Can You Survive in Poverty, Middle Class, and Wealth?

[Sentama Lin]

I've been reading a book I've long-since ignored from my multicultural education class days. Though the class, I felt, was useless to me, because it heavily focused on the average Saint Thomas student, ergo, covered many things I already knew; the book I had about poverty — specifically generational poverty — was very insightful and informational regarding education and in general. My roommates and I decided to take one of the quizzes in the book to see where we could survive (my answers are bolded), and making assumptions (such as assuming we have children) when appropriate:

Could You Survive In Poverty?

• I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales.
  
• I know which rummage sales have bag sales and when.
  
• I know which grocery stores' garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food.
  
• I know how to get someone out of jail.
  
• I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically.
  
• I know how to get a gun, even if I have a police record.
  
• I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat.
  
• I know what problems to look for in a used car.
  
• I know how to live without electricity and a phone.
  
• I know how to use a knife as scissors.
  
• I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories.
  
• I know what to do when I don't have money to pay the bills.
  
• I know how to move in half a day.
  
• I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits.
  
• I know where the free medical clinics are.
  
• I am very good at trading and bartering.
  
• I can get by without a car.
  

Could You Survive In Middle Class?

• I know how to get my children into Little League, piano lessons, soccer, etc.
  
• I know how to properly set a table.
  
• I know which stores are most likely to carry the clothing brands my family wears.
  
• My children know the best name brands in clothing.
  
• I know how to order in a nice restaurant.
  
• I know how to use a credit card, checking account, and savings account—and I understand an annuity. I understand term life insurance, disability insurance, and 20/80 medical insurance policy, as well as house insurance, flood insurance, and replacement insurance.
  
• I talk to my children about going to college.
  
• I know how to get one of the best interest rates on my new-car loan.
  
• I understand the difference among the principal, interest, and escrow statements on my house payment.
  
• I know how to help my children with their homework and do not hesitate to call the school if I need additional information.
  
• I know how to decorate the house for the different holidays.
  
• I know how to get a library card.
  
• I know how to use most of the tools in the garage.
  
• I repair items in my house almost immediately when they break—or know a repair service and call it in.
  

Could You Survive In Wealth?

• I can read a menu in French, English, and another language.
  
• I have several favourite restaurants in different countries in the world.
  
• During the holidays, I know how to hire a decorator to identify the appropriate themes and items with which to decorate the house.
  
• I know who my preferred financial advisor, legal service, designer, domestic-employment service, and hairdresser are.
  
• I have at least two residences that are staffed and maintained.
  
• I know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty from my domestic staff.
  
• I have at least two or three screens that keep people whom I do not wish to see away from me.
  
• I fly in my own plane or the company plane.
  
• I know how to enroll my children in the preferred private schools.
  
• I know how to host the parties that key people attend.
  
• I am on the boards of at least two charities.
  
• I know the hidden rules of the Junior League.
  
• I support or buy the work of a particular artist.
  
• I know how to read a corporate financial statement and analyse my own financial statements.
  

I think Jim, my female roommate, and I were most surprised by the answers we gave for the middle class section. Our thoughts were essentially, Aren't these skills common knowledge, or should be common knowledge, to everyone? In a way, I think that's what the book was trying to say: there are hidden rules and protocols that have to be followed in order to survive in a particular class. One doesn't have to follow them; one always has a choice. However, it's like a game, I guess. By knowing some of the hidden rules — those rules that are taken for granted by the populace even if they were unwritten — one knows how to succeed in a particular setting.

It's also interesting that one similarity in Poverty and in Wealth is the utter reliance, perhaps dependence, on people, but in different ways. Poverty requires people for survival, for there are very little things one could own in poverty; while Wealth requires people for those connections to maintain a higher status-quo and also to do the tasks that one doesn't know how to do. After all, in Wealth, things are easily bought. Middle class, however, is reliant on a very self-sufficient attitude.  

