For those who grew up poor, what did you consider a luxury?

[u/Left_Performer4190]

For those who grew up poor, what did you consider a luxury?

Mine- A study table

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[u/Hmmm-mmmH-3460]

Having my own room

[u/Slobbadobbavich → u/Hmmm-mmmH-3460]

Gah, this is so true. I had to listen to my brother having sex all the time.

[u/[deleted] → u/Slobbadobbavich]

With someone or with himself?

[u/Slobbadobbavich → u/[deleted]]

With his girlfriend.

[u/Bbkingml13 → u/Slobbadobbavich]

I blame your parents for that one

[u/irlanimegrill → u/Slobbadobbavich]

me too😭im glad i am not alone in this traumatizing experience

[u/Stunning-Equipment-1]

Going out to eat at restaurants.

[u/IceReddit87 → u/Stunning-Equipment-1]

Totally. My parents had no money, so we almost never ate at restaurants, or ordered out. Ironically, I grew up on a farm where we had both cattle and sheep, so we ate a lot of very expensive meat...

[u/Suracastic → u/IceReddit87]

I’d take the luxury of expensive meat over the luxury of eating in restaurants any day

[u/IceReddit87 → u/Suracastic]

Yeah. I understand we were quite privileged in that regard, but that was our normal, so ordering pizza was a bit special. Ya know?

[u/Direct_Surprise2828 → u/IceReddit87]

My family never really ate out at restaurants much… People just didnt do that back in the day… I remember my mum taking my sister and me to a very nice Chinese restaurant… For my sisters 16th birthday, and then to a movie afterwards… That was a big deal. Although I remember there was a supper club in town that we used to go to every so often as well.

[u/IvyRose19 → u/IceReddit87]

Did you get steers or old cows? I grew up on a ranch and we only got to have the old/or injured animals to eat. Till I was a teenager I didn't understand why people seemed to like beef so much because all we had we tough old cows. One time a younger calk broke their leg, we all felt really bad for the calf, but damn, he was tender.

[u/EatingCoooolo → u/IceReddit87]

I wanted to marry a girl who had livestock/farm because I love meat. I shall help out on the farm for meeeeaaattt!! Lol

[u/IceReddit87 → u/EatingCoooolo]

Not an unreasonable goal. Fair warning. Farm work is hard and never ending.

[u/OGsammyboi → u/IceReddit87]

And almost never seems to go the way you plan lol, gotta be active for sure

[u/CosmicMountainGoat → u/OGsammyboi]

It never does. Sometimes it goes so so off script, it's going against the original plan. But that's farm life. Love it. Hate it. It's my life.

[u/12altoids34 → u/IceReddit87]

A friend of mine that I worked with always had venison in his freezer. Turns out his family owns the second largest Christmas tree farm in North America and they keep a small herd of deer on the property cuz so many family members love venison.

Note: when I say" keep "they were not domesticated or kept in anyway other than the perimeter fence around the property. The herd was kept small because deer can devastate growing pine trees because they love to eat the needles when they're young and it can kill the tree. Basically like taking all the leaves off a plant that's trying to grow. But they had enough acreage that the herd didn't make a big difference.

[u/crazyhamsales → u/Stunning-Equipment-1]

If thats true then everyone is living poor now, cause restaurants are a total rip off price wise these days.

[u/Hrmerder → u/crazyhamsales]

Man... Pizza Hut back in the day when they had the Pizza Buffet... Holy crap.. IT WAS DIVINE!!! I only got to eat at one a few times when I was a kid. Now Pizza Hut is barely a glance of what they used to be :/

[u/Just4TheSpamAndEggs → u/crazyhamsales]

Facts. My grocery budget is insane, but that's because I cook full meals for my family the majority of the week. Not just something to plop on the plate, but full meals and sides. My kids bring over friends and they don't know what to do. My family rarely even wants to eat out because it isn't better.

[u/dbx99 → u/crazyhamsales]

And the quality of restaurant food is really bad

[u/Grilled_Cheese10 → u/crazyhamsales]

My first thought, too. Didn't eat out EVER as a child. Got in the habit of eating out fairly regularly as an adult. Now, as a retired person it's birthdays and celebrations only.

[u/kaylee4bbc → u/crazyhamsales]

More the quality of food. Restaurants used to be good. Now all you're paying for is no dishes to wash at home

[u/Born-Science-8125 → u/Stunning-Equipment-1]

Food period!

[u/Stunning-Equipment-1 → u/[deleted]]

Depends, but growing up poor we never really ate at restaurants, if we did it had to be a special occasion, so seeing ppl eat at restaurants all the time meant you had money (in my opinion back in the day) lol now it’s different, I am successful and take my family out to eat all the time. The little things lol

[u/Original_A → u/Stunning-Equipment-1]

Yeah, me too! It was a huge thing to have my (I think) 7th birthday party at a McDonald's lol. I wish to be successful some day, I'm still poor

[u/Im6fut3 → u/Original_A]

Right! I came to say a happy meal was totally a luxury when I was a kid!

