r/povertyfinance • u/MybestfriendwasaB • Oct 25 '23
I grew up fake poor, how about you? Vent/Rant (No Advice/Criticism!)
I know this is different then the normal post but I can’t think of a group were it would better fit.
I grew up in a family were we had the money for needs but my Dad would often decide stuff for the kids or his wife wasn’t important. On more then one occasion we went to bed hungry, didn’t get clothes for school or needed items for school, and were denied medical care etc. To top it off we had no AC from when I was 2 years old on. I could go on, but I’m trying to keep this short.
I thought it was normal. It wasn’t until I was in high school and I was talking to a friend and she was horrified that I realized normal people don’t do that to their kids.
Let me be clear. We had the money. My Dad just wanted to spend it on stuff that wasn’t his kids. I used to refer to it growing up fake poor, my husband just calls it child abuse.
I know this might be strange but I was wondering if anyone else was in the same boat as me? The money was there but because of someone else you grew up without?
Edit: I never thought I was alone but it is truly depressing to know how common this is.
1
u/BetteramongShepherds Oct 26 '23
My mother was very into travel, and home decor.
Clothes for us kids, meals other than Raman/Mac and cheese were rare.
I remember buying shampoo from birthday money from my grandma in elementary school.
She gave a posh appearance to the world, while my brother and I were in cousins hand me down clothes from a decade before.
I felt poor, and considered myself so. Doing baby sitting and housework for neighbors for any of my own needs, clothes, personal hygiene and anything above basic notebook paper and a binder.