[Jafthasleftthebuilding]

Apparently, I have zero knowledge with the Wealth portion.

Niiice.

I'm mostly little class with a touch of poverty.  

[wakusei]

Call me crazy, but to get a library card don't you just walk up to the desk and ask to sign up for one...?

That seems so simplistic I'm suddenly doubting if that's how it's done.  

[Jafthasleftthebuilding]

Sometimes you need to pay a one time fee.  

[Shram]

Could You Survive In Poverty?


* I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales.
* I know which rummage sales have bag sales and when.
* I know which grocery stores' garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food.
* I know how to get someone out of jail.
* I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically.
* I know how to get a gun, even if I have a police record.
* I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat.
* I know what problems to look for in a used car.
* I know how to live without electricity and a phone.
* I know how to use a knife as scissors.
* I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories.
* I know what to do when I don't have money to pay the bills.
* I know how to move in half a day.
* I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits.
* I know where the free medical clinics are.
* I am very good at trading and bartering.
* I can get by without a car.


Could You Survive In Middle Class?


* I know how to get my children into Little League, piano lessons, soccer, etc.
* I know how to properly set a table.
* I know which stores are most likely to carry the clothing brands my family wears.
* My children know the best name brands in clothing.(I has no childs)
* I know how to order in a nice restaurant.
* I know how to use a credit card, checking account, and savings account—and I understand an annuity. I understand term life insurance, disability insurance, and 20/80 medical insurance policy, as well as house insurance, flood insurance, and replacement insurance.
* I talk to my children about going to college.
* I know how to get one of the best interest rates on my new-car loan.
* I understand the difference among the principal, interest, and escrow statements on my house payment.
* I know how to help my children with their homework and do not hesitate to call the school if I need additional information.
* I know how to decorate the house for the different holidays.
* I know how to get a library card.
* I know how to use most of the tools in the garage.
* I repair items in my house almost immediately when they break—or know a repair service and call it in.


Could You Survive In Wealth?


* I can read a menu in French, English, and another language.
* I have several favourite restaurants in different countries in the world.
* During the holidays, I know how to hire a decorator to identify the appropriate themes and items with which to decorate the house.
* I know who my preferred financial advisor, legal service, designer, domestic-employment service, and hairdresser are.
* I have at least two residences that are staffed and maintained.
* I know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty from my domestic staff.
* I have at least two or three screens that keep people whom I do not wish to see away from me.
* I fly in my own plane or the company plane.
* I know how to enroll my children in the preferred private schools.
* I know how to host the parties that key people attend.
* I am on the boards of at least two charities.
* I know the hidden rules of the Junior League.
* I support or buy the work of a particular artist.
* I know how to read a corporate financial statement and analyse my own financial statements.  

[AlcoholicPancake]

Quote:

Could You Survive In Poverty?


* I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales.
* I know which rummage sales have bag sales and when.
* I know which grocery stores' garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food.
* I know how to get someone out of jail.
* I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically.
* I know how to get a gun, even if I have a police record.
* I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat.
* I know what problems to look for in a used car.
* I know how to live without electricity and a phone. ( Key word is " HOW " here. I HATE having to do this. )
* I know how to use a knife as scissors.
* I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories.
* I know what to do when I don't have money to pay the bills.
* I know how to move in half a day.
* I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits.
* I know where the free medical clinics are.
* I am very good at trading and bartering.
* I can get by without a car.


Could You Survive In Middle Class?


* I know how to get my children into Little League, piano lessons, soccer, etc.
* I know how to properly set a table.
* I know which stores are most likely to carry the clothing brands my family wears.
* My children know the best name brands in clothing.
* I know how to order in a nice restaurant.
* I know how to use a credit card, checking account, and savings account—and I understand an annuity. I understand term life insurance, disability insurance, and 20/80 medical insurance policy, as well as house insurance, flood insurance, and replacement insurance.
* I talk to my children about going to college.
* I know how to get one of the best interest rates on my new-car loan.
* I understand the difference among the principal, interest, and escrow statements on my house payment.
* I know how to help my children with their homework and do not hesitate to call the school if I need additional information.
* I know how to decorate the house for the different holidays.
* I know how to get a library card.
* I know how to use most of the tools in the garage.
* I repair items in my house almost immediately when they break—or know a repair service and call it in.