[u/dontshoot9 → u/Stunning-Equipment-1]

I can make my own food better than any chef except for takeout Chinese I really gotta spend some time learning about that

[u/herewegoagain2864 → u/Stunning-Equipment-1]

Yep. We ate out maybe 3 times a year

[u/cowboys4life93]

Rainy day shoes. Or really just more than one pair of shoes

[u/LeSaby → u/cowboys4life93]

Your comment gave me an epiphany. I am an adult now, and I kinda hoard shoes, especially waterproof shoes. For some reason I find them very reassuring and important to have.

I now realise that it's probably because I used to get wet feet as a child whenever it was raining or snowing. Damn...

[u/KristyAmberMikayla → u/LeSaby]

I can relate.

Every Winter I find myself tempted to buy new Winter clothing and have to consciously restrict myself to just one new piece as I have plenty.

As a child we lived in a draughty house in snow country and despite a roaring fire in the fireplace, we were always cold in Winter.

Now I live in an area that’s never had snow but always, once the Winter stock starts in the shops, my brain goes ‘buy,buy, let’s not get cold this Winter’.

My mother hoarded so much food as an adult that we didn’t even flinch when canned food in the pantry blew up from being kept years too long. She had very little food as a child, in her parents house then in an orphanage. She had extra food cupboards in every bedroom once we kids grew up and left home.

[u/IHaventTheFoggiest47 → u/cowboys4life93]

Especially NEW shoes. Everything I had was from the neighbors girls or a double hand me down.

[u/we_gon_ride → u/IHaventTheFoggiest47]

It was a shock to my parents when I grew taller than my sister and got bigger feet than her! She ended up getting my hand me downs

[u/IHaventTheFoggiest47 → u/we_gon_ride]

Sweet sweet justice… and same. She stopped at 5’4” and I kept going until 5’9”

[u/Methadonenursesara → u/IHaventTheFoggiest47]

I had 2 older cousins and an older sister. The first pair of new underwear I owned I bought for myself because I was babysitting. My parents had 4 kids, and 3 of us have type 1 diabetes. The money went to keep us alive. Food banks and soup lines are still a clear memory.

[u/Korncakes → u/cowboys4life93]

Looking back on shit like this really makes me feel bad about things I took for granted. I grew up skateboarding and we weren’t poor but we certainly weren’t well off. We had a Vans outlet store and every few months we’d replace mine and my brother’s shoes that we would absolutely shred from skateboarding. I had one pair of Vans that I wore a hole in the side of within a month to the point where my pinkey toe stuck out the side because I spent the entire month nonstop trying to dial in heel flips. It was winter time in the desert and my pinkey toe was very cold for a couple of months and part of me almost resented my parents for not buying me a new pair of shoes. Looking back I was being a little prick and I should have tried to make them last but we didn’t have the money for separate skate and every day shoes.

I’m in my 30s now and I’ve had the same pair of Vans Authentics for like 8 years that my now wife bought me as a gift when we were a newer couple. They’re not in great shape but I appreciate them a lot.

[u/-enlyghten- → u/cowboys4life93]

At one point I went so long without getting new shoes, the new shoes were 2 1/2 sizes larger. And my girlfriend actually bought them. I don't think I my parents bought a single new pair of shoes after I was about 13.

[u/Kangaroowrangler_02 → u/cowboys4life93]

Same here I had one pair til they were wore out completely then we'd get a new pair from payless

[u/cowboys4life93 → u/Kangaroowrangler_02]

And the worst part about that was that the cheap shoes always wore out faster. Especially the Kmart trex.

[u/Frog1745397]

I will never forget to be thankful for a bed and a fridge with food. Also a room and a door (I kissed the bedroom door when I got it lol)

Be thankful when you eat today.

you never understand until you are on an empty stomach with a "thousand yard stare" of shock and fear. Also u never know what people are going through, they could be at that point and just not show it. Such simple things can be seen as a luxury that someone else dreams of having.

Sorry just some life lessons I picked up I think more people should understand but not have to go through it.

[u/JennyAnyDot → u/Frog1745397]

I over buy food that is long term shelf stable. If really on sale will buy bulk because always worried about having enough food. I don’t really need to worry anymore but it’s an old habit. But it’s been a good habit that has helped others.

Just this past Sunday a co-worker that I am friendly with had a semi breakdown and said she had a “bug” problem and had to toss most of her household items and had not eaten for a few days because the exterminator cost was quite large.

So I hit my shelves. Rounded up about 2 weeks of food for her and her son. Asked a few people that I helped before or also helped others in a rough spot. Got some camping cots, blankets, towels, pots and pans, more food and cleaning supplies and basic house stuff (TP + paper towels) gather from the gang. And all transferred to her car at lunch which someone else ordered pizza for us. Even got food and a new cat bed for her pet.

