Former Poor Kids Share What They Have Now That Was A Luxury Then, And It’s Inspiring
Growing up in a poor family isn't easy. As hard as parents try to provide as much as they can, they can't do it all, so a lot of things that are considered "normal" even by middle-class folks end up being compromised on.
From real cheese to Kleenex, here is some of what was shared that will surely leave you feeling grateful for what you have.
This Is How It All Started
The thread all started when writer and publicist Victoria Barrett asked her Twitter followers who grew up in poor households to share their memories. Victoria herself says she was also a "former poor kid" and has since come a long way.
She Had Some Of Her Own To Share
As a former poor kid herself, Victoria had her fair share of things she has now that she never had as a kid, including her own private bedroom. She laid the groundwork for hundreds of other similar comments.
Love Over Money
It's really heartwarming that, even when you have so little, you're still able to appreciate what you do have. This user saw how hard his mom worked to provide her best for her three kids all by herself, and he knew that her love was worth more than any amount of money.
Lack Of Roaches
You can try to keep a house as clean as humanly possible, but if you don't have the kind of money to hire an exterminator when you unavoidably get infested with roaches, you just have to learn to cohabitate.
Books Not From The Library
There is something really special about being able to keep a book. You can make your own notes in it, refer back to it whenever, and pass it on to someone special.
Not to mention, some books carry sentimental value—like the ones you read with your children—and it can be a little heartbreaking having to return them every time.
Only Mansions Have Stairs, Right?
Three-story homes are definitely not cheap. There's a reason that many people here added "private bedroom" to their list, as you really had to get creative with the amount of space you could afford.
Cash That Is Green
Even in our digital age, where most of our banking is done virtually, you still feel rich when you get your hands on old-fashioned green bills. Especially when, growing up, you relied on orange and blue food stamps instead of money.
You Can't Appreciate Silence Without Knowing Noise
It's not always material possessions that make you feel rich. For some, it's luxuries like being in silence and in peace because you can afford to have your own space, and having no one but yourself to take care of.
"Hand Soap Right Next To Dish Soap"
When you're trying to make ends meet, you try to make every single one of your possessions be as versatile as possible so that you can use it as many times as it will last.
For example, dish soap and hand soaps are both just soaps, so rather than buying one of each, you make one of them serve as both.
Being Allowed To Set The Heating And Air Conditioning
The very basics of heating, cleaning, and temperature were luxuries in struggling homes. If you were cold, you piled on clothes, and if you needed to wash something, you did it by hand. It taught you survival.
Only Baths, No Shower
A shower is such a given in a usual everyday routine that you might never think twice about it. Imagine if, after a long day at work, you came home all sweaty and you still had to fill your tub because there was no showerhead. It's the little things that we shouldn't take for granted.
Buying Yourself Flowers Just 'Cause
It truly is a luxury to be walking around, see something nice, and buy it for yourself just to feel nice, without second-guessing your purchase or feeling guilty.
Flowers themselves may not be a luxury, but the ability to just buy them for yourself definitely is.
A Nice Halloween Costume
The younger a child is, the more difficult it is to explain to them why you can't afford to make their costume as nice as their friends', even though their age doesn't prevent their embarrassment.
Once you know the feeling, as a parent, you never want your child to feel it themselves.
"Buying Whatever You Want At The Grocery Store"
Not everyone can go to the grocery and just pick up items as they go. For some, they have to make a very strict list based on necessities and stick to a budget.
"A Full Pantry"
Just going to get a snack is not a luxury everyone has. Snacks can get expensive, and they definitely don't qualify as a necessity. Often, low-income households had to live on rice and canned goods which they could get with food stamps at a lower price.
One Bra Fits All
Have you looked at bra prices lately? You'd be lucky to find a good quality bra for cheaper than $35! And forget about having sports bras and bras that fit right.
Going For Seconds
A second helping of food was not available to all families. Often, food was rationed and made to last as long as possible. Some families didn't even know if they would have enough food to feed their kids.
Surviving Extreme Heat
Imagine your space being so hot that your goldfish keeps dying. Not only do you now have to deal with the sadness of losing your goldfish, but you are also slowly melting away and can't afford to do anything about it.
Going Out To Eat
Even eating out at a fast-food restaurant can be too expensive when you're buying more than one meal. You can pay 30$ for just one meal family at a fast-food restaurant, or you can use $30 at the grocery store to last for multiple meals.
Having Food Options
Having food preferences and not liking certain foods isn't really an option if you grew up poor. You ate what was provided because it was either that or going hungry.
Matching Sheets And Pajamas
Some families had to make do with whatever they could find, most of which was usually either thrifted or handed down, so a lot of the time, they ended up with mismatched sheets and clothing.
Calendars Filled With Reminders For Bills
Nothing is more stressful for a struggling household than paying bills on time. These families usually lived paycheck to paycheck.
Sometimes, things happened that were outside the budget, like a kid getting sick, which dipped into the money that was going to be used for rent—and then what?
Tupperware Was Usually Recycled
Although this is probably better for the environment anyway, as it's a way of recycling plastic, having different sized Tupperware—and especially glass ones for saucy food—is truly a luxury.
Bottled Condiments As Opposed To Packets
Most American fridges have at least a bottle of ketchup or hot sauce on the door that gets used on pretty much anything on everything. Ketchup goes on pretty much every favorite kid food like nuggets, fries, and mac and cheese.
"A Sense Of Safety"
The list is quite comprehensive, but everything aside, "a sense of safety" is what stands out the most. Having the security of knowing you have a roof over your head, can buy whatever you need, and can eat whatever you like is invaluable.
Any Kind Of Home Decor
When you can barely pay rent, your last priority is decorating and trying to make your house look nice. You're just trying to keep a home. So when you do get to buy a decorative piece, you truly feel like you've made it.
Buying Popcorn At The Movies
If you could even afford to go to the movies, that was already a luxury. Sometimes families were given stamps to be able to go to amusement parks and the movies, but they had to pack their own snacks in coolers.
The Ability To Bake...
Baking is a luxurious activity because each ingredient does not alone qualify as a necessity (like cocoa powder). Plus, the time it takes to bake wasn't available for single moms who were working double shifts to make ends meet.
...And The Tools To Bake With
As mentioned earlier, if you grew up poor, every item you had was creatively used for as many things as possible. One bowl was used for everything a bowl can be used for, let alone having multiple bowls that are also color-coordinated.
Soda Bottles Were Only For Display
Struggling families want to be seen as equals, as they should. Since people today put a lot of importance on appearances, some families had items reserved just for show.
However, growing up as "a poor kid" teaches character and ambition, as every person in this thread shows, and that's something to be proud of!