Could You Survive In Wealth?


* I can read a menu in French, English, and another language.
* I have several favourite restaurants in different countries in the world.
* During the holidays, I know how to hire a decorator to identify the appropriate themes and items with which to decorate the house.
* I know who my preferred financial advisor, legal service, designer, domestic-employment service, and hairdresser are.
* I have at least two residences that are staffed and maintained.
* I know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty from my domestic staff.
* I have at least two or three screens that keep people whom I do not wish to see away from me.
* I fly in my own plane or the company plane.
* I know how to enroll my children in the preferred private schools.
* I know how to host the parties that key people attend.
* I am on the boards of at least two charities.
* I know the hidden rules of the Junior League.
* I support or buy the work of a particular artist.
* I know how to read a corporate financial statement and analyse my own financial statements

It's funny because my family is considered middle class, yet I have no idea what half that stuff is. I'll say though that this is hardly a judge of being able to survive really, more of just functioning. Except for the poverty part, that's pretty much survival right there.  

[Kerrigan_dragon]

Could You Survive In Poverty?

• I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales.
  
• I know which rummage sales have bag sales and when.
  
• I know which grocery stores' garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food.
  
• I know how to get someone out of jail.
  
• I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically.
  
• I know how to get a gun, even if I have a police record.
  
• I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat.
  
• I know what problems to look for in a used car.
  
• I know how to live without electricity and a phone.
  
• I know how to use a knife as scissors.
  
• I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories.
  
• I know what to do when I don't have money to pay the bills.
  
• I know how to move in half a day.
  
• I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits.
  
• I know where the free medical clinics are.
  
• I am very good at trading and bartering.
  
• I can get by without a car.
  

Could You Survive In Middle Class?

• I know how to get my children into Little League, piano lessons, soccer, etc.
  
• I know how to properly set a table.
  
• I know which stores are most likely to carry the clothing brands my family wears.
  
• My children know the best name brands in clothing.
  
• I know how to order in a nice restaurant.
  
• I know how to use a credit card, checking account, and savings account—and I understand an annuity. I understand term life insurance, disability insurance, and 20/80 medical insurance policy, as well as house insurance, flood insurance, and replacement insurance.
  
• I talk to my children about going to college.
  
• I know how to get one of the best interest rates on my new-car loan.
  
• I understand the difference among the principal, interest, and escrow statements on my house payment.
  
• I know how to help my children with their homework and do not hesitate to call the school if I need additional information.
  
• I know how to decorate the house for the different holidays.
  
• I know how to get a library card.
  
• I know how to use most of the tools in the garage.
  
• I repair items in my house almost immediately when they break—or know a repair service and call it in.
  

Could You Survive In Wealth?

• I can read a menu in French, English, and another language.
  
• I have several favourite restaurants in different countries in the world.
  
• During the holidays, I know how to hire a decorator to identify the appropriate themes and items with which to decorate the house.
  
• I know who my preferred financial advisor, legal service, designer, domestic-employment service, and hairdresser are.
  
• I have at least two residences that are staffed and maintained.
  
• I know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty from my domestic staff.
  
• I have at least two or three screens that keep people whom I do not wish to see away from me.
  
• I fly in my own plane or the company plane.
  
• I know how to enroll my children in the preferred private schools.
  
• I know how to host the parties that key people attend.
  
• I am on the boards of at least two charities.
  
• I know the hidden rules of the Junior League.
  
• I support or buy the work of a particular artist.
  
• I know how to read a corporate financial statement and analyse my own financial statements.
  

