John Scalzi: Being Poor (2005)
I lived this.<p>Being poor is growing up between the trailer park and the dump.<p>Being poor is skipping homework to help repair the $600 car so dad can make it to work tomorrow.<p>Being poor is your mother crying over a $100 invoice for the dental service you just received for the first time in living memory.<p>Being poor is quitting junior college early, because your Pell Grant ran out, and a $12.15&#x2F;hr opportunity is over double your fast-food wage.<p>Being poor is never going back.<p>Being poor is 3-years-old glasses and squinting from the front row.<p>Being poor is _definitely_ going to put some money in the savings account next month.<p>Being poor is getting pulled over just for your car and hair looking ratty.<p>Being poor is 2 nights in jail because of a clerical error.<p>Being poor is realizing years later that you still live like you&#x27;re poor.<p>Being poor is reading about VCs and ICOs and funding rounds on HN and thinking how huge an improvement just a tiny, tiny fraction of that money could make in your life.