Living Below the Poverty Line

ThePhanastasio · 06-28-2013, 03:04 AM

Could you/can you do it?

I personally don't find it at all difficult. Possibly growing up in eastern KY has done it. But I have a smart phone, high speed internet, a roof over my head, and never go hungry. I also have time and money to buy video game and music stuff, but I'm "under the poverty line" by a little bit.

I don't go out of my way and see concerts/sporting events on the weekly...or even the monthly. I'll go see the red legs play once a season, go to an amusement park or two, and will go out to a bar or something once a month or so, but I never run out of money, and I never stress it too much. I pay about $90 every two weeks for health/dental/vision insurance, still pay rent and car insurance...am I missing something? I'm happy and at least moderately healthy, with a little money left over for leisure.

This really makes me not want to empathize with my customers. I've had a few say, "I only make $2500 every two weeks..." And it's like, "yeah? I don't make that in a month, but I still pay all my bills (including my own cell phone bill which is higher than the one they pay) and still have money for leisure time.

I drive a 2001 Chevy Cavalier, but it has 51k miles, and is in good shape, ostensibly. I have a home with bills. I buy food. I pay bills. But I put the bills first and then see what's left over for entertainment.

I also contribute money for my sister to do her incredibly price-y cheer training, because my mom is a single mother who has a mortgage and all manner of other stress my dad doesn't bother to assist with. He wants to pay child support, but my mom won't accept it, because she's a bitch. Anyway.

I spend so much money on life stuff, but still have money to have fun. I'm not wealthy. My great grandmother is wealthy, but I'm not. My mom's not.

But I'm living under the "poverty line," and completely disgusted that people pulling six figures claim to be able to afford only the "essentials."

djchameleon · 06-28-2013, 04:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePhanastasio

This really makes me not want to empathize with my customers. I've had a few say, "I only make $2500 every two weeks..." And it's like, "yeah? I don't make that in a month, but I still pay all my bills (including my own cell phone bill which is higher than the one they pay) and still have money for leisure time.

See those people that complain about that. They are living outside of their means. They probably have way too many expenses so the large amount of money they are making is going right out of the door at the same time. They most likely have keeping up with the Joneses syndrome.

You live comfortably inside of your means and know how to make ends meet but not everyone is like that. I know what it's like to be super poor and eating sandwishes(sandwiches with mayonaise in it and you wish you had some meat or cheese to put inside of it.) from growing up. I've always been pretty good with my budget and the handling of my finances because I told myself that I don't ever want to be that poor when I'm living on my own. I know how to live within my means like you do. Some people are horrible with their finances or feel the need to keep up with their neighbors and friends when it comes to certain luxuries.

misspoptart · 06-28-2013, 06:04 AM

I lived off of $750 for three months backpacking in Europe in '10. I wouldn't consider it "below the poverty line" because I was often staying with people/families/friends/strangers with nice houses. But I did have to hitchhike from Sofia to Berlin to catch my flight back to the US. I sold a bunch of stuff for food on the way. It was all very liberating and I felt like I could live like that forever, at the time.

~~Sansa Stark~~ · 06-28-2013, 06:07 AM

I grew up under the poverty line, don't really remember it though because my mom got married a third time, it feels like just so she could have a second income, I don't think she even likes my stepdad lmao

When I lived with my ex we pretty much lived below the poverty line but it wasn't that bad honestly, it was better than being homeless and living in Barnes and Noble like I did or the homeless shelter, which I also did for about a week.

I'm lucky my mother gladly took me back in when I decided to leave my ex, since now I have a lot more money and I can basically spend it all on myself/save it to pay for my classes come fall.

~~butthead aka 216~~ · 06-28-2013, 07:32 AM

yea i could do it but i got a 1 room studio loft type apartment. its really cheap. anymore and i couldnt do it. i do go to the casino more than i should but ive been winning blackjack lately. i think the more rural you are probably the easier it is.

Newkie · 06-28-2013, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

I know what it's like to be super poor and eating sandwishes(sandwiches with mayonaise in it and you wish you had some meat or cheese to put inside of it.)

Actually, a wish sandwich is
Blues Brothers - Rubber Biscuit - YouTube

Love that song.

Anyway, not quite sure classifies as the poverty line over here. I would say I'm good at living minimalist when its required, like a fiver a week for food without having to go through bins but I'm probably not entirely capable, I've usually had a family member (sister) to get me out of a pinch when needed so can't really claim I could cope solo.

**Scarlett O'Hara** · 06-28-2013, 11:19 PM

For 3 months I lived off $50 a week for everything aside from rent (which was covered by the rest of the payment I received). That included hospital bills, bank bills, food, transport, the lot.

The only way I managed it was because I'd only spend $10 of food and I barely ate.

Paedantic Basterd · 06-28-2013, 11:35 PM

I thought the World Bank's official poverty line was defined as living on an income of under $1.25 per day or a yearly income of $456. Other poverty indexes measure a number of qualities of living that I guarantee not one person on this forum lacks enough of to be considered "in poverty".

