# The perks of poverty. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 7, 2012, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714 "2012-01-07T08:20:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JustinC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justinc/32/8083_2.png) [@JustinC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JustinC)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/21 "2012-01-08T11:08:44Z")
You save hours of time each week because, when faced with choices, you always pick the cheapest. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/22 "2012-01-08T13:06:02Z")
Shopping for clothes is much easier, whatever they have in the charity shop that fits is fine. No need to worry what preservatives and crap are in processed food - its much too expensive, and isn’t it wonderful that there are so many things that go well with a microwaved potato, same with porridge. You never have to worry about how low the interest rates are on savings accounts. You don’t get enormous bills for the central heating. The switch to flat screen tvs is fantastic, haven’t had to repair a CRT tv set in years, just go to the dump and pick out another. i-Pod? not when cassette players a such a steal. People are grateful that they don’t have top throw out their old clothes, seriously. I also seem to have a large number of fondue sets and other strange kitchen tools, its sort of fun figuring them out. Just think of all the home improvement skills you learn. Candles are _so_ much more romantic. ---
**Author:** ![BeaMyra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/2bfe46/32.png) [@BeaMyra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeaMyra)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/23 "2012-01-08T13:19:48Z")
Having missing teeth makes it easier to whistle ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/24 "2012-01-08T15:01:39Z")
You don’t feel the sudden shock of cold when going outside when it’s not much warmer in. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/25 "2012-01-08T16:26:17Z")
Tickets to poor man’s opera are well within your means. (If baffled, see [http://wiki.answers.com/](http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_does_Bed_is_the_poor_man's_opera_mean)) ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/26 "2012-01-08T18:30:24Z")
When you shop at thrift stores and other people’s garbage bins, you know you are helping the planet by recycling. You get lots of exercise walking everywhere and stopping to pick up anything on the sidewalk that might be useful one day. When you go to the hospital with no insurance, they fix what needs fixin’. Period. No fancy-dancy unnecessary tests. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2012, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/27 "2012-01-08T18:44:34Z")
Heh - since the green movement started, I’ve been wondering at how my Mennonite (and _extremely_ thrifty) family members were so far ahead of the curve. They were reducing, re-using, and recycling as a way of life long ago. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/28 "2012-01-09T01:51:12Z")
I didn’t lose a dime when the stock market crashed. No adjustment period when lean times hit–I’m already doing all those things that other people are just now learning. The kids really understand and can appreciate the difference between what we need and what we want. ---
**Author:** ![scratch\_llll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@scratch\_llll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scratch_llll)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/29 "2012-01-09T03:51:29Z")
The absolute best thing is that you know who loves you for who you are and not what you have. The worst is not being able to give them everything you want them to have though. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/30 "2012-01-09T06:00:54Z")
When you lose the house there’s no yard to mow. And two or three of the posts right before this are really sweet. ---
**Author:** ![notthatagain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/22d042/32.png) [@notthatagain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notthatagain)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/31 "2012-01-09T06:40:33Z")
You’ll experience all the thrills a cold shower can offer. You’ll be sharpening those culinary talents as you try to change up the menu using only the rice, oatmeal & popcorn from your newly spacious cupboard. You’ll realize that ketchup & mustard sandwiches are indeed a thrifty version of spicy food. “Big” dreams will be conveniently rescaled. You’ll be improving your cognitive skills reading bus schedules and planning trips to social service agencies. You’ll make lots of new friends while standing in line at the soup kitchens. Your patience will grow exponentially as you spend hours in the library waiting for your 55 minutes on one of their 'puters. Sympathy for the poor will blossom into empathy. Golly there are just so many things… ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/32 "2012-01-09T06:44:32Z")
You don’t have to worry about anyone damaging your car (any scratches or dents might actually improve the looks). 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hilary\_Algar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilary_algar/32/4282_2.png) [@Hilary\_Algar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilary_Algar)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/33 "2012-01-09T08:18:34Z")
No worries about one’s 401K losing half its value in a week while the US Congress fiddles as Rome burns. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/34 "2012-01-09T16:19:42Z")
No worrying about whether the maid is stealing the good silver or if you’ll catch your husband in bed with the governess. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hermitian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hermitian/32/470_2.png) [@Hermitian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hermitian)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2012, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/35 "2012-01-09T18:28:38Z")
If you go to college while married and poor, all sorts of aid money comes out of the woodwork. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/36 "2012-01-11T00:37:51Z")
Not having the option to go to Paris means never having to say you’re sorry. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/37 "2012-01-11T01:38:26Z")
[ul] [li]No TSA hassles since you never travel.[/li][li]Don’t care if gas prices go up since you don’t own a car.[/li][li]No disputes with insurance carriers since you can’t afford insurance.[/li][li]Lots of friends on the food line or at the thrift store.[/li][li]Little or no income taxes!!![/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/38 "2012-01-11T18:15:48Z")
I don’t know if this is true everywhere, but I visit a local food pantry regularly. There is always a small line and a usually a number of children of varying ages. These are the best-behaved children I’ve ever seen anywhere. I’ve never seen a tantrum, a running-wild-screaming toddler, a sullen teen, or anything of the like. I don’t know what it means, if anything, but having been around lots of kids in lots of settings, it’s definitely striking. And shopping at my local pantry is fun–lots of interesting and good food, and it provides a sort of girls’ night out for my friend and me. For free! ---
**Author:** ![Toucanna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3bc359/32.png) [@Toucanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toucanna)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/39 "2012-01-11T19:33:31Z")
Never mind…coding is messed up and won’t display my response properly ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2012, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714/40 "2012-01-11T20:12:08Z")
You’re always welcome as a guest at the SDMB. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perks-of-poverty/608714.md?page=3)