Astronomer

Definitely, which is why it is frustrating when people earning well above the poverty line, even well above the average wage, complain about not being able to afford what they consider "necessities."

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Astronomer

Also, I find it hard to believe that many people on this forum are actually living under the poverty line and have been for any extended period of time. I work with children from generational poverty, most are illiterate because they leave school at an early age to work to provide money for their family, for living expenses. I can see most people posting here are pretty literate, educated and healthy as far as I've gathered. Also, it's easy to say "I'm living under the poverty line and I find it easy" when you're under 30 with no kids of your own to care for or medical conditions to pay for that stem from a lifetime of neglect.

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Freebase Dali

^ True that.
Especially when a person is living at home and/or renting with a roommate. Poverty lines don't mean the same to a 21 year old kid living in an apartment with a buddy as it means to a single mother of 4 in the ghetto.

As for me, I make more than the median income in my state, and it's more than enough for me to "survive", however, it probably wouldn't be if I had a family to take care of. I could "survive" at the poverty line, but I'd be renting and living check to check and throwing myself at the mercy of a hooptie that might not start up in the morning for the rest of my life.
For me, that's not what I want, and I don't feel bad about it.

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Scarlett O'Hara

I totally agree with this. I can live on a lot less than I thought, for example after paying rent I'd have $50 over for food (this was only this year) and had to make basic food like toast, sandwiches and a stirfry with cheap vegetables bought from the vege shop. I struggled to pay any of my bills because I needed to use the rest of the $50 on presricptions ($5 for one item), I had bank fees (3 different banks), credit cards, ambulance bill, medical bill, and so on. I managed it but I much prefer to have at least $100-150 over for these things that I have to pay off.

When I got a job it took me 3 months to catch up with the bills and get everything paid off but am still waiting to clear a couple of other ones hanging around like a bad smell.

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djchameleon

I wouldn't feel bad about it either Mr. 740 was that it?

I'm jealous of it tbh. working my way up there though.

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Fame, fortune, power, titties. People say these are the most crucial things in life, but you can have a pocket full o' gold and it doesn't mean sh*t if you don't have someone to share that gold with. Seems simple. Yet it's an important lesson to learn. Even lone wolves run in packs sometimes.

Freebase Dali

772.

But ultimately, although I probably don't "need" the things I desire, I certainly don't feel bad about having worked so hard for so long to obtain them, nor do I feel like I should intentionally stunt my own aspirations because there are those without them, or without the ability to cultivate them for whatever reason.

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Mr. Charlie

Providing you have food in ya belly, a shirt on your back, and, particularly if you live in cold climes, a roof over your head, then poverty can be a good thing and actually improve your life and sense of wellbeing.