Comments on: I Enjoy Being Poor

By: Alfredo

Alfredo — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 18:12:29 +0000

Hey Dan, I agree completely with your comment, its exactly what I want to do with my life.

By: Dan Conner

Dan Conner — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 10:09:06 +0000

I prefer working low-wage jobs (9-13 dollars per hour) that allow me more time to spend with my friends, family and my dog.

I was earning over 55k a year before I quit and started to simplify my life. I moved to inner-city to take advantage of public transportation. I walk to my destination if the distance is less than 5 miles. I no longer own a cell phone, television or computer (currently using my friends). I eliminated politics from my life as well, since politics is nothing more than a stress-inducer. I only read the local paper.

Have you ever noticed that we spend so much time doing things to please random strangers? We buy a new car so strangers will not criticize our older car. We buy the latest clothing styles to avoid being judged by strangers. We try to gain specific job titles to prevent strangers from laughing at us for having more common job titles.

Some people may call me lazy, but I don’t care anymore. I work enough to survive. I will not allow myself to spend the majority of my living years stressing over work, bills and retirement.

Most people in this World earn less than an American who is below the poverty line. Also, most of them own only a fraction of what an American below the poverty line owns. Get this; most of them are happy.

We are responsible for most of the additional stress in our lives. You don’t have to be a product of your environment. We are not powerless over this money-obsessed, over-consuming, geographical phenomenon. Poverty is relative. Live simple and enjoy life. Stop doing things to impress others and unnecessarily boost your ego. You wouldn’t need an ego boost if you didn’t put so much emphasis on status and image. I have never met someone in their 80′s who stated that they should have spent more time on the clock.

By: Hate poverty

Hate poverty — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 17:17:45 +0000

I am living proff of losing it all in one swoop. From owning 3 homes and a landlord to just lose it all to the banks. Homes are no longer an investment in America. The American dream is dying. The middle class is becoming welfare and dependent. The rich getting richer and the poor get to “Service” them. Being the “help” is degrading. I find no joy in being poor and not being able to buy school clothes and the simple things like underwear or a backpack for my kid. Kid yourselves as much as you like. The bottom line is it’s a stuggle to remain upbeat and “pretend” life is normal. We still need basic essentials. It is a horrible place to be. yes, I can play board games with my family then go cry in my pillow wondering when my nighmare life will change. All this hogwash of how wonderful it can be. You must not be wearing my shoes at all. Your still going to french reataurants and buying clothes at department stores. Instead of the salvation army and still thinking “wow, 3 dollars for those used jeans is too high”. Please people. One can find more time with your family when poor, however the kids know it sucks, the parents know it sucks. Trying to figure out how cheap can we go to feed our family for the night and wondering about how we are going to do it the following day is a pure nightmare. Buying food at the dollar store is not Happiness for me. Other comments listed here obviously are not in my position to speak on this matter.

By: hmmm

hmmm — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:12:58 +0000

Sounds like you’re not really “poor” but just less well off than you’re used to. When you are truly poor you don’t get the luxuries of more family time because you are so busy trying to make enough money to feed yourself and trying to get from one place to another on the bus in the rain. I know there are a lot of people out there that would like to think that poor people don’t have it that bad and that way they don’t have to harbor any guilt for the life of excess that they possess, but let’s not delude ourselves. Being poor sucks.

By: David

David — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:50:32 +0000

You’re absolutely right. Being poor alleviates a lot of unnecessary responsibility. Your entire life is freed up to just surviving at whatever level you can. The government will supply food, shelter, and medical needs. You supply getting your life and home in order. Your kids can go to school free and get grants to go to college later on. All us upper middle class folks don’t know what we are missing. Most truly poor people don’t even know they are poor. My family was poor in the 50′s and we never missed one day of family fun. We were together and supportive of each other. Life was good. Now 40 years later, and $110K
each for my wife and me, life is HELL.

By: valletta

valletta — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 19:19:38 +0000

The word isn’t “poor”.
The word is BROKE!
Big difference

By: Hazel Watson

Hazel Watson — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:55:38 +0000

People may disagree with your use of the word “poor,” but for a title, it really demands attention. It certainly got mine!

And…relatively speaking, you may feel “poor” after being more affluent.

I do agree with whoever said: “I may be broke, but I’m never poor. Poor is a state of mind.”

By: Heather H

Heather H — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 20:57:58 +0000

We live like this not out of necessity but out of making good choices and we are not poor, we have a large house and fancy car, our kids do chores, value money, do not waste and are happy with clothes from goodwill and I have also started upcycling. I coupon and rebate and we even cut cable and make 6 figures so its a good way to live even if you are not forced to and helpful in the track towards being more green as well! Frugal is a better word for this article, we are not poor far from it. Frugal should be a positive word.

By: Gail

Gail — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 17:08:44 +0000

You have obviously learned some valuable lessons that I trust will stick with you and your children for a long time!

By: ppindia

ppindia — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 08:43:29 +0000

I Agree the title of the article is not correct. Losing your job does not make you poor. Poor means having to struggle to get basic things like food, clothes, water, shelter etc.. which you may or may not get. And may be having to make a compromise say between getting new clothes or good food or Holiday and sending your kids to school.