four or five times more than my parents did at this age. My daughter will be in a completely different social class to me at her age.
It has had effects. I do the food hoarding too, and when I first started earning I'd eat pack after pack of bacon (as it was a high days and holidays treat as a kid). I also identify with people that 'feel like a fraud' too. I mix in circles and go to places where I feel like I stand out as the poor kid at the buffet. I also have a thick regional accent (I live about a mile from where I was born, whereas the missus has lived all over the place here and abroad). I'm also very grounded when it comes to certain aspects of life that I feel we shouldn't take for granted, when the missus doesn't always understand why.
I wouldn't change a thing, even though I'm glad my daughter will never see us struggle for money.
It has had effects. I do the food hoarding too, and when I first started earning I'd eat pack after pack of bacon (as it was a high days and holidays treat as a kid). I also identify with people that 'feel like a fraud' too. I mix in circles and go to places where I feel like I stand out as the poor kid at the buffet. I also have a thick regional accent (I live about a mile from where I was born, whereas the missus has lived all over the place here and abroad). I'm also very grounded when it comes to certain aspects of life that I feel we shouldn't take for granted, when the missus doesn't always understand why.
I wouldn't change a thing, even though I'm glad my daughter will never see us struggle for money.
Nealand Liquor
Member
I have to say reading about the users that grew up in 3rd world countries that were actually "dirt poor" gave me a bit more perspective on my own poverty as a child.
The one thing I always had was a roof over my head and a floor under my feet; While there were many times I didn't have heat or electricity, other than being unbathed (yay no bath time!) I most definitely wasn't "dirt poor". I will never refer to myself as that again.
I do recognise I was extremely lucky to be very poor in Canada. Thankfully we had housing projects where rent was based on my Mom's single (usually minimum wage) income and we had access to free healthcare and treatment. There were numerous times before the age of 10 I had pneumonia (see no heat), if not for universal healthcare and free antibiotics I most certainly would have died.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not an ignorant person who thought I had it harder than everybody the world over. I just never considered refugee/internment camps when using the term "dirt poor". I was just smelly poor, lol. Thanks for giving me some extra perspective.
The one thing I always had was a roof over my head and a floor under my feet; While there were many times I didn't have heat or electricity, other than being unbathed (yay no bath time!) I most definitely wasn't "dirt poor". I will never refer to myself as that again.
I do recognise I was extremely lucky to be very poor in Canada. Thankfully we had housing projects where rent was based on my Mom's single (usually minimum wage) income and we had access to free healthcare and treatment. There were numerous times before the age of 10 I had pneumonia (see no heat), if not for universal healthcare and free antibiotics I most certainly would have died.
Now don't get me wrong, I am not an ignorant person who thought I had it harder than everybody the world over. I just never considered refugee/internment camps when using the term "dirt poor". I was just smelly poor, lol. Thanks for giving me some extra perspective.
Black Republican
Member
Taco_Human
Member
I'm personally pretty poor. I live under my parents roof, though I need to supply myself and feed myself.
HeartlessNobody213
Member
Already been said, but fucking amazing post man.
Grew up ridiculously poor with a single mum who had serious health problems, could never afford anything that kids tend to want, though I had friends who had things like video game consoles I could play which I'm very grateful for because that stuck with me in life. Then I held a solid job for 5+ years and yeah I know that exact feeling where you way overcompensate on stuff you couldn't afford earlier, I dunno if I was ever 'well off' but I could easily afford whatever I wanted for a while there.
But now I've left my job and started my own business so I'm back to being poorer than ever, after nearly 2 years I have something worth *something* but I doubt I'll make back the money/time I put in to it. Weirdly I think my growing up poor has made it really hard to try and sell myself with my project because I don't want people to see me like that anymore, which I guess is stupid but I kind of hate the human interest angle.
But now I've left my job and started my own business so I'm back to being poorer than ever, after nearly 2 years I have something worth *something* but I doubt I'll make back the money/time I put in to it. Weirdly I think my growing up poor has made it really hard to try and sell myself with my project because I don't want people to see me like that anymore, which I guess is stupid but I kind of hate the human interest angle.
I grew up in communist Eastern Europe in the 80s when things were degenerating. I remember standing in line with mom for food rations and stuffing cotton in the tips of new shoes one size too big so they last longer. And many other memories similar to OPs and others here.
Now I live in the US and am middle class, but we came here with 4 suitcases, one for each of us. Little more than the clothes on our back. And one was full of books, because my parents always valued education and books were like gold in our house.
