Does being poor make you appreciate you possessions more?

Yes, I know it does. We weren't exactly poor when I was a kid, but back then people didn't buy piles and piles of toys and things for kids. Instead of having 100 Barbie dolls like kids do now, we had 1 and bought different outfits for her. My grandchildren get so many presents for Christmas that they don't even want to open them all (mostly from the in-laws, both of whom come from very large families). They don't take care of anything. They don't care if a toy gets broken. I would have been broken hearted. I'll tell a little story about my great grandmother. She was born in 1873, the treasured little girl in a family of much older boys. For her 5th Christmas she received one painted china cup. We still have that cup, and there isn't a chip or a scratch on it.

Answering your first question, yes, I think that it is true, when one grow up poor, one appreciates its possessions more. I had several problems with lack of money, but will not discuss it, it is pointless to discuss. I like to take care to make things last.

It's good to appreciate what you have, but not to the point where those THINGS OWN YOU and not the other way around. Objects are here to serves us. I know a lot of people like that. When I was little, I wasn't allowed to take certain toys out of their boxes because "they'd get ruined". I disobeyed most of the time, because it's no use having something if you can't enjoy it. So tear your posessions down with use, use them well, enjoy them. Then get new ones. Because otherwise, there's no use in having them. This goes out to all the people with the sofa covers, mm~k? :D

yep we were poor once. i remember eating ketchup on bread for dinner everynite when we were first married. I do think that you appreciate everything more if you start out poor. we didn't get any help (pride factor), from the government, and we sure could have. Today, our children take for granted the things that we have now. I think everyone should be poor once. its hard, but you don't have to stay that way. Today, kids don't appreciate one thing. They start out (in marriage) with a brand new home, new vehicles, and a huge expensive wedding! That is crazy. They don't know how to make a dinner for under $5 bucks, and they don't care either!

Yes you always have to take care off the things, and even if you are poor or rich why should you waste money rather than take care of the things which can make the thing last longer, so you are very right and i am proud of your behaviour. As bad times only makes people to walk on the right way.

it's a good thing that you've learned and experienced being poor because your attitude toward things and people will be develop when you're poor. i've experienced being poor but i don't more money now. i've learned to appreciate things and be contented with what i have for now. i also dreamed of having more in the future, but for now, i appreciate all the things God has given me because i know someday He will give me more.

Yes for you.Igrew up poor and my wife came from a middle income group. when we got married we vowed that we will go without things but will not borrow money which we cannot repay. we could only give decent education to our children, and we were happy with that. Today she is no more and Iam alone .My children are well off and Ican afford many things which Icould have never dreamed of.I wish she were there but i also know how calmly she would have taken the whole thing.

I think it at least makes you really appreciate the things that you have. There was a time when I was poor for awhile and I had to start over. It changed my whole attitude and I no longer take things for granted. One risk I've seen with a few prople that I know who were poor growing up is that they had the reverse effect as adults and are now really materialistic

I didn't grow up poor, but my mother did. She always impressed upon me how important it was to take care of my things and to be clean and neat because that's how others judge you. As an adult, I've never been financially comfortable. Even now, we really struggle financially. I've learned to be frugal and can't believe how wasteful some people are. I love to shop yard sales in upscale neighborhoods because some of those people just have no idea of the value of their items and I can get nice things for very little money.

Yes I do feel that if you are rich you get everything without asking for it, whereas if you come from a poor family you know the value of the things as you have to struggle a lot just to get something.

I didn't grow up poor. Not in the least. I did however learn to take care of what I had or I didn't get another one when it was wore out or a new item next time I asked. For example, the tennis shoes I'm wearing has lasted me five years. I always take them off as soon as I get home and clean them off. They still look pretty good except the bottoms have worn through.

yes you could be right because i also know someone who was poor and all they had they hung on to like it was their life. they basically treasured what they had and refused to let it go, whether it was an item for emotinal value or an ornament etc. Right now they are living happily in New york and have their own bookstore running so they have come out of poverty now, even so they still treasure what they have and they never forget where they came from and what made them who they are. I thank god but up until now i have never been poor.

making thing last for a long is not a bad thing but tht habit is not just becoz u r poor but it is becoz u r well disciplined.

yes.

i dont think so.i think the poor people want so much in life and they neglect everything thatthey have.the thing that they posses are meaning less for them mostly.

I was beyond poor and homeless and though I do take pride in my stuff now and I take care of it I'm not anal about it by any means..having 6 pets and 2 kids it'd be a bit difficult and far too stressful for me BUT I am anal when it comes to throwing things out or getting rid of things....I am a serious packrat and hang on to the strangest things sometimes...

i am poor.but act rich,so no way

I think not. There are some of my friends who are rich yet treasure their possesions so much. And, there are some of my friends who do not have so much in life but tend to mess their things and not keep them in order. I guess the appreciation of possesions comes with the priorities of every person. Let's not stereotype people. (I've experienced being poor and somehow having been able to provide myself some luxuries in life... however, I still take care of my things irregardless of my financial status)

Absolutely. I wouldn't say I was ever poor-- but not really a lot of money. So, yes.. when I did get something I took such good care of it, because I knew there wasn't going to be anything else if something happened to it. Even now, I'm the same way with things. & yes.. we have more money-- but, it's a habit from when I was young, so I just continue on with it. I just think people that don't have a lot of money & then come into more money, still take care of everything because we appreciate things more.

We weren't exactly poor, more like poor middle class, but I did not like the idea of replacing things when that was not necessary. So I try to make things last as long as possible unless they are obsolete.