My brother was in private school for a long while, so I know how to get into the private school system and what to look for in the schools.  

[Taeryyn]

Quote:

Could You Survive In Poverty?

• I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales.
  
• I know which rummage sales have bag sales and when.
  
• I know which grocery stores' garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food.
  
• I know how to get someone out of jail.
  
• I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically. (Would I still get my a** kicked? Probably.)
  
• I know how to get a gun, even if I have a police record.
  
• I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat.
  
• I know what problems to look for in a used car.
  
• I know how to live without electricity and a phone. (Extremely unpleasant in an urban setting, hope I never have to do it again.)
  
• I know how to use a knife as scissors. (I can never find my scissors when I need them.)
  
• I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories.
  
• I know what to do when I don't have money to pay the bills.
  
• I know how to move in half a day.
  
• I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits.
  
• I know where the free medical clinics are. (I know where the clinics are, period. I have a health card...)
  
• I am very good at trading and bartering.
  
• I can get by without a car. (I do quite well without one, actually.)
  
  

Could You Survive In Middle Class?

• I know how to get my children into Little League, piano lessons, soccer, etc. (I don't have children, but if I did...)
  
• I know how to properly set a table.
  
• I know which stores are most likely to carry the clothing brands my family wears.
  
• My children know the best name brands in clothing.
  
• I know how to order in a nice restaurant.
  
• I know how to use a credit card, checking account, and savings account—and I understand an annuity. I understand term life insurance, disability insurance, and 20/80 medical insurance policy, as well as house insurance, flood insurance, and replacement insurance.
  
• I talk to my children about going to college.
  
• I know how to get one of the best interest rates on my new-car loan.
  
• I understand the difference among the principal, interest, and escrow statements on my house payment.
  
• I know how to help my children with their homework and do not hesitate to call the school if I need additional information.
  
• I know how to decorate the house for the different holidays.
  
• I know how to get a library card.
  
• I know how to use most of the tools in the garage.
  
• I repair items in my house almost immediately when they break—or know a repair service and call it in.
  

Could You Survive In Wealth?

• I can read a menu in French, English, and another language.
  
• I have several favourite restaurants in different countries in the world.
  
• During the holidays, I know how to hire a decorator to identify the appropriate themes and items with which to decorate the house.
  
• I know who my preferred financial advisor, legal service, designer, domestic-employment service, and hairdresser are.
  
• I have at least two residences that are staffed and maintained.
  
• I know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty from my domestic staff.
  
• I have at least two or three screens that keep people whom I do not wish to see away from me.
  
• I fly in my own plane or the company plane.
  
• I know how to enroll my children in the preferred private schools.
  
• I know how to host the parties that key people attend.
  
• I am on the boards of at least two charities.
  
• I know the hidden rules of the Junior League.
  
• I support or buy the work of a particular artist.
  
• I know how to read a corporate financial statement and analyse my own financial statements.
  

 

[Roland Karloseth]

Could You Survive In Poverty?

• I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales.
  
• I know which rummage sales have bag sales and when.
  
• I know which grocery stores' garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food.
  
• I know how to get someone out of jail.
  
• I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically.
  
• I know how to get a gun, even if I have a police record.
  
• I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat.
  
• I know what problems to look for in a used car.
  
• I know how to live without electricity and a phone.
  
• I know how to use a knife as scissors.
  
• I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories.
  
• I know what to do when I don't have money to pay the bills.
  
• I know how to move in half a day.
  
• I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits.
  
• I know where the free medical clinics are.
  
• I am very good at trading and bartering.
  
• I can get by without a car.
  

Could You Survive In Middle Class?

• I know how to get my children into Little League, piano lessons, soccer, etc.
  
• I know how to properly set a table.
  
• I know which stores are most likely to carry the clothing brands my family wears.
  
• My children know the best name brands in clothing.
  
• I know how to order in a nice restaurant.
  
