What is poor?

[i-need-a-martini]

There was a really interesting article in todays SMH about how many of us think we are poor which is far from the reality.

I grew up in a migrant household where my dad worked 6 days a week and sometimes 2 jobs to keep us fed and housed. More often than not our food was basic and heating in winter was a luxury. But it never occurred to me that we were poor. I thought we were middle class.

So what is poor? ?:|

The last line of the article sums it up for me: 

Which brings us to the other side effect of our collective crying poor: it makes it easier to look past the struggles of those who are genuinely struggling. When you're declaring social bankruptcy over drinking cleanskin wine instead of $17 cocktails, catching the night bus home instead of a taxi, or having to skip out on your friend's destination wedding – indeed, when this becomes your vision of what “poverty” looks like – there is a little less room in your heart for those for whom poverty means having no choice at all.

http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/is-there-such-a-thing-as-the-privileged-poor-2...

(And please don't make this a political thread cause it has nothing to do with the freaking carbon tax)

[*elizabeths-mum*]

20 odd years ago when living in a 2 bedroom flat in a Sydney suburb with 2 small children while my husband was studying I thought we were poor.

Our Indian neighbours in identical circumstances were ecstatic with their standard of living. They showed me photos of their flat they were sending back to India to show their families how wonderful it was here - carpet (scummy carpet by my naive standards) instead of dirt floors sticks in my mind. Before we moved they had invited another Indian family to share their flat and their good fortune. It taught me a lot about appreciating what you have and I am ashamed when I look back.

Another family at the same bible college but with low rent on-campus accommodation spent a lot of communal 'praying' (orders to God) for a better flat with more rooms so as to better 'serve' Him. I learnt a lot about religious organisations too.

[cueperkins]

HI EM...long time - BTW hear hear.

I agree..I grew up with Asian refugees my grandmother was either sponsoring or helping to adapt to the Aussie way of life after traveling here as the First 'Boat People'.  I guess it's all relative to what you know, vs, what you assume....

My grandmother (having sponsored numerous medical students) was later invited to Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and many other countries, and treated like an honoured family member.  They felt pretty rich and so did she, just for the experience.   I'm glad I got to see another side of life too.  How do we define wealth then?  just by money? or experience via humanity.  Interesting question in this day and age.

[i-need-a-martini]

I don't think we can make comparisons with other countries. There is no point saying we are rich by the standards of an average family in India.

When I started the thread I was only thinking about Australian poverty and how people cry 'poor' when they are well off by other peoples (Australians) standards.

The whole 'first house' scenario is interesting too. When I married 25 years ago our kitchen table was a second hand Sebel outdoor table with a couple of milk crates stacked to the right height. If we had people over, we simply acquired more milk crates.We lived like that for years and didn't think any thing of it.

Compare that to these days - young married couples won't move into a house until its' renovated and beautifully furnished.

[azureline**]

I think Moorna should provide proof that a mailing address is all that is required......

Post boxes cost around $100 per year.

[i-need-a-martini]

Oh I ignored all his stupid posts on that subject.

I've had a brother in law who has been homeless and if it wasn't for us supplying an address he would never have had any money. Even then he always had problems getting his money. Even things as basic as forgetting what day of the week it was.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

I don't think we can make comparisons with other countries. There is no point saying we are rich by the standards of an average family in India.

When I started the thread I was only thinking about Australian poverty and how people cry 'poor' when they are well off by other peoples (Australians) standards.

If that is about my post, I was talking was about Indians living in 'lower class' Australia and feeling wealthy. I think wealth, or poverty, is a state of mind.

Lots of people starting out here (regional Queensland town) do it in a cottage needing a lot of repair and lacking amenities I would never have imagined houses not having when I lived on the outskirts of Sydney ... and are prepared to spend years doing it, but I will agree others can't begin married life without their 4 bedroom brick veneer with new interest free furniture, preferably an acre of land and a debt they never expect to pay off. 

[*elizabeths-mum*]

I think Moorna should provide proof that a mailing address is all that is required......

Post boxes cost around $100 per year.

" if someone is unemployed and looking for work they can certainly make a claim for a Centrelink payment without a home address. Centrelink does require customers to have a postal address so that they can receive correspondence, but a 'care of' address is fine. However, make sure that the mail won't be returned to Centrelink by first confirming it's okay to receive mail at that address."

From the Centrelink page of the Australian part of the International Homeless Forum. 🙂

http://www.homelessforums.org/showthread.php?7262-Ask-a-Centrelink-Representative-any-Questions-you-...

[azureline**]

Further back, EM, I posted that they need to provide paperwork proving who they are, a lot of homeless have nothing that they can use for this. No bills (electricity/gas/phone in their name, no bank account etc.

[cherry*135]

Would an email address be sufficient now days for Centrelink etc ( I realise homeless people won't have an ipad tucked away in the meagre belongings) for other people on the move (travellng around Aust, people who couch surf, people move accom a lot) who can check their emails with mobile broadband or at a library, cafe with wifi etc).

A PO Box is $99 p.a. if you pay it by due date. $104 if overdue.

[*elizabeths-mum*]

Sorry azure, I missed that 🙂

Apparently Centrelink can correspond via email but still want an actual postal address, according to the same site I posted earlier.