re: How poor were you growing up?

My mom didn't work when I was a kid before my parents divorced. My dad made pretty good money though. He was the the director of a department in one of the bigger industrial construction companies in LA.

We didn't live nearly as lavish of a lifestyle as people in similar income brackets do now though.

Dad had to hitchhike to storm the capitol. Used a public defender when charged with criminal trespass.

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Had to steal the neighbors trash so we would have some to out front.

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That reminds me of a story reported from a Nurse where she worked.
The Nurse told her, when she was a little girl the farmer next door either had a small grocery store or restaurant. When milk products/ice cream got old, he would bring it home and feed it to his hogs. The Nurse and her siblings would sneak down and get the ice cream before the hogs got it.
Years later the farmer's wife was in the hospital and the Nurse went into the room take care of her. She introduced herself, and the lady said, I remember you. You would come and take the ice cream from the hogs.

My wife and I grew up in poverty. I was reared on a small cotton farm in Franklin Parrish. My wife was reared on a small farm, main cash crop was tobacco, in East Tennessee.
She worked in a Nursing School to get her RN. Later, after we were married she earned her BS in Nursing.
She worked and I got GI Bill to pay for my BS.

Our success was due to dedication and managing our life.
Its depressing to live the "American Dream" and witness it being taken away day by day.

Growing up, never owned a bicycle. We raised all the food except corn meal, baking four, salt. Supplemented with wild game. Struggled to pay 50 cents a week for school lunch. I borrowed the money from my older brother (29) to pay for my class ring. 1962 Joined the US Navy because young men would not be hired for a permanent job until they had fulfilled their military obligation. My life improved every year until old age started to attack me about four years ago. Still hunt and run my beagles.
I've been blessed!

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How poor were you growing up?

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I didn’t have any clothes till I was 4 years old and my grandfather bought me a hat so I could look out the window.

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How poor were you growing up?

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Had to jerk the dog off to feed the cat..

I remember my mom having to go to Goodwill to get my siblings and I clothes but only went on they days they had a specific tag color “sale”.

True story:
Was maybe 5 or 6 and in the checkout line at the grocery store asked and then begged her for a Coke out of the cooler because I was so thirsty (I really was, not just wanting the Coke). She looked at the price and then me and without flinching said, “Son, that’s too much, put that back. Drink your spit.”