Got some more furniture donated that will be moved around in our off days. Because off of us have had bad times in the past and tend to “horde” things because maybe it will be bad again. And we’ve chatted about our pasts while working and helping others is important. When you’ve had that “shock and fear” you can sometimes see it in others. I’ve had a few people get teary eyed when I ask are you ok, no I really mean are you ok? Odds are they aren’t and it never hurts to ask.

[u/Hoarfen1972 → u/Frog1745397]

Your gratitude is humbling. Too often we forget to be thankful…and spare something for those less fortunate.

[u/Mean_Pass3604]

Food

[u/HooahClub → u/Mean_Pass3604]

Food, but especially fresh food. We would only eat discount canned foods, ramen, or spaghetti with no meat. Rarely had things like fresh apples or lettuce.

[u/TheCardiganKing → u/Mean_Pass3604]

When I was very young, about four to six, I often knocked on my kind, old neighbor's house when I was starving. Mrs. Stockey, she was a sweet, old woman. I cried when she died.

[u/Lil_miss_feisty → u/Mean_Pass3604]

Junk food and name brands

[u/kelowana]

Buying food at the supermarket without having to count the prices.

Being able to buy clothes that aren’t on the last days of the sale.

Eating out or ordering takeout.

[u/TheS4ndm4n → u/kelowana]

I used to be shocked that people showed up to the register and they had to wait for the cashier to tell them how much they had to pay.

I always had my total calculated before I got to the queue. Afraid to be embarrassed and having to put something back because I didn't have enough money.

[u/Gusstave → u/TheS4ndm4n]

I grew up with not a lot of money but I have a decent paying job now and. There was kind of no transition.

So I do check carefully the price of every item before putting it in the cart (or leaving it there) so that I know everything I buy is worth it.

But I still have no idea about how much it will cost when the cashier give me the total. Having no money is not an option.. Could cost 10 times as much and I could pay without an issue. But if that article is 15,25 instead of 14$, watch me just not buy it.

[u/camilincamilero]

vacations

[u/Interesting_Rush_713 → u/[deleted]]

This is so real, I only was once in a neighboring country and then only once af the beach far away....

[u/imjustheretodisagree → u/[deleted]]

Wow. I am actually baffled. Then again, I live in New Zealand and I'm pretty sure there's nowhere in this country that's more than a 45 minute drive to a beach. From my house it's like a 3 minute walk. It's crazy to think of places where the ocean is so very far away. But also, I've only ever seen snow once and never a desert type area.

[u/jkrahn13 → u/imjustheretodisagree]

You've only seen snow once?! I've only seen the ocean once. We had a snow storm here before Halloween lol Manitoba canada .

[u/Babybulljackalope → u/camilincamilero]

A friend of mine once told me her dad took them to Florida for 2 weeks and they stayed in some fancy resort. My longest trip was a weekend, she told me that didn’t count as a vacation so idk if I’ve ever really been on one

[u/cocococlash → u/Babybulljackalope]

Why the f is she gatekeeping your vacation? What a loser.

[u/DiaCaerula]

Getting to pick your glasses from the walls instead of the Medicaid box under the desk!

[u/Jannsi50 → u/DiaCaerula]

No matter how much I needed to scrimp and save, I made sure my daughters got to pick their glasses. I remember all too well how I felt with ugly frames.

[u/DiaCaerula → u/Jannsi50]

I distinctly remember the year my father had "good" insurance and I got to pick from the wall. I picked a pair that were bright green that my mother hated, but I always remember how happy she was when she told us we got to pick from the wall.

[u/hulks_brother]

Milk that wasn't powdered.

When my parents brought home that first gallon of milk from the grocery store, I was living life and drinking milk.

Powdered Milk is the worst. We had a damn Milk pitcher and all of the kids new how to mix the milk when we ran out. We used it in cereal and tried drinking it from time to time but mostly cereal as that is the only way to cover that fact that it tasted like powdered milk.

[u/hedgehogrecruiter → u/hulks_brother]

Just reading this, I can taste it!

[u/Cautious_Feed_4416 → u/hulks_brother]

I could always tell the difference. But the block of govt cheese and the white can of govt peanut butter was legit

[u/popularnoise → u/hulks_brother]

Yeah we had that when I was a kid, might as well just use water in cereal which I tried once.

[u/RestingFaceIsAB]

Replacing something when it gets a little broken immediately. Instead of saving up for it.

[u/hobotising → u/RestingFaceIsAB]

Buy from Rent to Own? Like if the dryer broke or something. That was my family. No, emergency fund at all.

[u/686d6d → u/hobotising]

Buy as You View in my family... paying £1 to watch TV, sometimes we'd run out of ££ so tie some string around a £1 coin and then use a butter knife to reuse the same coin over and over.

[u/Simplythegirl98]

Having both my parents home and awake at the same time. My grandma took care of us and my parents worked full time and always went for overtime when given the chance. As soon as my dad came home he'd fall sleep and only wake up for his next shift. He worked 3 jobs. My mom also was always working or sleeping. My grandma cooked meals for us and yook care of us whole yhey slept. On Sundays(my dads only day off) if my dad didn't pick up a shift we'd go out as a family.

