Poor kids reveal 10 ‘situations’ rich kids will never understand — and it's just heartbreaking

Someone born with a silver spoon would never understand what poverty truly looks like. People from privileged backgrounds may feel disheartened when denied luxuries like that dream trip to Vegas or expensive gadgets, not knowing that some dream about just having two square meals a day. When u/bobtheglob71 on Reddit asked kids from low-income households to reveal ‘something’ rich kids will never understand, the response was unreal.

1. One soap for everything

"What a luxury laundry is. Those kids I went to school with will never understand I was so poor that my family couldn't afford to use the laundry machines in our building, so oftentimes my dad would just get a big cheap bottle of dish soap or some bars of Irish Spring, and that soap was for laundry, dishes, and bathing. Also that those TV dinners were a godsend. Getting 20 banquet TV dinners for 10 bucks meant eating well for a few days." - u/wanderinggenesis

2. Poverty isn't cool

Being poor isn’t cool if you don’t have the option not to be. Going to bed hungry sucks a**. Wearing the same shoes in July as you do in January sucks a**. Watching your parents waste their lives away in dead-end jobs to support their children is traumatic and painful. What was that song again, 'You’ll never live like common people'?" - poopbandit420

3. Wearing the same clothes for years

"Clothes. You wear what you have, and you wear it out. Yes, this is the same bathing suit as last year, you judgmental b****. I have a steady job, savings, and a closet full of clothes. I still wear everything like I did when I was 7. You wear it until it is visibly stained or noticeably smells. And you don't ever throw anything away, because you might need it again. Or if you do give clothes away, you give them to another neighborhood child. Every single one of your neighbors is as bad off as you; they will not turn away clothes that fit." - u/iamtheboomstick

"Being asked why you are wearing clothes that look old or unusual patterns/colors. Clothes getting passed down from family and friends means you end up with pink shirts, little hommies-style button-up shirts, or used sneakers sometimes. Also, not eating, watching your mom cry from hunger, or often making returns everywhere we shopped." -u/ghostcode5

4. Crammed into crowded spaces

"Being forced to live in crowded spaces. My family struggled a lot growing up, and for the majority of my childhood, I and the rest of my family, 6 of us in total, lived in a one-story, two-bedroom house. We had to turn the storage/porch area into a makeshift bedroom, and we each took turns sleeping in the living room. Living in close quarters with family can be nice if it's optional. But being forced to share the living room with your sibling and father because you physically cannot afford to have your own privacy is exhausting and mentally draining." - u/iwanttobeaplane

5. Being mocked for being poor

"It was never the poverty that hurt; it was the kids who would keep pointing out the broken ruler, the small pencil, the torn shoes, and the fittings of handout clothes; and the teachers that made me stand because my fee was late or mocked the torn bags or the condition of my used books. I wore my dad's 20-year-old three-piece to my farewell party for high school. Until I reached the class, it was one of the happiest I had been. My lovely dad's 20-year-old three-piece needed no alterations to fit me. I was so happy until I reached class; then the mockery started. I never went back to even a single reunion or talked to any of those pieces of shit." - ucapital_policy_266

6. You never come out of it, at least, mentally

"That even if you get out of it, poverty follows you mentally for years into adulthood. You cannot help but notice the price, for example, on a menu, and it affects what you order or robs you of enjoying it. Having fun with friends out? Every drink is a mental debate that makes you feel guilty that you have to fight against. It doesn't matter if you can afford that $50; you struggle to rationalize spending such a sum on drinks despite having a good time with people you care about." - u/augen76

7. Real value of money

"Starting work at 13/14 years; old evenings and weekends to support yourself and take the pressure off a parent. Valuing money over education because you can't afford to be in school or college. You don't keep that money; that's not your money! That's family money, and that's a choice because you would want someone to do that for you. People think that when you earn, you elevate yourself out of life. No, you elevate everyone around you a little rather than leave them behind to be hungry and cold." - u/evitisiuqni

8. Limited resources

"What you had for the month is what you had. My mom made it work. Even if it meant watered-down tomato sauce and noodles or butter sandwiches. I literally didn't know that butter sandwiches weren't 'normal' until I got to Jr. High. She did a really good job of making everything seem just fine. What pisses me off is that my 'dad' was still paying tithing (cult tax) to the Mormons, but didn't allow us to go to a food bank or Bishop's Warehouse (Mormon food bank type set up). He cared more about his image and status than being a good husband or father. The things you realize when you grow up..." - u/dabeezee

"Even my middle-class friends can’t understand true poverty. I had no toys, so we used our imagination a lot and played with random wheels and sticks. Everything was seasonal; you eat corn one month, and then it's gone until next year. Drinking water mixed with brown sugar to go to school. Always feared some type of war because of propaganda. And I considered myself pretty lucky, because my parents always provided or tried to, and made it fun. 'Hey, tonight let’s just melt some sugar and make candy! Yayy!' I was happy, but now I understand it’s because they had nothing else and wanted us to feel better." - u/anbelroj

9. Sharing is caring!

"Rich kids from my town will never understand the tradition of everyone sharing soup. It was something I grew up with. As I lived in the poorest part of our town, if one family couldn't afford food, everyone would put something towards making a soup. Most people would donate a single tomato, as we all had the same issues. My favorite time of this was around Christmas time when I didn't know where our next meal was going to come from, and our whole block came together in the street to have a Christmas dinner. It was fun until the razors showed up to stop us from blocking the road." - u/callsignstar

10. No stability in life

"Stability and basic supplies. My parents had 3 kids by 19. No one to help since both came from lower-class families. We moved every 1-2 years for most of my life. We were always the new kids at school. Growing up, we had just enough supplies for everyone in my house. 5 of everything. 5 cups. 5 plates. 5 spoons. etc. We would have 2 rolls of toilet paper to last the entire month, and then we used newspaper since it was cheaper. I would always go #2 at school, restaurants, and gas stations. Anywhere I could avoid the rough newspaper that would make my ass so dry. Now as an adult with my own family, my wife says I use way too much TP. Having young parents growing up was a lot of fun. Never really thought we were poor until I got to middle school." - u/spacedad2x

From surviving on limited resources to being forced to grow up only because you can't really 'afford' to live your childhood to the fullest, life isn't fair to kids growing up in poor households. Though money can't necessarily buy happiness, it most definitely opens doors to opportunities, growth, and stability. One must wonder how many great talents, life-changing souls are trapped in the poverty cycle, never to make it out, never to rise to their potential or change the world. This sobering reality must inspire us to take up the cause of our fellow human beings, for life is empty without community.