"On the experience of being poor-ish, for people who aren't" is a fantastic article about the experience of someone figuring out how to survive when you’re borderline broke. Broke in the literal sense. The "I had to choose between feeding my family or paying for electricity so I could work from home" kind.

But consider that this is a choice I have to make – do I spend 50% more on an apartment and stress my budget to death, or make my wife and kids in a place where I have 5 front doors within 15 feet of ours in the murder-iest part of town? Neither choice is great, but the lack of intermediate choices forces you to do one or the other.

"On the experience of being poor-ish, for people who aren't"

I think it’s really hard for many people to wrap their head around just how difficult it can be to be in that sort of situation. And it seems to be even harder to make your way out of it.

I find this an especially healthy read for myself. I wouldn’t classify myself as rich, but I’m fortunate enough to have never had any financial troubles in my life. It’s difficult for me to truly understand what it’s like to be so poor.

Learning more about the struggles of being so incredibly close to not being able to provide for yourself and your family is incredibly humbling. It makes me feel extremely thankful for how lucky I am. For how lucky I’ve been.

I also wonder how we can bring about lasting change? No one should be forced to make a choice between the ability to work or feeding your family; between food or water; between starving or dying of thirst.