What does poverty mean to you?

[abacucat]

I am just wondering what you would define as poverty?

For me it's not knowing where my next warm meal would come from and not having somewhere where I sleep every night

Inadequate living conditions (e.g. overcrowded, damp, not heated properly)
Unable to feed self & family a basic balanced diet
Unable to buy basics like clothes, shoes & toileteries

Trapped in above situation without any realistic prospect of things improving

If situation is temporary I wouldn't class it as true poverty

I guess not having enough money to pay the bills and put food on the table. I was a bit shocked reading a thread the other day though saying people didn’t have enough money to replace a pair of shoes - I would class that as poverty.

Not having enough nourishing food to eat.
Not having enough savings to replace essential things.
Having to choose between things, eg food or heating.
Not having adequate clothing.
Not being able to treat children to things.

Not being able to pay the bills or provide food.

Choosing between heat and food.

Skipping meals so your children don't go without.

Not having weather appropriate clothing.

Poverty is relative. We're one of the richest nations in the world and everyone should have a reasonable standard of living.

Not being able to afford enough food and not being able to heat the home adequately. Also, if someone couldn’t afford to replace basic items of clothing. I don’t think that not having savings suggest poverty.

For me, it would be not having an emergency fund (few hundred pounds) to cover the unexpected, e.g. a washing machine failing. I've lived pretty frugally in the past, but have always had that fall back, even when I was a student.

Of course, ironically, it has saved me money in the long run, as I haven't gone in to debt to have essentials, and have been able to replace necessary items (e.g. shoes) with the quality I need rather than having to get the cheapest.

For me, inadequate food/shelter would be destitution, a level beyond poverty.

Not having a roof over my head.
Not having any idea where the next meal is coming from.

I've been there. I try to remind myself, when I am stressed about money (or rather, the lack thereof), that I have somewhere dry and safe to sleep, and food in the freezer.

Not being able to afford heating or food.
Homeless/very poor unsafe housing.
No toiletries, proper bedding, furniture, decent clothes that are regularly washed.
No escape from the above.

Not having enough money to live. I don’t mean just food and a roof, but money to actually participate in cultural activities, a small treat etc.

Sleeping on the streets. No job. No idea where next meal is coming from. No family/friends to call upon for help. Anything above that I'd consider myself fortunate.

Not having enough money to
pay the rent
pay the bills
clothe myself and the kids
provide enough healthy food for me and kids

I struggled to do all of the above when I was a single parent working as a qualified Nurse. Not all people living in poverty are without a job.

Not having money full stop for food, bills, rent, clothes and toys for the little ones.

Not having enough money to buy food, pay bills on time, heat, not able to replace worn clothes and shoes.
Unable to pay unexpected bills like something breaking down.

To a lesser extent- not being able to treat your kids to a day out or for extra curricular activities, haircuts, driving with the fuel warning light on in the car, not able to do home improvements such as painting, replacing old or broken furniture, carpets etc

As a child going to bed hungry (complete with actual hunger pains) when there’s not enough to eat. Wearing hand me down shoes that are so big you have to curl your toes to keep them on. Been there

When I was living in poverty it meant having to count every penny.

Walking for miles because I couldn’t afford a bus ticket.

Only washing once a week to save water/ heating.

Only buying new clothes/shoes when old ones wore out. Then only buying things in the sale.

Only spending £50 on Christmas in total.

Having things like a sandwich for dinner rather than a full meal.

Not having much meat.

Harding drinking and alcohol.

Only being able to socialise at birthdays.

Not being able to do any home repairs or decorating.

Not being able to buy books or magazines.

Kids toys mostly from charity shops.

No day trips to soft plays/ theme parks/zoos/beach etc.

Never going to cafes. Taking a packed lunch when out of the house.

No holidays.

No car.

Living in a deprived area and not being able to move.

No hairdressing or beauty treatments.

No gym membership.

No home landline/broadband.

Cheap phone.

Only basic no ‘nice’ toiletries.

No takeaways.

Not being able to buy electrical goods eg laptop/dishwasher/dryer/new tv.

Not being able to afford a pet, not even a fish/hamster.

Having to wear NHS glasses.

Not being able to visit friends out of town.

Not being able to afford a babysitter.

Sleeping in clothes and hats and gloves to keep warm at night.

Not being able to have social hobbies/go to groups.

Not being able to go to the cinema/theatre/any cultural events.

Not being able to have occasional nice treats like fresh flowers/a candle/nice chocolate/new make up/jewellery.

Not being able to go to Halloween parties due to not affording a costume.

Not having any desserts ever.

All furniture odd/broken/from charity shops.

Having to refuse wedding invitations due to not being able to afford clothes/transport/drinks.

Not being able to invite a friend over for a meal/drink.

Having a very small world, of places in walking distance- home, park, library, supermarket, jobcentre. Never venturing elsewhere.

Just generally having a life of existing day to day, constantly worrying about money, picking which of council tax, fuel etc bill won’t be paid this month as they couldn’t all be paid every month and being very isolated from everyone who wasn’t in the same predicament.

Not having nutritious food, not having safe, warm, dry shelter and not having weather appropriate clothing. Not having means to get help in an emergency (e.g. no phone or ability to charge one, no spare petrol money). Going without sanitary protection.

No money to replace household items. No treats. No money for buying birthday cards or gifts or attending functions you're invited to.

Counting food (e.g. slices of bread) and knowing that eating a bit extra because you're feeling peckish means there won't be enough left for the next day but there is nothing else you can eat either as that applies to everything.

Having a feeling of dread when DC are invited to birthday parties.

Borrowing from peter to pay paul constantly.

Worrying about bills.

Not evdn being able to afford public transport so walking instead everywhere in all weathers.

Cold home.