Poverty is undoubtedly a struggle. This may seem like an evident fact, as it’s broadly recognized that those in poverty face greater challenges. However, it is intriguing to note the considerable disparity that frequently exists between wealthier individuals and their less fortunate counterparts. While regions like Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, and certain other areas maintain a generally high standard of living globally, poverty remains present. The poverty levels might not be comparable to those in sub-Saharan Africa, but still, significant enough to create an unsustainable gap between upper and lower classes in the long run.
The fact is that we’re all pretty quick to judge one another on how we should be living, what she would be buying, or where we should be shopping, especially when it comes to different economic classes. From each end there is always a passionate argument; for example, on one end, poor people shouldn’t have iPhones because that’s irresponsible, and from the other direction, rich people shouldn’t make such risky investments because that’s irresponsible.
The bottomline is this, rich and poor often don’t come into contact with one another. People who don’t have enough money to even buy a car aren’t often found in the same social circles as those who live in gated neighborhoods. A lot of this could be solved simply by understanding and spending time with people that are different from us. Unfortunately, that probably won’t ever happen. Instead, we offer you this list. These are 25 things poor people do that rich people don’t.
Featured Image: wikipedia
Buy veterinary medications
Image: wikipedia, Source: reddit Ok, rich people buy these too, but they buy them for their pets. Poor people buy them because meds can be cheaper when you buy them for animals. Or across the border…
Buy things rent-to-own
Source: thoughtcatalog As you’ll see with a lot of things on this list, when you’re poor, you end up spending more money in the long run.
Hunt for food
Image: wikipedia, Source: reddit The difference between rich people hunting and poor people hunting is that the poor people actually eat the animal to stave off their hunger. And yes, there are poor people who hunt for food in the United States.
Eat SPAM
Image: pixabay, Source: 9gag You’re a strange rich person if you buy these.
Buy craigslist furniture
Image: pixabay, Source: reddit Sometimes people just want you to come and pick it up, no cost. You can actually find pretty decent furniture this way.
Eat Ramen Noodles
Image: wikipedia, Source: 9gag Every college kids knows this one.
Eat stale bread
Image: wikipedia, Source: reddit When you’re rich, you probably don’t even realize there’s a bakery clearance section at the grocery store. Stale bread is great for bread pudding. And croutons.
Buy reduced items at the grocery store
Image: pixabay, Source: 9gag You learn the exact times of day when things like meat and vegetables are marked down.
Make hobo tomato soup
Image: wikipedia, Source: reddit Technically, all the ingredients can be found for free at a McDonalds. Just mix salt, pepper, and ketchup into a cup of hot water. This is more popular than you would think among poorer folks.
Look for car parts at a junk yard
Image: wikipedia, Source: thoughtcatalog It’s already cheap, but sometimes you can get an added discount if you remove the parts from an old car by yourself.
Drink quarter water
Image: youtube, Source: thoughtcatalog It’s basically water with colored sugar.
Watch Over-The-Air TV's
Image: pixabay, Source: 9gag Yes rich people, the antenna TV’s still exist.
Use extended stay housing or motels
Image: pexels, Source: reddit Many times families will resort to this if they can’t provide proof of income to rent an apartment.
Buy powdered milk
Image: wikipedia, Source: 9gag After the 80’s, rich people stopped buying this stuff. Unless their refrigerator broke.
Buy plasticware
Image: wikipedia, Source: thoughtcatalog And then you just wash it. Rich people only buy this for picnics.
Buy items on layaway
Image: Random Retail via Flickr, Source: reddit As usual, there are typically fees involved.
Shop at the Dollar Store
Image: wikipedia, Source: 9gag From dollar store steaks to cleaners like Fabuloso, this is a poor person’s paradise.
Order water at fast food restaurants
Image: pixabay, Source: reddit Isn’t that free? Yes, it is. But if you’re friends with the staff, and they let you hang around, it’s amazing what you can collect from the trays people leave behind. The water was just to feel like a customer and not loiter.
Use pre-paid credit cards
Image: wikipedia, Source: thoughtcatalog These can also be used to establish credit if you don’t have any.
Take microloans
Image: youtube, Source: thoughtcatalog The interest rates on these are usually extremely high. As we’ve seen so far, being poor is not cheap.
Cash checks
Image: Mo Riza via Flickr, Source: reddit This is always more expensive than depositing in a bank account (which poorer people tend not to have).
Eat crackers and ketchup
Image: wikipedia, Source: thoughtcatalog Yup, like the water, these are usually free at restaurants. And there’s your dinner.
Watch dollar movies
Image: wikipedia, Source: thoughtcatalog This one is sort of a legacy because dollar theaters don’t really exist very much anymore.
Pay minimum bank balance fees
Image: wikipedia, Source: 9gag So you may have been wondering why poor people don’t just open a bank account. Well, besides all the residence and employment questions, many times you have to keep a minimum balance or else pay a fee. Yup, you basically pay for being poor.
Buy individual items rather than bulk
Image: wikipedia, Source: reddit It’s cheaper to buy in bulk, but when you’re poor you can’t afford to, so you end up spending more in the end. Being poor is expensive.