• I know how to use a credit card, checking account, and savings account—and I understand an annuity. I understand term life insurance, disability insurance, and 20/80 medical insurance policy, as well as house insurance, flood insurance, and replacement insurance.
  
• I talk to my children about going to college.
  
• I know how to get one of the best interest rates on my new-car loan.
  
• I understand the difference among the principal, interest, and escrow statements on my house payment.
  
• I know how to help my children with their homework and do not hesitate to call the school if I need additional information.
  
• I know how to decorate the house for the different holidays.
  
• I know how to get a library card.
  
• I know how to use most of the tools in the garage.
  
• I repair items in my house almost immediately when they break—or know a repair service and call it in.
  

Could You Survive In Wealth?

• I can read a menu in French, English, and another language.
  
• I have several favourite restaurants in different countries in the world.
  
• During the holidays, I know how to hire a decorator to identify the appropriate themes and items with which to decorate the house.
  
• I know who my preferred financial advisor, legal service, designer, domestic-employment service, and hairdresser are.
  
• I have at least two residences that are staffed and maintained.
  
• I know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty from my domestic staff.
  
• I have at least two or three screens that keep people whom I do not wish to see away from me.
  
• I fly in my own plane or the company plane.
  
• I know how to enroll my children in the preferred private schools.
  
• I know how to host the parties that key people attend.
  
• I am on the boards of at least two charities.
  
• I know the hidden rules of the Junior League.
  
• I support or buy the work of a particular artist.
  
• I know how to read a corporate financial statement and analyse my own financial statements.
  

 

[YunieCookie]

Could You Survive In Poverty?

• I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales.
  
• I know which rummage sales have bag sales and when.
  
• I know which grocery stores' garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food.
  
• I know how to get someone out of jail.
  
• I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically. (not well, but, I still know -how-)
  
• I know how to get a gun, even if I have a police record.
  
• I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat.
  
• I know what problems to look for in a used car.
  
• I know how to live without electricity and a phone.
  
• I know how to use a knife as scissors.
  
• I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories.
  
• I know what to do when I don't have money to pay the bills.
  
• I know how to move in half a day.
  
• I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits.
  
• I know where the free medical clinics are. (Like Tae, I know where clinics are, and I have a health card)
  
• I am very good at trading and bartering.
  
• I can get by without a car.
  

Could You Survive In Middle Class?

• I know how to get my children into Little League, piano lessons, soccer, etc. (well, if I had any)
  
• I know how to properly set a table.
  
• I know which stores are most likely to carry the clothing brands my family wears.
  
• My children know the best name brands in clothing.
  
• I know how to order in a nice restaurant.
  
• I know how to use a credit card, checking account, and savings account—and I understand an annuity. I understand term life insurance, disability insurance, and 20/80 medical insurance policy, as well as house insurance, flood insurance, and replacement insurance.
  
• I talk to my children about going to college.
  
• I know how to get one of the best interest rates on my new-car loan.
  
• I understand the difference among the principal, interest, and escrow statements on my house payment.
  
• I know how to help my children with their homework and do not hesitate to call the school if I need additional information.
  
• I know how to decorate the house for the different holidays.
  
• I know how to get a library card.
  
• I know how to use most of the tools in the garage.
  
• I repair items in my house almost immediately when they break—or know a repair service and call it in.
  

Could You Survive In Wealth?

• I can read a menu in French, English, and another language.
  
• I have several favourite restaurants in different countries in the world.
  
• During the holidays, I know how to hire a decorator to identify the appropriate themes and items with which to decorate the house.
  
• I know who my preferred financial advisor, legal service, designer, domestic-employment service, and hairdresser are.
  
• I have at least two residences that are staffed and maintained.
  
• I know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty from my domestic staff.
  
• I have at least two or three screens that keep people whom I do not wish to see away from me.
  
• I fly in my own plane or the company plane.
  
• I know how to enroll my children in the preferred private schools.
  
