I grew up poor in, ‘The People’s Republik of Milwaukeestan’ in the 1960’s.
My Grandma (who we all lived with while Mom worked full time as a Secretary and Dad was going through his various apprenticeships at 25-cents an hour) would make the BEST Mac-N-Cheese with that Free Government Cheese! But, she could also pull together a meal for twelve with a boiled potato, a loaf of her homemade bread and whatever roadkill or fish Grandpa brought home that day. *HEART*
My family is the PERFECT example of getting a little hand OUT, then a hand UP, then OUT of the welfare system...and never looking back...other than to crave that Mac-N-Cheese, LOL!
Well that’s it exactly.... Our parents knew how to make life work with what they had......you live within your means and strive to do better.
There were a couple other families on “Surplus Food” my mother knew and between the three they would ‘trade’ food items to adapt to their own families likes and dislikes which worked out very well.
Just seems to me people were far ore appreciative of what they had , even if little, and knew how to adapt. Today they just have overinflated opinions of what they think they are ‘due’.
I’m grateful for the life we lived, however poor it was. Because my mom gave us the wealth of knowledge, dignity, steady morals and all that wealth cannot buy. ...most of all she stood against any back talk and grumbling. She knew how to judge.