~~Sansa Stark~~ · 06-28-2013, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pedestrian

I thought the World Bank's official poverty line was defined as living on an income of under $1.25 per day or a yearly income of $456. Other poverty indexes measure a number of qualities of living that I guarantee not one person on this forum lacks enough of to be considered "in poverty".

I lived on that for two months during the summer then, actually.

Blarobbarg · 06-28-2013, 11:50 PM

After living in Nicaragua and making friends with kids who don't have shoes, shirts, or food, and live in piles of trash (quite literally), I will never again consider myself poor, no matter how little I own. From now on, if I own a car, have more than one outfit, are capable of eating more than once a day, and have a roof over my head, I am rich.

06-28-2013, 03:04 AM	#1 (permalink)
ThePhanastasio Killed Laura Palmer Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Ashland, KY Posts: 1,679	Living Below the Poverty Line Could you/can you do it? I personally don't find it at all difficult. Possibly growing up in eastern KY has done it. But I have a smart phone, high speed internet, a roof over my head, and never go hungry. I also have time and money to buy video game and music stuff, but I'm "under the poverty line" by a little bit. I don't go out of my way and see concerts/sporting events on the weekly...or even the monthly. I'll go see the red legs play once a season, go to an amusement park or two, and will go out to a bar or something once a month or so, but I never run out of money, and I never stress it too much. I pay about $90 every two weeks for health/dental/vision insurance, still pay rent and car insurance...am I missing something? I'm happy and at least moderately healthy, with a little money left over for leisure. This really makes me not want to empathize with my customers. I've had a few say, "I only make $2500 every two weeks..." And it's like, "yeah? I don't make that in a month, but I still pay all my bills (including my own cell phone bill which is higher than the one they pay) and still have money for leisure time. I drive a 2001 Chevy Cavalier, but it has 51k miles, and is in good shape, ostensibly. I have a home with bills. I buy food. I pay bills. But I put the bills first and then see what's left over for entertainment. I also contribute money for my sister to do her incredibly price-y cheer training, because my mom is a single mother who has a mortgage and all manner of other stress my dad doesn't bother to assist with. He wants to pay child support, but my mom won't accept it, because she's a bitch. Anyway. I spend so much money on life stuff, but still have money to have fun. I'm not wealthy. My great grandmother is wealthy, but I'm not. My mom's not. But I'm living under the "poverty line," and completely disgusted that people pulling six figures claim to be able to afford only the "essentials." __________________ Phish: Studio Discography Reviewed 100 Albums I Heartily Recommend My last.fm It's a hand-me-down, the thoughts are broken Perhaps they're better left unsung

06-28-2013, 11:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Scarlett O'Hara Make it so Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 6,181	For 3 months I lived off $50 a week for everything aside from rent (which was covered by the rest of the payment I received). That included hospital bills, bank bills, food, transport, the lot. The only way I managed it was because I'd only spend $10 of food and I barely ate. __________________ "Elph is truly an enfant terrible of the forum, bless and curse him" - Marie, Queen of Thots

06-28-2013, 11:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
Blarobbarg Do good. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 2,065	After living in Nicaragua and making friends with kids who don't have shoes, shirts, or food, and live in piles of trash (quite literally), I will never again consider myself poor, no matter how little I own. From now on, if I own a car, have more than one outfit, are capable of eating more than once a day, and have a roof over my head, I am rich. __________________ https://rateyourmusic.com/~Blarobbarg ｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆　^my RYM^　｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆ (◠‿◠✿)

06-28-2013, 06:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
misspoptart gimme gimme Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: istanbul Posts: 897	I lived off of $750 for three months backpacking in Europe in '10. I wouldn't consider it "below the poverty line" because I was often staying with people/families/friends/strangers with nice houses. But I did have to hitchhike from Sofia to Berlin to catch my flight back to the US. I sold a bunch of stuff for food on the way. It was all very liberating and I felt like I could live like that forever, at the time.

06-28-2013, 06:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
~~Sansa Stark~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: The Eyrie, Vale of Arryn, Westeros Posts: 3,234	I grew up under the poverty line, don't really remember it though because my mom got married a third time, it feels like just so she could have a second income, I don't think she even likes my stepdad lmao When I lived with my ex we pretty much lived below the poverty line but it wasn't that bad honestly, it was better than being homeless and living in Barnes and Noble like I did or the homeless shelter, which I also did for about a week. I'm lucky my mother gladly took me back in when I decided to leave my ex, since now I have a lot more money and I can basically spend it all on myself/save it to pay for my classes come fall.

06-28-2013, 07:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
~~butthead aka 216~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: freely swimmin thru the waters of glory much like a majestic bald eagle soars thru the skies Posts: 1,463	yea i could do it but i got a 1 room studio loft type apartment. its really cheap. anymore and i couldnt do it. i do go to the casino more than i should but ive been winning blackjack lately. i think the more rural you are probably the easier it is.

06-28-2013, 11:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Paedantic Basterd Music Addict Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 5,184	I thought the World Bank's official poverty line was defined as living on an income of under $1.25 per day or a yearly income of $456. Other poverty indexes measure a number of qualities of living that I guarantee not one person on this forum lacks enough of to be considered "in poverty".