John Scalzi on Being Poor

My favorite excerpts from author John Scalzi’s excellent post on what being poor in America is like:

Being poor is knowing your kid goes to friends’ houses but never has friends over to yours.

Being poor is living next to the freeway.

Being poor is a heater in only one room of the house.

Being poor is knowing you can’t leave $5 on the coffee table when your friends are around.

Being poor is Goodwill underwear.

Being poor is an overnight shift under florescent lights.

Being poor is a bathtub you have to empty into the toilet.

Being poor is not talking to that girl because she’ll probably just laugh at your clothes.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually stupid.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you’re not actually lazy.

Being poor is knowing you’re being judged.

Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.

Being poor is knowing how hard it is to stop being poor.

Read the entire powerful post here.

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