[u/Conebones → u/Simplythegirl98]

God bless your dad

[u/Spacegod87 → u/Conebones]

And the mother.

[u/HostileMeatloaf → u/Spacegod87]

And grandma

[u/Dangerous_Bus_6699 → u/Simplythegirl98]

My dad's number one advice at interviews was for me to ask the employer if they offer overtime 🤣.. He says he gets hired everytime. He's only ever applied at low paying blue collar manufacturing type jobs that loves exploiting poor people.

[u/empathetic111]

I was literally floored at 14/15 when my foster parent asked what I needed then took me out to wal-mart for ‘necessities’ shopping. Never ever had I just been taken to get things like deodorant, tampons, a new toothbrush, shampoo and face wash etc…and to be asked what I needed and allowed to pick things out?? .. I felt sickly guilty every minute accepting anything at all. It’s one of my most vivid memories of finally realizing how fucked up my home life was and how deeply I’d been neglected, abused and controlled by my narc Mother.

Edit : I do also have some good memories from childhood though they are few in comparison to the miserable ones. I very luckily started working young and mostly fended for myself, ran away from home as I got older, etc. I’m doing much better now and have been gifted many silver linings having been through so much 🤍 Thanks for your genuine compassion strangers

[u/friendlypeopleperson → u/empathetic111]

I read every comment here. You win. Have an amazing, awesome life moving forward.

[u/LotsofCatsFI → u/empathetic111]

I remember this happened when I was in foster care too. They take you to Walmart. I was told scared to grab anything, my temporary foster mom kept being like *do you like Mickey mouse? Do you like .. " and grabbing things to offer me

[u/matematikker → u/empathetic111]

Wow, this hit me hard ❤️

[u/goodday_2u → u/[deleted]]

This is very true. I grew up during the baby boom. I was in between 9 children. We had a very small post WWII ranch. All the boys in one room, the girls in the other. My parents even shared their bedroom with my father’s parents. There were four girls, and we all slept in the same twin bed. The room was tiny, only about 8x9. We had no basement, so as my brothers aged, the five of them struggled to find space in their 8x12 room. My oldest brothers eventually resorted to sleeping in one of the sheds, which is actually where my grandfather once housed chickens. A bed is a luxury that many people take for granted. Today I have a king bed, and often reflect back on the struggles of my past. The bed situation always comes to mind.

You’re still very young. Your situation will no doubt improve. Stay strong. Best of luck.

[u/disapprovingfox → u/goodday_2u]

My son teaches at a school that has a massive income discrepancy. He said it took him a while to figure out which kids were tired because they stayed up too late gaming, and which were tired because they slept under the kitchen table with a brother.

The "under the table" kids get sent to the office to nap on the couch, then rejoin class. And extra help with their school work.

[u/Remote_Songbird → u/disapprovingfox]

Aww, poor little kids, but what a great teacher and son you have there.

[u/RaisedByGooses → u/[deleted]]

Hang in there man!

[u/romantercero → u/RaisedByGooses]

Yeah man. I hope you have a friend or two around you to hear you out.

[u/crazyhamsales → u/[deleted]]

Next place you get, skip the woman and get a comfy smaller bed so your not tempted to get another in there with you... LOL... Just trying to make a joke to get a giggle out of you, sucks man, been through a divorce with three kids, was not fun for anyone.

[u/Hidingjimmy → u/[deleted]]

I hear ya. The first thing I did when I had adult money was buy myself a bed that no one else had ever slept in. I’m pretty sure my childhood twin came from the side of the road.

[u/yuukanna]

For most of my answers about my childhood, just scroll through these posts. I wanted to add the lasting ones…

When my wife and I tried to buy a home, and needed a little more down, our broker kept asking with the assumption “who can help you with the down payment”, “surely your parents or grandparents could help?” Etc. etc.

Talk about luxury, I’ve never had anyone that could help with stuff like that, and everyone seems to think thats ridiculous.

In truth, I’m the stable one in the family everyone turns to. I’m just scraping by. I supported my in-laws before they passed, I’ve assisted with siblings in their times of need, and my parents have nothing for their retirement and no equity to pass on… and they’re getting older.

If my situation takes a downturn, I don’t have a support to turn to.

Luxury? A safety net.

[u/like9000ninjas → u/yuukanna]

100%. My ex has no concept of this ( thats a good thing) and didn't understand why I'm such a sticler when it came to money. She has her parents and extensive family to rely on ifshe needed anything, I have no one. Its hard going through this world alone like that, but what other choice do we have? Hang in there man, you've made it this far, youre tougher than you give yourself credit for.

[u/Salaciousavocados → u/yuukanna]

I feel this so much. No one understands the value of a stable family and someone you can turn to or people you can learn the ropes from.

I grew up an only child with a single mom who overdosed when I was 21.

All I have is me—so I always burn myself out working hard to make a safety net of my own.

[u/bareslate → u/yuukanna]

Absolutely this. A familial/financial safety net is an enormous luxury.

