what it's like to be poor

[Lynx]

you might have to hock something at a pawn shop if you desperately need cash.

Poor people have stuff to hock? They're not really dirt-poor.

If you have to choose between putting gas in your car or paying your cellphone bill, you're not really poor. Ask my grandmother. She grew up in the Depression (that's Depression with a capital D.) True poor people don't have cars or phones. They don't even know where their next can of beans is coming from.

 

[JaumeJ]

2Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.


3Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

Poor? Who is poor?

 

[Lanolin]

people that have nothing to eat because landlord charges so much rent that they got nothing left for food?

 

[Lanolin]

People suffering from famine because...other people in richer countries are so greedy that all the food is exported to feed them instead of themselves?

 

[Lanolin]

Those so in debt that they can never repay?

 

[Lanolin]

Children who come to school with no lunch?
They dont have any money because their parents had gambled it away?

 

[JaumeJ]

people that have nothing to eat because landlord charges so much rent that they got nothing left for food?

Your examples of true poverty are valid but come nowhere near what many have experienced. Now are you brining in a gospel of prosperity here or what_ I must rely on the Lord for my own efforts do nothing without Him.

 

[Lanolin]

actually a lot of people experience this that is why foodbanks lines are so long. That is why food get STOLEN from church and why we have free community meals because people are HUNGRY.

maybe you havent ever been poor jamuel.

 

[Lanolin]

or homeless.

 

[Lanolin]

lets share what its really like to go without nourishing food for a week, not able to have a bath or wash. have no shoes and only rags for clothes. hmmm

ever been poor? we have christians against poverty ministries who help people get out of debt.
How do we do that, by forgiving debt!!!!

 

[Lanolin]

I had children who couldnt went to school and their parents couldnt afford basic stationery supplies.
things like paper and pencils they didnt even have.

Thankfully with the lockdonw the minstry of education provided free books, stationery, pencils etc. And the school provided food from their pantry. Many families needed it.

 

[JaumeJ]

Born with rickets. Hungry much of my childhood and adolescence. Passing out from malnutrition. Locked in closts in place of a baby sitter...…………...do you need more.

With all of this experience I always felt sorrow for many of my friends who were from wealthy families because they had a lot more responsibility than most. No I do not, nor have I ever rubbed elbows with the upper classes but although my school was public they were there. Why? It was reputed to be the wealthiest school district in the US. Don-t be impressed, it did not help me one iota. But go ahead an talk about poverty as the resident expert, for I am not.

 

[Hungry]

I didn’t realize how poor we were because most of my neighbors were poor. We didn’t have toys. We had to use our imaginations. My mom worked hard to provide basics. We ate but nobody went for seconds. Most of our food was nutritionally void. Somehow, even though my mom only had a grade 10 education, and was on her own with three young children, we managed. As I look back I can say dinner was never tasty, our clothes never fit, we never had anything worth stealing and we never travelled further than 200km, but we had eachother. The lessons we learned can’t be taught in ivy league schools. It may have been a bumpy road but I am happy to where it led.

 

[JeremiahsCup]

I would recommend Dan Pena to anyone that like myself was tired of being poor.

 

[bojack]

I've never considered myself poor and there's always been a family worse off than us .. We've had our power and water cut off because we didn't have the payments when I was young but I can't remember a time we had no food .. We did eat a lot of beans, fatback and cornbread , maybe chicken on Sundays but even today there's not too much better than that , I love me some beans , fried/baked fatback, cornbread today, oh and some fried potatoes ..

 

[Lanolin]

being poor means when you or your loved ones die you cant afford a funeral or burial plot, no headstone either so its either cremation or an unmarked mass grave with criminals and prisoners. In Jesus time it was the potters field.
Thankfully Joseph of arithmea took Jesus body and cared for it in his own family tomb.

 

[Lanolin]

I think most poor mums do everything they can for their children to have food, even go without meals themselves so their children can eat.

This exhausts the mums of course but they have no choice. Being poor means you can only really plan for the week ahead, before the money runs out, for some its a day to day struggle

 

[Lanolin]

being poor means for the mum trying to hold down a job while simutlaneously looking after children on their own if the dad has run off, abandoned, died or divorced. even if the dad is working the children never get to see him hardly ever since it requires long hours of work, often back breaking labour and limited job prospects.
if divorced being poor means having child support not enough to cover living expenses, or it not being reliable.
being poor means children have to look after themselves.

 

[Lanolin]

Being poor also means perhaps taking in boarders to cover expenses or seeing all friends and acquaintances as a kind of resource. which eventually they will grow tired of if the need is never-ending.

Being poor means having to work even when you may be sick or not well enough to work, cos if you dont, you dont get paid and there is no insurance.

 

[Hungry]

Have you ever been poor?
Lets share what its REALLY like for those who've never known hardship. Maybe it will start some empathy.

Here are a few things.

Made fun of because you wear secondhand clothes or handme downs. Not because its fashionable but because you just cant afford new ones.

Not ever being able to afford a place of your own. Landlords who threaten to evict you if you dont pay...aleays the threat of homelessness if you cant find anywhere cheap enougn to live.

Toys made of rags and scraps and bits you find in the rubbish. Lego, whats that, who can afford lego?! Santa Claus, who's he? Christmas is just for rich folks.

always being relegated to dead end jobs even if you are highly qualified, maybe cos of your looks ie. race.

Not having land. Or it is so poor there is no essential services like electicity or running water. Nowhere to go or place to call your own. Not being able to afford healthcare such as dentistry.

can only afford cheap goods on a limited weekly wage which break down sooner and are bad quality.

public or free schools are your only options, who can afford a higher education? or private tuition? If you get a scholarship, you just get shunned by richer kids who live in a completely different world than you and dont need to worry about making ends meet or looking after family.

Car, what car? You go everywhere by public transport. Or if there is a car, its second hand.

Being told theres no room for you at the inn. Well actually there IS but you cant afford it.

You stated that you want to bring awareness of poverty to foster empathy. By painting this dismal picture you don’t create empathy. You create pity. There definitely different levels of poor. To the subsidized housing residence, third world nations are still far worse off. I’m a white dude. By hearing about the challenges of a black woman, I can’t relate. Poor people don’t want to be pitied. They want to be respected in spite of their circumstances. We found out that the church bought us Christmas presents one year because my mom couldn’t afford them. My sisters and I were embarrassed. We would rather have had nothing. There is generational poverty. This is just people who think there are the haves and the have nots. They think social assistance is their right. Why work when you can live for free. Then there is situational poverty. You might not have nice things now but hard work is going to pay off in the long run. My mom worked hard all of her life and saved as many pennies as she could. Now she can retire and not have to worry. My dad leached off of the system for years. At one point he was even homeless. Although he was capable to work, he couldn’t humble himself to do the jobs he was qualified for. In my eyes he’s a disgrace. He’s a bitter, racist man who has no love for God, man or even his children. There should be no empathy for him. He’s living far better off than he deserves thanks to tax payers. I understand poverty. I survived it. It molded me but never defined me. I earn a good living, better than most. I never would have wanted people comparing my situation like is done in this thread. I commented to give a success story, not a plea for pity. If you see a poor kid, rather than give him a handout. Give him a compliment so he can hold his dirty head up. Give him a job so he has an opportunity to make his own money to feel valued. Whatever you do, don’t give him pity, and along with it shame. That’s what kept my dad down. My teachers gave me “A”s. My coaches gave me praise. My mom signed me up for a paperroute as soon as they let me. When I was 13 I was working full time so I could buy my own clothes and shoes that were stylish. This is the way out of poverty, not pity.