I don't hoard food like OP, but I still eat everything on my plate and my wife's and kids' when they finish, not because I am hungry but because I never could waste a crumb and it still haunts me this day when I see it. I am actually getting sweaty right now just thinking about it and writing this.
Now I live in the US and am middle class, but we came here with 4 suitcases, one for each of us. Little more than the clothes on our back. And one was full of books, because my parents always valued education and books were like gold in our house.
I don't hoard food like OP, but I still eat everything on my plate and my wife's and kids' when they finish, not because I am hungry but because I never could waste a crumb and it still haunts me this day when I see it. I am actually getting sweaty right now just thinking about it and writing this.
As a black guy...this really hit me
I was fortunate to go to college, finish, and land a good job. But others that are in the situation you mentioned who may very well be bright as hell...may never get that opportunity due to the circumstances listed in your post.
Pretty sad.
The Iron Yuppie
Member
My mother grew up dirt poor with eight brothers and sisters. Her parents were poor farmers, basically raising chickens and gardening to put food on the table. All my life with them and even now, with no one to feed but themselves, my mother would always keep that giant chest freezer in the basement overflowing with meat.
Growing up hungry makes you value food well above any currency.
Growing up hungry makes you value food well above any currency.
I pretty much erased my Leicester accent when I moved to Brighton for work. I don't think it was a concious thing though. I sometimes slip up and say path or bath 'wrong' and my kids laugh.
I did, our apartment was robbed a number of times in LA growing up. Used to not see my parents till late at night up until around right before high school till we moved away. The neighborhood wasn't the best, I got beat up sometimes and other times got forced into doing some things I'm not proud of either. Was in a bad way and I recall at the tail end I was getting closer and closer to my cousin and his friends who was already stealing shit out of stores and unlocked cars. In retrospect I'm sort of glad I went through that period of time but I'm also happy my brother and sister never had to experience that kind of childhood.
Both of my parents were immigrants out of Mexico, both of them migrant workers for a while before my dad finally got a break with a larger company that eventually really took off for him career wise. I still remember living in an apartment though with not only our family but my uncle and his wife for years. Two families in a small two bedroom apartment. There's a lot of bad times I can remember, I remember not having insurance as a kid and basically passing out from some infection in my ear from all the pain. Waking up with blood on my pillow. My hearing in my left ear is a little tinny ever since. Coming back from school and freaking the fuck out over our shit getting stolen but not being able to call the police for hours because I was told not to open the door or interact with anyone outside till my parents got home.
Both of my parents were immigrants out of Mexico, both of them migrant workers for a while before my dad finally got a break with a larger company that eventually really took off for him career wise. I still remember living in an apartment though with not only our family but my uncle and his wife for years. Two families in a small two bedroom apartment. There's a lot of bad times I can remember, I remember not having insurance as a kid and basically passing out from some infection in my ear from all the pain. Waking up with blood on my pillow. My hearing in my left ear is a little tinny ever since. Coming back from school and freaking the fuck out over our shit getting stolen but not being able to call the police for hours because I was told not to open the door or interact with anyone outside till my parents got home.
_illmatic_
Member
Grew up dirt poor, now I'm a young professional. I try to ball till I fall on weekends.
I grew up well-off intially, then when my father left Halliburton Oil to start his own small oilfield services company he was diagnosed with ALS and went downhill very quickly. My dad was probably making 6 figures in the 80s at his job with Halliburton and we went from that to literally nothing in 3 years. We lived off of SS benefits and my mom's job as a bookeeper that paid her just over 20k a year. Luckily with whatever life insurance my dad's policy had left we were able to pay cash for a modest house and a car, so that helped. But for about 10 years till the time i graduated college I didn't have anything - worked all through college and borrowed whatever i needed to finish my education and racked up about 30k in debt, which these days isn't bad.
I really only started making good money around 2006. I would consider myself 'well off' for a single guy.
I really only started making good money around 2006. I would consider myself 'well off' for a single guy.
There's a distinct Nottingham accent?
Wasn't dirt poor, but was poor nonetheless. Mom made ~$30k and raised the three of us. We lived in co-op housing and never had any extravangence. I'm now making mid-high 5 figures as a software developer and I'm super happy with things. Just finishing a trip to Europe right now actually.
I was wondering. Nottingham is probably only second to Leicester in having the plainest, least regional sounding accent around. Certainly wouldn't class it as thick?
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