that's interesting

At the end she asked "Have you ever refused to take money saving measures because you didnt want to be perceived as poor?". I have a friend I've known for since we were kids who is poor. She grew up poor, married very young, had several kids right away and she's still poor. Her husband is basically unskilled and has gone from one low-paying job to another for years. She stays home with the kids. She won't take government assistance like food stamps because she finds the whole process demoralizing. She does shop secondhand and do other money saving things, and she's not worried about how others perceive her in general. Interestingly, she's also one of the most positive and optimistic people I have ever known.