At work last night, I spent a good hour debating over whether I could actually buy some dinner. Counted every dollar in my wallet, and realized I had just enough to make my car payment and maybe get enough gas for the next couple nights. So, I waited until I went home and made some really awful one dollar version of chicken alfredo. It was nasty, but I ate it anyway.
I don't work for Walmart, I'm a hotel front desk clerk at a place where we have someone there 24/7. Starting pay is eight dollars an hour and there are no breaks for the front desk, even for an eight hour shift. If you're lucky, and the manager is in a good mood, you might occasionally get to take a minute to go to the bathroom. If you're lucky.
Now the Bosses won't be dining like the waltons, but they can definitely afford to buy a thanksgiving dinner, which, hey, is great. Problem is, just about no one else who works there is earning enough to pay their bills and celebrate a holiday.
I can't complain too much though - I'm fortunate in that my parents let me live with them. It's just that (well, I can complain a LITTLE) when it comes to thinking about my future, money is such an obstacle to every plan that I try to avoid thinking about it, preferring to lose myself in my books, or occasionally a video game. This is how your average 20something person lives today... about to hit 30.
It's kind of tough to even strike up a conversation with potential romantic interests... because, eventually, I'll have to explain, "I live with my mom and dad because I'm way too poor to do anything else."
Still... at least I have my family, and a car - and something to do that keeps me from spending all my time dwelling on the bad stuff. I'm not worried about starving, but I do occasionally have to go hungry. Heck, I can stand to lose 20 pounds anyway... it's the people who have no one that I worry most about. Those who are all alone and make as little as I do.
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