Did you grow up poor, well off, or in the middle?

Question

Chazmatazz269 · Accepted Answer

We were poor. I took after my mother saying “dirt poor” for a long time. Then a family friend had us over and their house literally had dirt floors. They couldn’t even always afford to keep their electricity on, and occasionally had to go without running water too.
So i stopped describing our economic status as “dirt poor”. We were just really poor. We got food assistance. It was called ADC back then. I was on the “free lunch” program at skool too. It honestly wasn’t that bad. We had a garden and my dad was a masterful outdoorsman. I didn’t go hungry for the first time until i was out of my parents’ house. I really only felt poor when i was visiting friends and family who were less so. They never said anything when they visited us because i had something most of them didn’t, 247 acres of woods, fields and wetlands to explore. That was only if we let fences stop us, and we didn’t. I could play with all the kool new toys at their house or we’d all get lost in the expanse of the great outdoors at mine. Everyone loved coming to visit. In that way, i was the richest kid in town.

OneViewpoint · Accepted Answer

My dad was career military. No one joins the military to get rich, LOL. But growing up on military bases was a pretty good life. When my dad retired from the military, he became a union carpenter. My uncles were all in the trades too. Electrician (2), one was a machinist, one was another military career guy, one was a furniture salesman, one was a maintenance manager in a defense plant. One grandfather was a cabinet maker / high end hand made furniture. The other worked in a saw mill until he was 76.

I wasn't exposed to the world of the ultra wealthy until later in life when I got out of the Army and somehow found my way into Fortune 100 finance, a heavy industrial startup as a CFO, then private equity, hedge funds, and investment banking in Manhattan, a stint as the CFO of SAAS business in the energy sector, and finally my own consulting firm focused on M&A (mergers and acquisitions). That was quite an entertaining education for the child of blue collar parents.

FictionalCharacter · Accepted Answer

Poor.
Because my dad left my mother and children, to travel different to states looking for job and applying in trading school.

To the point my mom had to go to our local churches asking for help. And going to human services for food stamp and government aid. She even spoke to our elementary school front desk so we could apply for free lunch.

I wouldn’t call my mom lazy. She was doing the best she could by taking care of 4 kids by herself. That she wasn’t comfortable putting her children in daycare or having strangers watch us.

My siblings and I slept together with one mattress on the floor. And when our food stamps ran out, we ate ramen or eggs for dinner.

Even to this day, adults or people in general never heard of juice in a tin can from WIC. Yeah, we bought juice from a can and poured it into the pitcher and added water. So it could last us for days.

Bolt1104 · Accepted Answer

I’d say I grew up kind of in the middle financially. We weren’t rich by any means, and there were definitely times we couldn’t afford certain things, but my family always made sure I had what I needed. What we lacked in money, we made up for in love and support. I was surrounded by people who cared about me, taught me values, and always encouraged me, so in that sense I feel like I grew up really wealthy. Honestly, I’d take that kind of richness over material things any day.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

We weren't rich and dad's company went on strike for well over a year in the early to mid `70's but, even though we had a huge house, we also weren't rich. I always thought of myself as poor unless I had a good-paying job and saved up a good bit of money. Sadly, none of those jobs lasted all that long and I was out of work again for a good while. One thing I'm kinda proud of, though is that, IF I HAVE lots of money, I'm not afraid to share it. At the moment, through no fault of my own, I'm in dire need!!

dislikesmath · Answer

I'm from Mexico was born to a family in a remote place there. Moved to a major Mexican city we were poor my father worked hard all he could was afford was a bicycle. at least we were clean had food and most important things. Moved legally to California in 1995 I can say we kinda still seem poor, we have 5 cars in the family not the newest but I rarely walk. I myself for this site I'm using a Chinese Free phone 6 inch phone I bought two from a person 5 dollars each it is good 😮. I have a tablet 11 inches it was 40 dollars new😭, it looks great has stereo sound sounds good 🫣. My 6 pack of 4 _16 ounces is 5 dollars a day I can say I'm poor and broke 😅.

AviatorTom · Answer

I grew up in what would be called lower middle class. We weren't poor but we didn't have many luxuries.