[u/Cyber_Insecurity]

A freshly cooked dinner.

My dad would make a giant pot of rice and a giant pot of beans that would last us the entire week. On special occasions, he would go buy salmon or steaks and make us a dinner and it was insane.

When I met my wife’s family, I found out they cooked a different meal for dinner every night and it blew my fucking mind.

[u/unisenpai → u/Cyber_Insecurity]

My parents worked hard to have different homemade dishes every night that were full of vegetables. We were definitely penny pinching in every other aspect but this was not something they were willing to sacrifice and always found ways to make something nutritious and different.

I took that for granted until I got into college and realized how good it was to have that. Now I'll brag about my parents cooking to anyone who's eating with us (they are really good at cooking now!) and remind my siblings how lucky they are to be eating like that every night.

[u/Bbkingml13 → u/unisenpai]

Same here! We went through some tough times but honestly they were nothing compared to most things here. But once I got to college, I realized how lucky o was to have a mom who made an entire meal every single night.

[u/Scooney_Pootz → u/Cyber_Insecurity]

See, my story is the exact opposite. I grew up in the middle class, with a lot of variety, but as an adult, Im broke and make one big meal to last me a few days.

[u/english_major → u/Scooney_Pootz]

We are fairly well off, but I still make a massive pot of soup on the weekends to last us through the week. It has so many benefits. You come home and can throw dinner together quickly. It is low cost and really healthy. You save time planning meals and shopping for them. Plus, I make amazing soup.

[u/Chosen_UserName217]

Going out to eat at a Chinese Restaurant was a huge deal for me

[u/SokkaHaikuBot → u/Chosen_UserName217]

^{Sokka-Haiku by Chosen_UserName217:}

Going out to eat

At a Chinese Restaurant

Was a huge deal for me

---

^{Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.}

[u/Se7entyN9ne → u/SokkaHaikuBot]

Good bot

[u/BT3980]

Kids who had parents who were able to pick up them up everyday from school.

Kids who invited their friends to their homes for the weekend.

Kids who always earned the most for those fundraisers that ran a month or so in school.

Kids who had parents who were able to attend their field trip and be a docent or volunteer.

[u/persoanlabyss → u/BT3980]

Ouch. This one both hit me in the soul and made me very thankful for what my kids have. My parents didn't give a crap about school. No friends came over bc my parents smoked swore and drank. I never did fundraisers. But at an early age I thought it was just child labor so I'm ok with that. My parents NEVER went on fieldtrips and half the time I forged thier name. BUT I or my husband picks up our kids every day. They can have friends over almost when ever they like. They don't care about fundraisers but if they did I would help them. And I go to field trips if they want me to. Breaking curses over here!

[u/cjc883]

Getting a haircut at the barber instead of the kitchen

[u/hulks_brother → u/cjc883]

I remember finally going to Cost Cutters for the first time and feeling really special with my 6 dollar haircut.

[u/JaredAnders]

Being able to travel and going to the doctor at the 1st sign of trouble.

[u/Familiar_Ad_8919 → u/JaredAnders]

im just thankful not to be born in a country with privatized healthcare, cant even imagine what its like having to seriously decide if you wanna go to the doctor or not whether ur sickness or whatever is anything serious

[u/crazyhamsales]

Food... seriously, there was a time money was soo tight that just having food to eat at least two meals a day was a damn luxury. Probably why i'm doing ok these days, i'm a penny pincher, and my wife is a planner, we get by rather well on a tight budget, and food is never an issue and the bills are paid. We aren't living in luxury but we aren't hurting either, she grew up with parents that made every dollar count, i grew up with parents that didn't have a dollar to count... lol

[u/No_Buffalo_3305]

Flights, aeroplanes.

[u/DangerousKidTurtle → u/No_Buffalo_3305]

The idea of someone flying on a plane was actual magic and voodoo to me until I was almost a teenager.

And today I bought an international flight for a vacation.

My younger self would be so bamboozled with my “wealth” lol

[u/nyuszy → u/No_Buffalo_3305]

This is nowadays a different level of luxury then it used to be, around us you can easily find cheaper flights than you'll pay to get to the airport. When I was a child a flight ticket was worth of a few months' salary.

[u/bradmaestro]

Veterinarians. Butter. More than 1 pair of Shoes. Clothes, new clothes, gym clothes, i had to drop a gym class becauae i didnt have the right clothes for it and my parents didnt have any money. Video games. Cable tv. Internet. A car. Lawyers. Chrismas. Birthdays. Senior Dues. Cash, I never had the cash for anything at school so it led to an embarrassing moment in 8th grade when another student gave me a dollar, when the teacher found out I didn't have a show ticket and told everyone

[u/Sael412 → u/bradmaestro]

The shoe thing. Remembering still like it was yesterday my neighbour mentioning if I am not cold? There was snow outside and I had sandals with socks on. It might be 22-24 years ago I still have the image as if I am standing next to myself and my neighbour hearing the conversation.

