If you grew up poor or on the lower end of the socio-economic chain, then you can probably relate to these experiences...
1. Lunchables, Pop Tarts, or snack items in the
“fun size” pack were rare luxuries. That one scene in Napoleon Dynamite was so
true!
2. Going to summer camp was not a thing for you. 
3.Having a parent at every sports game,
performance, or school event was also not a thing for you.
4. You got a family computer and a personal cell
phone several years after everyone you knew. And then you had dial-up internet
for several years after that. 
5. Your mom (or dad, or other guardian) had a
healthy stash of coupons and wouldn’t shop without them.
6. At least some of your clothes came from
Goodwill, Value Village, Salvation Army, garage sales, or an older sibling. You
were hipster before it was cool. 
7. You were a latchkey kid and were really creative
about entertaining yourself for hours at a time. Ice skating around the living
room? On it. Making ramen for dinner? No problem! Playing in the street
unattended? Why not! 
8. You felt like royalty when you went to a friend’s
house that had more than one floor.
9. You never really understood why some people had
home security systems. If someone had broken into your home, they probably
would’ve been like, “Thanks anyway…”. 
10. You ran errands by yourself and babysat younger
siblings when you were about 8 years old (or younger). But hey, you were an
expert on stranger danger! 
11. At least someone in your family lived in a
trailer park. And that’s an understatement.
12. Having sleepovers at your home was an extremely
stressful prospect. 
13. You had traumatizing experiences at shady
Medicaid-approved dental and medical clinics. You’re not an expert or anything,
but…pretty sure that constituted torture. 
14. Your home’s carpets were a carryover from the
1970s in shades of dark brown, olive green, or marigold yellow shag. The
cabinets and furniture were equally retro. 
15. You were well-acquainted with the “value menu”
at fast food chains. Getting a combo meal was kind of a big deal.
16. The YMCA or community center in your
neighborhood was totally your spot. 
17. Most people have “that one family member” that
they don’t talk about. Yeah, you have a few…
18. You were a pro at navigating public
transportation well before it was the “green” thing to do.
19. You thought skiing, surfing, golfing, playing
tennis, and other bourge-y sports were just fun things to watch on the Olympics.
Then you realized somewhere along the line that real people do those things for
fun. And then when they asked if you wanted to come, you were like...
20. You are not only familiar with free and reduced
lunch, but you probably also know what free and reduced breakfast is. But,
dang, that oatmeal was delicious! 
21. If you were lucky, you learned pretty early on
that money doesn’t buy happiness. You figured out how to find it elsewhere. :)