The first full-time job I had after college, I made more money that year than my father made in any year in his career. He was the breadwinner in our family. My mother was a stay-at-home mother and housewife.

Looking back on my childhood years, I wouldn't change anything. I learned a lot from my parents and others in our neighborhood, something that kids in well-off neighborhoods today don't get the chance to do.

RandomGirl42 · Answer

There's a book called "No, we weren't poor. We just didn't have any money." That describes it for me. I have wonderful memories from just playing/working in the summer hayfields, the mnt streams, the mysteries of the woods and the wonders of country life that money could never buy. 😊

Bitter_Sweet94 · Answer

Somewhere in the middle, but closer to the “figure it out yourself” side.

We had what we needed, not much extra.

It taught me to be practical, work minded, and not expect anything to be handed to me.

So I wouldn’t call it poor or well off, just the kind of upbringing that makes you grow up early.

Anonymous · Answer

I wrote poor because now that I'm older I understand we were poor. But I never felt poor. I never went without a meal and I never felt unloved. Were were rich beyond measure in love. I wouldn't change my upbringing for any amount of money. My parents were amazing.

sage2021 · Answer

We were poor because my father didn't pay his child support for my sister and myself.
When I turned 16 I had to get a job AND finish highschool.
I had to buy my own clothes and food, so working at 16 helped.

trumpetplayerforlife · Answer

I always say I wasn't poor but I wasn't rich i was never in need of something or went hungry but their definitely wasn't extra money

Genie23 · Answer

Pretty well off thanks my father who worked twice as hard, while my mother taught us values and made sure we studied and had fresh, healthy food everyday. So, I consider myself lucky.

exitseven · Answer

I grew up poor. I never had to go hungry and I had a roof over my head but there was never anything leftover. It was hard to be the poor kid in school..

Nikki1989 · Answer

In the middle. I had lousy parents in many ways, but they provided everything we needed.

CupcakeTheDestroyer · Answer

I was told we were upper-middle class as a child. After the divorce it was upper-middle with my dad and lower-middle with my mom

Bricealan · Answer

@extraterrestrial1999 We did not know we were poor at the time, as our parents, did as much for us as they could.

Miristheiss · Answer

Middle class. Grew up in a modest ranch house. I had 2 stable parents with good character.

Proudblondewoman · Answer

I grew up very well off and am very well off now as an adult.

Phoenix98 · Answer

Hmm probably lower middle class when I was real young and then I guess we went up to your basic middle class.

Telekinetic-Potato · Answer

Both. Been living with and without money my whole life

drummerdude25 · Answer

In the middle… doing what I can to reach that “well off” status! 😮‍💨

RxR0954 · Answer

i’d say growing up it was kind of going up and down with my parents finance. Hard to tell

Noredcarpet · Answer

Every one of those options and I'm so glad I did

douride2 · Answer

My dad told me we were poor you just didn't know it.

AngryCarl2 · Answer

Initially we were poor but we always had a roof over our head. Then a relative left my Dad some money in her will and he was able to buy such luxury items as a car and TV set.

Awesomesauce2005 · Answer

I started with no financial help from family or government and I have built and earned all I have through sweat blood and tears

LiamJHayden · Answer

I was born and grew up in Newport Beach, California and still live here.

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Working class, though my boyish good looks and 160+ IQ belie my upbringing.

Drumlin2001 · Answer

I guess in the middle. We never missed a meal

queenofcardio · Answer

In the middle

BCRanger10 · Answer

In the middle.

Dinklex3 · Answer

Middle class and blessed ❤️

slatyb · Answer

We never lacked for food, clothing, or shelter.

shortster · Answer

Middle class to poor.

Jerre · Answer

Probably middle class

YourExLover69 · Answer

In the middle..

DrPepper12 · Answer

Dead ass broke

Xawyx-2 · Answer

I was actually somewhere in the middle.

AGirlNameZoi · Answer

Between well off and middle.

Anonymous · Answer

Middle

Anonymous · Answer

Upper middle

Did you grow up poor, well off, or in the middle?

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