This dairy was inspired by Poverty. A diary by The Nephew.
I don't pretend this is a perfect list and I know everyone will know of other techniques and ways to get by. Some may know costs and details better than me too. Feel free to add to the items I have listed and tell me if I don't get something exactly right. When it all is said and done it is just ARealNiceGuy thinking out loud.
How does a family in poverty survive if the Republicans get their way and cut programs such as food stamps?
They go to churches, food banks and friends. They hock meager items to get through and they do things they are not proud of to get what they need to stay alive. They don't eat what would by considered a good diet sometimes and that probably will cause health problems later. People who are earning more have to pay higher local taxes and hospital bills due to that. People in churches are asked to donate more to stock the church food pantries and aid to the impoverished souls in the community. What government doesn't do the village tries to make up for.
Who was it that said "It takes a village...."? We all know that and it rings just as true today as when she said it.
How does a family in poverty survive if the Republicans get their way and cut programs such as Medicaid?
They get care in Emergency rooms knowing they can't pay. By the time the problem is that bad the treatment cost is much more than a simple visit to a doctor would have been a few days or months earlier. Cancers that could have been treated are by then incurable or need much more expensive treatment and they lose time off work meaning the company who hired them might have to train a new employee or pay other workers overtime. Children may not get shots they should have unless they are required for school and then either a state program is asked to pay or a doctor or doctors donate time resources out of kindness. Maybe a local business donates for advertizing recognition or a tax break. If it is a tax break then some one else who pays taxes has to pay more to cover the tax hole. All of our finances are diminished due to these higher costs that could have been much less if the issues had been treated sooner.
According to a website the average rent in the United States is $804 per month. How can a family in poverty afford rent?
They live with another family or relative sharing meager resources. There is less privacy and sometimes one persons resources get stretched more than others. Many times the're able to get government rent assistance. (Federal, state and local taxes.) I've worked in those government subsided apartments or housing and I never met anyone who wouldn't have worked if a good job was available. I met some who were mentally, or physically challenged that would gladly work if they could have. Thanks to some of our tax dollars they do not have to live under a bridge or in a tent somewhere.
I was working at a very low paying job once and friends of a friend took me in for a while. They were barely making it too. We ate potatoes at all three meals because we could get them cheap. I got a better job and moved out but made sure I gave them some help back even though they never asked me for any help. By sharing we all made it through.
Sometimes people in poverty do work under the table so to speak, as in underground economy. For example a car mechanic might fix friends cars at a reduced rate at their place. He or she might not report that as income so it is never taxed. Sometimes if they reported it they would lose their assistance for just being a couple of dollars over the limit. Would you report that income if you knew you would have no way to feed your children then? A musician might give music lessons, a construction worker might do a little remodeling or home repair for friends again maybe reporting it or maybe not. Maybe what they get paid isn't money but a trade like a couch for some car work or a lamp to load some software on a computer. Maybe someone might watch a friend or relatives children for just an hour or two after school for just a few dollars. Once when I was between jobs I knew some friends that had trouble getting to the store. They'd call me and give me a list of things to get. They'd give me twenty dollars and I'd know looking at the list I could get it for fifteen or sixteen dollars by shopping frugally. The difference was enough for me to get a fast food meal and some gas to keep looking for a job. They knew they were paying me extra but it was worth it to them. 'You do what you gotta do.' as the saying goes.
How can a family in poverty pay their electric and water bills?
They can sometimes get government assistance, again your and my taxes at work and maybe even a little of the one percents tax dollars too. They also pay one bill one month and stretch the other(s) out until the next month or the next. When a bill has to be paid or the service will get cut off that's the bill that gets paid that month. That means utility companies have to spend extra resources reminding people the're late and maybe send a crew out to stop service then send them back out to restore it. Maybe some one has to update computer records. There is some extra cost and some one has to pay. The companies also have to factor in they'll have to deliver service now and get paid later than with those who have good incomes.
How do they afford clothes?
They get hand me downs from friends and family.
They go to Goodwill or Salvation Army stores and the like and get used clothes.
They make there own. I love the song 'COAT OF MANY COLORS’ by Dolly Parton. Sometimes it makes me cry. I never had to wear a coat like that to school but around the yard and our small farm I wore jeans that had patches on their patches so to speak.
Sometimes it can be very embarrassing to children because their clothes might look a little ragged or out of style or not be right for the season. Other kids can be cruel sometimes. (Like Mittens because another student wanted a different hair color for example.) Sorry I just had to throw that in there.
I know this doesn't cover all the questions but if I have been able to enrich the conversation I will end it there.
Thanks for reading and have a great day.