• I know how to host the parties that key people attend.
  
• I am on the boards of at least two charities.
  
• I know the hidden rules of the Junior League.
  
• I support or buy the work of a particular artist.
  
• I know how to read a corporate financial statement and analyse my own financial statements.
  

 

[pickle relish]

Could You Survive In Poverty?

• I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales.
  
• I know which rummage sales have bag sales and when.
  
• I know which grocery stores' garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food.
  
• I know how to get someone out of jail.
  
• I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically.
  
• I know how to get a gun, even if I have a police record.
  
• I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat.
  
• I know what problems to look for in a used car.
  
• I know how to live without electricity and a phone.
  
• I know how to use a knife as scissors.
  
• I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories.
  
• I know what to do when I don't have money to pay the bills.
  
• I know how to move in half a day.
  
• I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits.
  
• I know where the free medical clinics are.
  
• I am very good at trading and bartering.
  
• I can get by without a car.
  

Could You Survive In Middle Class?

• I know how to get my children into Little League, piano lessons, soccer, etc.
  
• I know how to properly set a table.
  
• I know which stores are most likely to carry the clothing brands my family wears.
  
• My children know the best name brands in clothing.
  
• I know how to order in a nice restaurant.
  
• I know how to use a credit card, checking account, and savings account—and I understand an annuity. I understand term life insurance, disability insurance, and 20/80 medical insurance policy, as well as house insurance, flood insurance, and replacement insurance.
  
• I talk to my children about going to college.
  
• I know how to get one of the best interest rates on my new-car loan.
  
• I understand the difference among the principal, interest, and escrow statements on my house payment.
  
• I know how to help my children with their homework and do not hesitate to call the school if I need additional information.
  
• I know how to decorate the house for the different holidays.
  
• I know how to get a library card.
  
• I know how to use most of the tools in the garage.
  
• I repair items in my house almost immediately when they break—or know a repair service and call it in.
  

Could You Survive In Wealth?

• I can read a menu in French, English, and another language.
  
• I have several favourite restaurants in different countries in the world.
  
• During the holidays, I know how to hire a decorator to identify the appropriate themes and items with which to decorate the house.
  
• I know who my preferred financial advisor, legal service, designer, domestic-employment service, and hairdresser are.
  
• I have at least two residences that are staffed and maintained.
  
• I know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty from my domestic staff.
  
• I have at least two or three screens that keep people whom I do not wish to see away from me.
  
• I fly in my own plane or the company plane.
  
• I know how to enroll my children in the preferred private schools.
  
• I know how to host the parties that key people attend.
  
• I am on the boards of at least two charities.
  
• I know the hidden rules of the Junior League.
  
• I support or buy the work of a particular artist.
  
• I know how to read a corporate financial statement and analyse my own financial statements.
  

 

[Arcanas]

Could You Survive In Poverty?

I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales.
I know which rummage sales have bag sales and when.
I know which grocery stores' garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food.
I know how to get someone out of jail.
I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically.
I know how to get a gun, even if I have a police record.
I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat.
I know what problems to look for in a used car.
I know how to live without electricity and a phone.
I know how to use a knife as scissors.
I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories.
I know what to do when I don't have money to pay the bills.
I know how to move in half a day.
I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits.
I know where the free medical clinics are.
I am very good at trading and bartering.
I can get by without a car.

Could You Survive In Middle Class?

I know how to get my children into Little League, piano lessons, soccer, etc.
I know how to properly set a table.
I know which stores are most likely to carry the clothing brands my family wears.
My children know the best name brands in clothing.
I know how to order in a nice restaurant.
I know how to use a credit card, checking account, and savings account—and I understand an annuity. I understand term life insurance, disability insurance, and 20/80 medical insurance policy, as well as house insurance, flood insurance, and replacement insurance.
I talk to my children about going to college.
I know how to get one of the best interest rates on my new-car loan.
I understand the difference among the principal, interest, and escrow statements on my house payment.
I know how to help my children with their homework and do not hesitate to call the school if I need additional information.
I know how to decorate the house for the different holidays.
I know how to get a library card.
I know how to use most of the tools in the garage.
I repair items in my house almost immediately when they break—or know a repair service and call it in.

