Some poor families handle it better than others. A lot has to do with the parents and how they manage the situation psychologically.
There is peer pressure on the kids (and even parents), so they upend Maslow’s pyramid to their detriment.
Some of it may be educational —home ec is not taught in many schools. Some of it is cultural (advertising) and some of it is propaganda (we’re Americans, we must have a TV and consume brand names!)
I recall in Japan if you went on the dole you first had to sell your ‘luxury’ items before getting government support. It indicated you had to be in need and not supplementing or aiding poor economic decisions.
> in Japan if you went on the dole you first had to sell your ‘luxury’ items before getting government support. It indicated you had to be in need and not supplementing or aiding poor economic decisions.
I agree with the theory, but what is a luxury? Cheap shoes are penny wise and pound foolish as i've discovered. (though some expensive brands last no longer than the cheap ones). You can't really do anything today without an internet connection - school or apply for a job, and you are expected to answer your cell phone when called, so some form of smart phone is required and if you have an iphone it isn't worth enough used to be worth selling to buy a cheaper phone...
There is peer pressure on the kids (and even parents), so they upend Maslow’s pyramid to their detriment.
Some of it may be educational —home ec is not taught in many schools. Some of it is cultural (advertising) and some of it is propaganda (we’re Americans, we must have a TV and consume brand names!)
I recall in Japan if you went on the dole you first had to sell your ‘luxury’ items before getting government support. It indicated you had to be in need and not supplementing or aiding poor economic decisions.