Do you have any childhood memories that make you think, “Wow, we were poor”? I’ve compiled a list of these from around the web. Some of them are funny, while others are downright sad. Check them out, and if you have any signs of your own, add them in the comments!
1. Not having Disney Channel. (But you watched “Zoom” and “Arthur” every day)
2. Making “lemonade” at restaurants because all you got is water.
2. Making “lemonade” at restaurants because all you got is water.
Get the lemons and sugar packets - we're making "lemonade"!
Yippee! We get to camp out for a few more months. 3. Hamburger buns were unnecessary expenses, so you ate hot dogs on sandwich bread.
4. You had to water down your soap bottles three or four times before throwing them away.
5. You have a plastic cup collection. (Whew, this one hurts).
6. Eating barbeque sauce sandwiches… or any other condiment sandwich.
7. Having your school supplies put on layaway. (If you’re charitable, ask to pay off peoples’ layaway to help their children. I think this has way more impact than Christmas payoffs)
8. Having “camp outs” at the fireplace because you couldn’t afford the electric bill.
9. Having church people leave boxes of food on your porch.
10. Sitting next to the window so you can read by the streetlight.
11. Powdered milk. Enough said.
4. You had to water down your soap bottles three or four times before throwing them away.
5. You have a plastic cup collection. (Whew, this one hurts).
6. Eating barbeque sauce sandwiches… or any other condiment sandwich.
7. Having your school supplies put on layaway. (If you’re charitable, ask to pay off peoples’ layaway to help their children. I think this has way more impact than Christmas payoffs)
8. Having “camp outs” at the fireplace because you couldn’t afford the electric bill.
9. Having church people leave boxes of food on your porch.
10. Sitting next to the window so you can read by the streetlight.
11. Powdered milk. Enough said.
| 12. Having your parents distract you with chores or trying to get you to go to bed early so you “forget” about dinner. 13. Going out to pick up soda cans/bottles so you can exchange them for cash. 14. Taco Bell was a luxury afforded only for the highest of celebrations. 15. Having the heat turned on because it was your birthday. 16. Using dish detergent as bubble bath. |  |
I don't know what school has this lunch, but it definitely wasn't mine! 17. Cutting off the legs of your jeans every summer to make shorts.
18. Going to the local toy store, playing with the toys there, and then going home.
19. Trying to heat your house with the oven.
20. Never going shopping, but having your mom show up with clothes she just “bought”.
21. Playing the “put stuff back” game.
22. Having to mark “homeless” as your living situation on your school application. (This one made me sad - found it on Reddit)
23. Getting free lunch at school. Kids would be jealous of your free lunch, but you would be jealous of their whole life.
18. Going to the local toy store, playing with the toys there, and then going home.
19. Trying to heat your house with the oven.
20. Never going shopping, but having your mom show up with clothes she just “bought”.
21. Playing the “put stuff back” game.
22. Having to mark “homeless” as your living situation on your school application. (This one made me sad - found it on Reddit)
23. Getting free lunch at school. Kids would be jealous of your free lunch, but you would be jealous of their whole life.
Cereal AGAIN? Okay, maybe it wasn't too bad. 24. When you “got” to take the bus everywhere.
25. Tying grocery bags to your sneakers with rubber bands to make rain boots.
26. Not being able to get your best friend a birthday gift, so you make a gift basket of your own stuff.
27. Not being able to go on any school trips.
28. “Vacationing” at grandma’s house.
29. Saving and reusing tinfoil and plastic bags.
30. “Do you got McDonald’s money?”
31. When you got your first PlayStation 2. In 2009.
32. What’s a babysitter? Never had one of those.
33. Rolling up the toothpaste bottle so you can use every last drop before buying another.
34. Eating cereal for every meal.
35. Putting water in the ketchup bottle just so you can make it last.
36. Asking your mom for Oreos and getting Hydrox. Or asking for anything and getting generic stuff.
37. Buying clothes at least one size too big because “you’ll grow into it”.
38. Thinking that the terms “use by” and “best before” on your food are just suggestions.
25. Tying grocery bags to your sneakers with rubber bands to make rain boots.
26. Not being able to get your best friend a birthday gift, so you make a gift basket of your own stuff.
27. Not being able to go on any school trips.
28. “Vacationing” at grandma’s house.
29. Saving and reusing tinfoil and plastic bags.
30. “Do you got McDonald’s money?”
31. When you got your first PlayStation 2. In 2009.
32. What’s a babysitter? Never had one of those.
33. Rolling up the toothpaste bottle so you can use every last drop before buying another.
34. Eating cereal for every meal.
35. Putting water in the ketchup bottle just so you can make it last.
36. Asking your mom for Oreos and getting Hydrox. Or asking for anything and getting generic stuff.
37. Buying clothes at least one size too big because “you’ll grow into it”.
38. Thinking that the terms “use by” and “best before” on your food are just suggestions.
It's not that bad. It only "expired" four months ago.
39. Cleaning the house involved a ton of bleach and vinegar.
40. Using Febreeze to cover up the smell of your dirty clothes.
40. Using Febreeze to cover up the smell of your dirty clothes.