Could You Survive In Wealth?

I can read a menu in French, English, and another language.
I have several favourite restaurants in different countries in the world.
During the holidays, I know how to hire a decorator to identify the appropriate themes and items with which to decorate the house.
I know who my preferred financial advisor, legal service, designer, domestic-employment service, and hairdresser are.
I have at least two residences that are staffed and maintained.
I know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty from my domestic staff.
I have at least two or three screens that keep people whom I do not wish to see away from me.
I fly in my own plane or the company plane.
I know how to enroll my children in the preferred private schools.
I know how to host the parties that key people attend.
I am on the boards of at least two charities.
I know the hidden rules of the Junior League.
I support or buy the work of a particular artist.
I know how to read a corporate financial statement and analyse my own financial statements.

Yeah...I don't think I could deal with being wealthy ^_^

also, my family doesn't really set the table, since we all eat at different times, and the only time we're all in the house at the same time is after midnight.

and Yeah, I'm picky with who cuts my hair ^_^  

[Sentama Lin]

Yeah. That's what I thought too, Waku, about library cards. However, apparently, the more I read in the book and the more I simply put the book down and think, it kind of makes sense. A distrust of authority — coupled by the belief of a system that purposely doesn't work for them (in a sense, that's very very very true) — would, I feel, make someone who is in a position where the world is dangerous and out to get them be distrustful of something as simple as a library card.

Panny, I never thought it to be a once-and-for-all proof if you are in poverty or not. However, it seems to be an interesting fact that I and my two roommates thought most, if not all, the things in the middle class section were common sense. I could imagine someone wealthy finding the wealthy situation common sense (a wealthy folk I knew at university actually had to be shown how to make tea from a tea bag, for example — which is a skill I thought was common knowledge), and someone who is in poverty finding the stuff there common sense. As such, someone who is plunged into a class one isn't prepared for might have lots of trouble if he doesn't learn the hidden rules and assumed knowledge (or, unconscious knowledge) of the class one enters. Class isn't just about financial resources, after all.  

[Kalstolyn]

Sentama Lin

Could You Survive In Poverty?
* I know which churches and sections of town have the best rummage sales. by which I mean I know where Value Village and the Goodwill and Salvation Army stores are.
* I know which rummage sales have bag sales and when.
* I know which grocery stores' garbage bins can be accessed for thrown-away food.
* I know how to get someone out of jail.
* I know how to physically fight and defend myself physically.
* I know how to get a gun, even if I have a police record. although why I would want one is beyond me, unless I were living in the bush, in which case most of these things are irrelevant.
* I know how to keep my clothes from being stolen at the Laundromat. That's easy; don't leave them unattended.
* I know what problems to look for in a used car. by which I mean I know who to bring along with me when making such a purchase.
* I know how to live without electricity and a phone. I am a pro at this because I was raised as a Girl Guide.
* I know how to use a knife as scissors. doesn't everyone?
* I can entertain a group of friends with my personality and my stories.
* I know what to do when I don't have money to pay the bills.
* I know how to move in half a day.
* I know how to get and use food stamps or an electronic card for benefits. I'm going to say yes to this even though I have no clue what food stamps are, how they work, and what the ******** an electronic card is in this context. I know how to access the local food bank if I need it, and I know the locations of a number of soup kitchens that serve a free hot meal daily.
* I know where the free medical clinics are. which is technically irrelevant because all medical clinics are free. I don't know where to find one that is NOT free without crossing an international border.
* I am very good at trading and bartering. I thought garage sales were a middle class thing...
* I can get by without a car.


Could You Survive In Middle Class?


