Is being poor a matter of perspective??

PinkPoppies

The concept of 'being poor' is definitely a subjective one, based on our own personal circumstances, attitudes, and choices. I don't think there are any rights or wrongs. As someone else has pointed out above, even the 'poorest' people in this country are generally well off compared with plenty of people in less developed countries.

In the context of the diary post you refer to in your OP Baldybear, I don't think their point was completely invalid (if worded strongly and perhaps a little unkindly). As an ex horse owner I know how important and all consuming they are, and also how expensive they are. You have to cut the cloth you have.

We all make choices about what we spend money on, and they are our own to make- you are right to do what is right for you. On this sort of forum though, if you have a very expensive hobby that doesn't balance with your income/situation, then you either have to take the sort of feedback you had in your diary on the chin, or take it on board. It's just one person's opinion, a person who doesn't know you or your life personally.

I am of the opinion that DF diaries aren't really the place for criticism (unless it is particularly constructive and sensitively worded); they should be a safe place to let off steam and receive support and encouragement.

If you are happy with your choices, and your debt is coming down, then it doesn't really matter what anyone else thinks anyway.

Pixie5740

Being well off is all subjective. I remember years ago when I was living with a now ex-boyfriend who stopped working and used to steal from me. (He would hover over my shoulder watching me enter my PIN and so I'd have to change it whilst I was at work. I lost count of how many bank cards got stalled by ATM when he tried to help himself to my account.) When I bought food he would eat it all whilst I was at work and I remember after not eating for 3 days and having not a penny to my name sitting eating a raw onion on the kitchen floor. I felt pretty poor then and not just financially.

Now 15 years on, with the degree he said I'd never get (1st class honours, thank you very much) I work in the oil industry and live a very comfortable life. I know there has been talk of rate cuts and pay freezes in the industry but we're all still very well paid for what we do. The other week I had to listen to someone complain about having to put his plans to buy a £100k Porsche on hold. Cry me a river.

I like to sing Paolo Nutini's Pencil Full of Lead song in my head from time to time.

Oh, 1,
1, 2, 3, 4
Ooh, I got a sheet for my bed,
And a pillow for my head
I got a pencil full of lead,
And some water for my throat
I've got buttons for my coat; and sails on my boat
So much more than I needed before
I got money in the meter and a two bar heater
Now it's getting hotter;
Oh it's oly getting sweeter
I got legs on my chairs and a head full of hair
Pot and a pan
And some shoes on my feet;
I got a shelf full of books and most of my teeth
A few pairs of socks and a door with a lock
I got food in my belly and a license for my telly
And nothing's going to bring me down

FireWyrm

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Oh, 1,
1, 2, 3, 4
Ooh, I got a sheet for my bed,
And a pillow for my head
I got a pencil full of lead,
And some water for my throat
I've got buttons for my coat; and sails on my boat
So much more than I needed before
I got money in the meter and a two bar heater
Now it's getting hotter;
Oh it's oly getting sweeter
I got legs on my chairs and a head full of hair
Pot and a pan
And some shoes on my feet;
I got a shelf full of books and most of my teeth
A few pairs of socks and a door with a lock
I got food in my belly and a license for my telly
And nothing's going to bring me down

What we're talking about here is classical Stoicism. One of the best explanations I have ever seen for this concept as it relates to materialism and our modern capitalist society can be found here : http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2011/10/02/what-is-stoicism-and-how-can-it-turn-your-life-to-solid-gold/

Essentially, no matter how bad things get, it could get worse, so be thankful for all the positive things you have. We are all guilty of being greedy and lazy in the developed world and it is a good exercise now and again to reflect that going without a meal once in a while is good for our figure, but for the majority of the world, it is a daily struggle and the very definition of survival. Sure, you may be 'poor', but even our poorest, most under privileged citizen lives a life of unimaginable luxury and security.

In the words of Phil Collins....it's just another day in paradise [for us]

catwoman73

People feel poor because there are so many things that are actually luxuries that people feel are normal everyday spending or even necessecities that 'everyone' has or 'everyone' does and if they can't buy most or all of them without getting into debt or thinking about the cost they feel poor.

However, you have to have an income that is well above average to afford all these things regularly without thinking, in addition to essential bills. eg:

latest smartphone contract
takeaway coffees regularly/lunch from pret/starbucks etc
buying what you want from the supermarket
meals/drinks out
gym membership
new(ish) car
regular clothes shopping
days out/weekends away/holidays
home improvements
beauty treatments
childrens activities and clubs

There are probably loads more examples too.

[Deleted User]

I believe we are poor, but we accomodate for being poor.
I am more aware of the things I need to do to keep warm, make meals last, keep our bills in check and try and cutback as much as possible on everything I can.

We owe money, but we are getting it paid off slowly. We don't have a good, regular job, but try to remain optomistic for the future and always look to improve our situation. We can't have the heating on all the time, but we do have an envious supply of thick blankets, jumpers and socks!

I feel poor physically, but rich emotionally! I have a good family, we have a roof over our heads and enough food in the cupboards, so for that I am very grateful.

FatVonD

I don't think I'm poor at the moment but I am very aware that I'm potentially just 9 months away from being poor (if I can't find work when my current contract ends.)

singhini

Man is asset rich but morally poor.
The world is his oyster and he is blessed with being the most gifted of all things on this planet, and yet he chooses to eat animals when there is an abundance of other food available to him.


My advice: don't drink alcohol, don't smoke, don't eat meat, don't follow religion, but do focus on your own death (focusing on death will make you realise your not immortal and so perhaps you will think hard about what you do, what you say, and how you act)

chazsucks

We're poor right now, but lead a rich life.
I was homeless for a while when I was younger, so even with no heating, hot water etc I still feel truly grateful for the roof over our head. I'm thankful every day that our kids have clothes to wear, food in their bellies, a place to call home and a loving family.
No heating means duvet days where we all get to snuggle up together.
And also we feel lucky to have our friends and family who invite us over to spend time in their lovely warm homes and use their bath so the kids get a hot bath and we get a hot shower.
Not everyone has what we have and we could be so, so much worse off.
We have our health, happiness and home and I'm not going to let anyone take that away from us

Asiacat

I live in Thailand on a budget of 40,000 baht a month about 800 pounds.

I have very low domestic overheads, rent , water and electricity together come to 6600 a month. I do not drive a car but own a yamaha 135 cc scooter which gets me everywhere a car can gat me at a fraction of the cost. My insurance, mot and tax together total 15 pounds a year.

I have no council tax to pay, kncome tax is 3% vat is 7.5 % and almost everything is cheaper than in the UK. I feel well off and generally don,t want for anything.

If I returned to the UK housing, council tax and transport costs would alone cost more than I live on over here.

I would rather live in Thailand on 800 pounds a month than in England on 2000 pounds a month.

duck_egg_2

If those guys at Anonymous hacked all the credit reference agencies and wiped every entry clean, we would all feel rich and the smug wotsits that patrol this forum would melt in to a pile of pious sludge.

:beer: