[cobaltblu]

For a year in college I worked for an adoption agency in Phoenix; part of my job was getting the birth mothers signed up for food stamps and the like. I spent hours at a time standing in these lines... looking at shoes.

My parents were well off, but they never spoiled us. I didn't have Nike, Reebok, or anything like that. Yet every single person right down to the toddlers clinging to their Mom's pant legs, had $100 shoes on. I know I was one of the only employed people in there.

I was also one of the few that knew the value of a dollar.

Thanks Mom and Dad

[CindyDawg]

Go to walmart and watch. You would be amazed how many of the "poor", that use a food stamp card, dress . Many times there is a healthy looking ,well dressed male with them too. I don't mean to sound cynical because I know some really do need help but I'm tired of tax payers being taken to the cleaners. It sounds like this kid is working to buy his clothes though. Sad, he isn't using more of it to help his family

[Diana in Wisconsin]

"I was also one of the few that knew the value of a dollar....Thanks Mom and Dad."

I can't TELL you the number of times I've thanked my Grandparents, my Parents and my Lucky Stars over the years for those very same values. :)

I can't even BEGIN to imagine what my life would've been like without my Dad. My Husband lost his father when he was thirteen. It took him until he was about FORTY to actually settle down and get a clue. For many years, I felt that I was raising both him AND our boys on my own.

Fortunately, they were all worth it in the end. ;)

[AppyPappy]

I worked with a guy that made $19k a year and had a wife and two kids. He always wore $300 Italian shoes. He tried to convince me that his $300 shoes would last longer than my $50 loafers. They never did.