[u/Leather-Audience-273]

Air conditioning

[u/Professional-Bat5652 → u/Leather-Audience-273]

In our house the AC was only turned on once the thermostat read 80° (and the AC was never lower than 72°), and in the winter the heat was only turned on when it hit 65° inside 😅. And sometimes not even then, if we really couldn't afford it then we just had to suffer and ride it out.

[u/_Volly]

Shoes

I remember my mom trying to get us shoes. Just something simple to wear to school. She tried to hide it but I knew it hurt her she couldn't provide for all of our needs.

[u/Left_Performer4190 → u/_Volly]

Me too, got a job last year and since then I’ve bought 7 pairs of shoes from big brands and it’s fascinating how comfortable these shoes can be. Kinda got emotional when i wore the first pair tho.

[u/slightlyjudgey]

When people had a car

[u/CHALINOSANCHZ]

A House. I grew up in a trailer that should have been condemned. One time went went to one of my Mom's friends' apartment, and I thought they were rich. It turns out it was section 8 housing.

[u/FarOutOhWow]

Heating in the midwestern winter and hot showers. Shit was pretty tough.

[u/Much_Celebration_924 → u/FarOutOhWow]

Shocked at how far I had to scroll for heat. We had coats on the bed in between hole-y blankets, no heating and a glass lemonade bottle was put in the bed roasting hot. When you got into bed you then put your hotwater bottle into a sock so you could warm your feet and my siblings also put a sock on their glass lemonade bottles so they wouldn't bang against each other and break. (Because we all shared a bed. We had a solid fuel cooker in the kitchen and it always had a kettle of hot water for hot water bottles. Irmt was the only warmth in the room at night.

[u/Papadopium]

A PC .

[u/Sensitive_Pair_4671]

A third meal on the weekends. I was told it was a Catholic thing. It isn’t. It’s a “We’re poor and trying to save money” thing.

[u/Colorado_Car-Guy]

A fridge with a built in water & ice dispenser

[u/Insufficient-Iron → u/Colorado_Car-Guy]

I thought those were the epitome of fancy while I was growing up. As an adult I realized how much space it took up and that I preferred room temperature tap water (we have some of the world's best tap water here), so I actually went out of my way to get a fridge without those things the last time I went appliance shopping.

[u/_and_red_all_over → u/Insufficient-Iron]

When I was a kid, I thought my aunt's fridge was so fancy. Now I look at all the little crevices you'd need to clean, and I'm also happy not to have extra things to repair in my fridge. No, thanks.

[u/guntotingbiguy]

Double ply Toilet paper.

[u/_kiss_my_grits_]

Being able to shop at Walmart for clothes instead of Goodwill or garage sales.

[u/we_gon_ride → u/_kiss_my_grits_]

I’m a teacher and felt so humbled recently when a student shared that she was so happy to get new clothes from Wal Mart instead of getting her cousin’s hand me downs

[u/Content_Pool_1391 → u/_kiss_my_grits_]

Yeah really. My Mom always took us back to school shopping at the goodwill or dollar general. I remember one year she let us pick out an outfit from Sears.

[u/Vogonner]

My own room. I shared with my mother and sister until I was 18.

[u/NoYa_ForSure]

Staying in the same apartment for a full year.

[u/ThatGuyInVegas]

As a kid I grew up in a small country town in North Carolina and my grandmother didn’t have running water or indoor plumbing, so we used an outhouse and had a water well… So going to other relatives house, it was like they were balling 😂with the running water and an actual bathroom with a flushing toilet… my mom eventually moved to the city but I’d still spend my summers at my grandmothers house with these conditions.. She didn’t get actual running water and indoor plumbing until the mid 1990’s when she moved into a senior citizen’s apartment… On the flip side, most of my greatest memories as a kid was in those conditions..

[u/SheDevilByNighty]

Being able to sleep at night and go to school in the morning without fearing returning home

[u/Bakersor]

Bananas in Eastern Europe

[u/twohundredfive]

Mechanical pencil ✏️

[u/we_gon_ride]

New pajamas, being able to buy groceries any time of the month

[u/Brain_Hawk]

I grew up working class poor. Not deapirate, but tight, and frugal.

KFC was luxury (this was the 1980s when it was good).

Trips to disney land, which we never did, was rich people stuff. Cruises were for rich people. Flying as a family was for rich people.

[u/SteakandTrach]

Little Debbie snack cakes were for rich kids. Same went for branded cereal. Never had actual cheerios, just got the Flavor-Ohs which had no flavor other than perhaps “wet cardboard”.

Lunchables gave me severe envy. “Motherfucker got a charcuterie for lunch, wtf?” while I look at my 9,000th consecutive PB no J sandwich with its ever-accompanying, execrable red delicious apple and thermos of tepid milk. Same thing every day, without fail for like, a decade.

For a while as a kid, my “bedroom” was the space between the washer and dryer in a laundry room. I had a sleeping that I would roll out each night and roll up each morning. It was a weird, fucky childhood.

