I grew up dirt poor but we always had plenty of food to eat and played a lot outside and went hiking and fishing a lot as a kid. Was great in spite of not having many material things. My parents did get me a computer (Commodore 64) when I was 14 and it was a blast learning how to write computer programs in BASIC 20 years ago as a kid and using the 300 Baud modem to get online before anyone knew what the internet was. I had to mow lawns for neighbors as a kid to see movies and have fun but it taught me to be frugal and how to save and wise on finances. I look at spoiled kids today and frown when I see them renting a crappy apartment and driving expensive brand new leased BMW, Lexus and Infinitis !!!!
I saw a major difference between consuming Americans and the frugal Japanese and Koreans when I lived and worked overseas in Asia. They dressed modest, took subway and lived at home with their parents. However they had a ton of savings in the bank.
