This is such a different experience than being poor-ish in eastern Europe. I grew up in a below-average household, my SO in outright poverty. We couldn't affo

This is such a different experience than being poor-ish in eastern Europe. I grew up in a below-average household, my SO in outright poverty. We couldn't afford shool books and clothes other than off brand stuff, her family had to buy appliances like a washing machine or refrigerator used. The five of us lived in a 45m2(500sq. ft.?) apartment, the four of them in a 25m2 one. My dad bought his car in 1992 new (back when we were better off), and accumulated less than 140k km over the 23 years he had it, both of her parents didn't have a driving license. But with all that we could rely on public healthcare, transportation and the areas we lived in were relatively safe.