Here’s the kicker. My parents weren’t poor. I might have been impoverished, but my parents weren’t. They just didn’t want to “waste money on kids”. I’m trying to recall if I ever had a birthday party and I just don’t know if I ever did or not. A cake? Maybe.

To this day, as an adult, I still get up on Saturday mornings in my house 2500 miles from where I grew up and treat myself to a cauldron of Lucky Charms like it’s the greatest fucking thing on earth.

[u/flanksteakandscotch]

I was dirt poor. I considered the Breyers Viennetta to be luxury as fuck. The box even said premium. It was like 5 dollars for not a whole lot of desert and my family was not budgeted for such extravagance.

No that I have my own money and can afford premium as fuck desert ….. they discontinue it.

Fuck!

I’m going to have a drink ……

[u/Lentra888 → u/flanksteakandscotch]

You can still get it, friend. It’s just under the Good Humor label now.

[u/Wide_Connection9635]

Burger King BK big fish

lol. We were pretty strict Muslim, so we couldn't have the meat. But my birthday BK Big Fish was amazing.

[u/DaveAndJojo → u/Wide_Connection9635]

99 cent whopper coupon. 5 Arby’s sandwiches for $5. That was fine dining.

[u/Original_A]

Stairs, but in apartments. Also, houses.

[u/banditk77]

Turning the thermostat above 55 degrees in the winter.

[u/[deleted]]

Refrigerators with the ice/water machine

[u/nutmegtell]

Hotel rooms. We always stayed at the Motel 6 when traveling. My husband gets Hilton points so we always stay there. The kids still tease me because I always comment how fancy everything is lol

[u/Mander_Em]

Shopping without looking at the price, or keeping a running total in my head.

[u/homechicken20]

Name brand shoes! Everyone had Nike, Adidas, and Reebok growing up and I always had whatever knockoff Payless Shoe Store had on sale for like $10

[u/Agile_Blacksmith_933]

Getting to make the Chef Boyardee box pizzas on Friday nights! My sister and I both got a small round pie to make ourselves while my parents made a big rectangular pie for themselves. I loved Friday nights! Wow, I had totally forgotten about that until now. I need to grab a pizza box kit next time I go to get groceries.

[u/madmwaz3llottie]

When we were young, we always looked forward to every first Sunday of the month because that’s when we will have a liter of Coca cola to share with the family over lunch. My father could only afford it once a month after his payday.

[u/missymaypen]

Tampons . Mom would buy us girls one small box of tampons or a bag of pads a month. When we told her we needed more, if we got more we were put on a guilt trip. That the other kids didn't have food because we were too good to use old rags like she did. I got a box instead of my yardsale clothes for school in 8th grade.

To this day when I buy monthly supplies, I feel guilty. And feel like I should do without something else.

[u/sapphire343rules → u/missymaypen]

That is such an absolutely awful thing to shame you for. I hope you’re in a better place today.

Can I ask, have you ever looked into reusable menstrual supplies like washable pads, period underwear, or a cup? I use them and find them genuinely a lot comfier than the disposables. Totally understand if they don’t work for you or if you just need the ‘win’ of buying your usual products, but I wanted to make the suggestion in case it could alleviate some guilt and anxiety 💗

[u/missymaypen → u/sapphire343rules]

Thank you! I'd probably make a mess with the cup lol. Im fortunate enough now that I can get what I need. Every now and then I take some to the middle school and high school.

[u/Paladinspector]

Without a question, going out to eat was a big one.

Pizza was like a once every few months/couple.times a year expense.

But the big one for me, was pure luxury expenses like something as simple as a couple.reese's peanut butter cups. The taste of them reminds me of the times where things were kinda stable.

I explained that to my wife one time and now whenever I have a bad day, I come home and find a Reese's cup on my desk. She fuckin loves me bros.

[u/ViciousSquirrelz]

Going to taco bell... which is now coming full circle, cause eating a taco bell lately is more expensive than chilis.

[u/PreachitPerk]

Eating leftovers less than twice.

[u/Curious_Leader_2093]

Taking your car to a garage and having someone else fix it instead of going parts finding in a junkyard and hoping you did it right.

[u/dodulk0]

books

[u/-enlyghten- → u/dodulk0]

The library was my second home.

[u/Local_Sugar8108]

I love having half and half in my coffee. Growing up, my Dad used Coffee Mate. My parents were also fans of margarine. I only use butter. They are little things but they do make me feel a little more affluent.

Other than dairy, I like buying my own clothes and not having hand-me-downs that were worn by at least two of my older brothers.

[u/Mydynamicexperience]

Hot water and electricity but most of all living indoors.

[u/gianthaze]

Never having to boil water by candlelight to take a bath.

[u/NotYourAverageFox]

I'm still poor, but i definitely can say ANYTHING brand new.

Like new car, new computer, stuff like that.

[u/Extreme_Spread9636]

1. Having a roof over your head
2. Being able to be selective on what you're going to eat.

[u/Fun-Lecture-2393]

A TV that you didn’t have to change the channel using vice grips.