* I know how to get my children into Little League, piano lessons, soccer, etc.
* I know how to properly set a table. thank you, Girl Guides! Most middle-class families I know don't even eat at a table because it's more convenient to eat in front of the television. Or because everyone is off at little league, piano lessons, soccer, etc.
* I know which stores are most likely to carry the clothing brands my family wears.
* My children know the best name brands in clothing. (why the hell would I even WANT that?)
* I know how to order in a nice restaurant.
* I know how to use a credit card, chequeing account, and savings account—and I understand an annuity. I understand term life insurance, disability insurance, and 20/80 medical insurance policy, as well as house insurance, flood insurance, and replacement insurance. I'm saying yes to all of this even though not all of it is applicable in this country. I know the ins and outs of their local equivalents.
* I talk to my children about going to college. Actually I would talk to them about going to university. College is okay, but university is more important if one has ambition.
* I know how to get one of the best interest rates on my new-car loan. (my credit is wrecked, I couldn't get a car loan without paying highway robbery interest rates. I would probably only buy a car if I had enough money to pay the full price up front (after a little haggling, of course. People like it when you're willing to pay cash and will lower the price a bit because of that.)
* I understand the difference among the principal, interest, and escrow statements on my house payment. assuming I had a house payment of course. Yay university accounting class.
* I know how to help my children with their homework and do not hesitate to call the school if I need additional information.
* I know how to decorate the house for the different holidays. and I know how to do it using recycled, found, or extremely cheap materials, too.
* I know how to get a library card. All the homeless people in my city have library cards so they can have a place to go where they can "read a book" aka sleep without getting arrested and/or kicked back out into the cold during the winter. A library card and a bus pass are two of the best tools for not dying of hypothermia and/or losing one's limbs to frostbite. The library card is the "free" one (the library will waive the exorbitant $12 yearly fee if you say you can't afford it).
* I know how to use most of the tools in the garage.
* I repair items in my house almost immediately when they break—or know a repair service and call it in. if by repair service you mean landlord, dad, brother, or other close aquaintance...


Could You Survive In Wealth?


* I can read a menu in French, English, and another language.
* I have several favourite restaurants in different countries in the world.
* During the holidays, I know how to hire a decorator to identify the appropriate themes and items with which to decorate the house. although I have no clue why I would want to...
* I know who my preferred financial advisor, legal service, designer, domestic-employment service, and hairdresser are. well except for the domestic-employment service. I also have a preferred landscape design person, massage therapist, aesthetician, bra fitter, and home renovation service.
* I have at least two residences that are staffed and maintained.
* I know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty from my domestic staff. in the hypothetical situation where I had a domestic staff, of course.
* I have at least two or three screens that keep people whom I do not wish to see away from me. (does it count if most of them are ex-stalker-boyfriends or collections agencies?)
* I fly in my own plane or the company plane.
* I know how to enroll my children in the preferred private schools. It's not difficult around here.
* I know how to host the parties that key people attend.
* I am on the boards of at least two charities.
* I know the hidden rules of the Junior League.
* I support or buy the work of a particular artist.
* I know how to read a corporate financial statement and analyse my own financial statements. again with university accounting classes and/or Girl Guides.

I... think there are more cultural differences between the United States and Canada than I was ever aware of.  

[Sentama Lin]

When I look at the preferred private schools list, I keep thinking to myself, what does preferred mean in this context? Is it a system of image keeping? What teaches the best curriculum? What makes you look good?

Also, Kalsie, by food stamps. It's essentially a credit one can use here to buy food at various grocery stores. There are like bread stamps, egg stamps, etc., that show what kind of food can be gotten for free using said stamps. Electronic cards in the United States are like EBT or WIC, which are best (though not accurately) explained as pre-paid credit cards that can only be used to purchase certain food items.

I think there are a lot of differences in Canada and the United States, so I think there's some information that can transfer, but not all of it can. After all, I think the book author focuses on the United States mindset of poverty, middle class, and wealth.