Funnily enough, though I come from the middle class, I can still say I: -knew nobody but me would pay for my college - didn’t have cable TV - was the oldest, and all my clothing was kept for younger siblings..
I can add a few other things; - Had cheese & bread for 3 meals a day.. - Never ate at a restaurant - Never owned any brand clothes (Gap, Levis etc.)
I've never really lacked anything. My parents have owned their own home since before I was born..it's in one of the best streets in the area I live in. *But* they both were without jobs in the late 80s due to a crack in the economics..(Think it happened all over the world)
But thanks to foresight on my fathers part (money saved) + a situation where his work gave him an option of 1yr paid leave *or* for him to be supported thru college (He had a master in Computers beforehand, which sadly meant he wouldn't find any work) he was able to study for a bachelor and in the early 90s, and get a job as an accountant.
While he studied, my mom looked after us kids + watched other people's kids, thus getting a little money.. Then, when my father got a steady job, my mom finally got a job (I was 13) and decided she wanted to finish high school. She did so while working full time for the local phone company (she started studying the moment she got the job, scared that she might loose her job due to lack of education if we went thru another bad time (those with higher education are often safer in bad times + get better paid..)
Anyways, my dad is now the boss of the accountant firm. My mom is one of four who kept their jobs when the phone company decided to try something new..
They now belong in the upper middle class. But you wouldn't know it just to look at them. Fair enough, they spend more than they once did, but never have they forgotten the hard times.
And neither have I..I worry about money and it drives my BF nuts. His parents hid their financial worries from him too well:-(
Anyways, my childhood cannot be compared to yours. You had it *way* worse! But y'know, behind a "perfect" home, there can still be people wondering how the bills are gonna be paid...
no subject
-knew nobody but me would pay for my college
- didn’t have cable TV
- was the oldest, and all my clothing was kept for younger siblings..
I can add a few other things;
- Had cheese & bread for 3 meals a day..
- Never ate at a restaurant
- Never owned any brand clothes (Gap, Levis etc.)
I've never really lacked anything. My parents have owned their own home since before I was born..it's in one of the best streets in the area I live in. *But* they both were without jobs in the late 80s due to a crack in the economics..(Think it happened all over the world)
But thanks to foresight on my fathers part (money saved) + a situation where his work gave him an option of 1yr paid leave *or* for him to be supported thru college (He had a master in Computers beforehand, which sadly meant he wouldn't find any work) he was able to study for a bachelor and in the early 90s, and get a job as an accountant.
While he studied, my mom looked after us kids + watched other people's kids, thus getting a little money.. Then, when my father got a steady job, my mom finally got a job (I was 13) and decided she wanted to finish high school. She did so while working full time for the local phone company (she started studying the moment she got the job, scared that she might loose her job due to lack of education if we went thru another bad time (those with higher education are often safer in bad times + get better paid..)
Anyways, my dad is now the boss of the accountant firm. My mom is one of four who kept their jobs when the phone company decided to try something new..
They now belong in the upper middle class. But you wouldn't know it just to look at them. Fair enough, they spend more than they once did, but never have they forgotten the hard times.
And neither have I..I worry about money and it drives my BF nuts. His parents hid their financial worries from him too well:-(
Anyways, my childhood cannot be compared to yours. You had it *way* worse! But y'know, behind a "perfect" home, there can still be people wondering how the bills are gonna be paid...
xx