[u/powdered_dognut]

Oranges

[u/bobbigmac]

Clothes with no holes in them

[u/Single_Conclusion_53]

Heating.

During my final year of high school my mother bought me a small space heater to keep me warm when I’d get up at 5am to study before school.

[u/HomelessEuropean]

Food, clothes, school books, health care, security.

[u/crazdtow → u/HomelessEuropean]

This, it was everything honestly from food to any new clothes, security is so overlooked and not understood by many. I strived so hard to make sure my kids had a sense of security at all times and always knew everything was ok.

[u/dwei95]

Define "poor". I feel like i grew up lower middle class, and it was exciting to get some extra allowance to buy a pack of pokemon cards or a new super soaker. And then I read other people's comments like I never had a bed, and I'm thinking maybe my childhood wasn't so bad.

[u/Dog_person_wth_a_Cat]

Candy, ice cream, cookies.

[u/Optimal_Carry_6384]

New shoes at the beginning of the school year.

[u/Chingkie_01]

soda - we used to have them during special occasions only, like Christmas.

[u/OkYam684]

Traveling out of state and vacations.

Didn’t leave the state until HS and have never been on a vacation with my family (in state or out of state)

[u/ImnNotARobot]

Not living with family that aren't your mother/father and sister/brother. There were like 8 of us in a one bedroom apartment one time. When I saw some people didn't live like this I was a bit surprised on how much room and privacy people had.

[u/xPericulantx]

Not starving to death... Not living outdoors... having people and family that love me..

I've increased my net worth significantly in my life but I talk to my wife numerous time a year how fortunate we are just to have a home and enough food to eat and having a home that is climate controlled.

When it is Hot or cold outside I always think to myself.. it is amazing that I can have it 70 degrees inside when it is 85 degrees outside... or 68 inside when it is 40 degrees outside.

So many people complain about the rich but it is amazing the quality of life I have with such a limited amount of money.

[u/a_coupon]

Going to McDonalds!

And when we were homeless staying at a hotel for a couple of days.

[u/thisisleftbrain]

Brand name boxed food.

[u/Timely_Wafer6420]

Dessert. Mum occasionally made us spaghetti with warm milk and some sugar on top. Also, a tv with more than 5 channels, but channel 5 never really worked properly, it was just fuzzy.

[u/unisenpai]

Wagon wheels, moonpies, dunkaroos, poptarts, lunchables, etc

Basically any junk food, snack/dessert you could add to a kids lunchbox.

[u/nExternally-Process]

Being financially able to handle if something breaks and not having to do without that thing for months or years till we can get it fixed or replaced

[u/stagreenlee]

Batteries.

Any toy that required batteries when I was a kid just didn’t get them.

Having the ability to just buy batteries whenever I need them for something still blows my mind occasionally at nearly 40 years old.

[u/AnimatronicCouch]

Actual hotdog and hamburger buns. Not just a loaf of white bread purposed for every bread occasion. Also, a house having more than one floor! Stairs in a house were the ultimate in fanciness to me when I was a kid.

[u/Right-Ad-5647]

Brand name snacks at home.

[u/Informal_Bag_84]

Money!

[u/Particular-Ad6338]

This is going to sound crazy.. but I have about three times the amount of clothes pegs than I will ever need (growing up there was never enough to even hang out one load of laundry)... you know those washing up sponges..(I have a dishwasher so dont need them so much) there are minimum 6 brand new ones in the cupboard under my sink.. and mop heads (two brand new ones, always in same cupboard under my sink)...the weirdest thing was when I became an adult and although I knew we were poorish.. I realised these were things you could replace for literally a dollar each..weirder still...my mother inherited a massive amount of money and I went to her house a few years later... I kid you not..she still had about 8 clothes pegs..a bald dishwashing sponge and the same shedding mop I had used to wash the floors when I was 9 years old,... .

[u/sluedu09]

I’m 36 and own a dishwasher for the first time in my life.

[u/carhartjezuz]

Peace and quiet! Growing up poor meant sharing space constantly

[u/vsvpmaddest]

having nice clothes/shoes, as an adult now i tend to hoard them because i’m always afraid it’ll happen again

[u/Standard_Meat_7438]

Parents

[u/gmoney-0725]

Getting two pizzas and pop on a Friday night.

[u/Sample_Interesting]

McDonald's or restaurants in general. I can only remember a handful of times as a child where my parents (before they divorced) took me and my brother out to McDonald's. I remember everything about those specific times because we never went out to eat otherwise.

[u/rtk1224]

Lunchables

[u/Wrong-Perspective-80]

My wife grew up dirt poor in the Philippines until she was 11. A trip to KFC or McDonald’s was a huge luxury that happened 1-2 times per year.

[u/SenpaiBeardMan]

I didn't know that Olive Garden and Red Lobster weren't fancy until I was an adult and went to Olive Garden on a work trip. I tried to take advantage of the company paying for my dinner, and my manager told me I didn't have to slum it on the company dime.

[u/chchchchandra]

three words: Scholastic. Book. Fair.