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.

Warren Buffett recommends these books on investing.





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Comments

  1. CoolProducts's Gravatar Comment by CoolProducts on October 15th, 2008 at 12:58 pm

    Man.. There just seems to be a trend in many blogs going from normal every day business advice to economic crisis to topics of frugality and now issues of poverty. I’m so depressed now!

  2. Robert Barr's Gravatar Comment by Robert Barr on October 18th, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    Wow, says a lot. Coming from a fairly poor background, I can relate. I can tell you this, I $*$)@$* hat pancakes.

  3. Robert Barr's Gravatar Comment by Robert Barr on October 18th, 2008 at 11:08 pm

    hate….you guys really need to get an edit option!!!!

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