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> > I knew I was the only poor person at my tech startup because I made more there than I’d ever made before; a daring amount I had been afraid to ask for durin

> > I knew I was the only poor person at my tech startup because I made more there than I’d ever made before; a daring amount I had been afraid to ask for during the offer process. I discovered through misadventure that I still made less than any of the executive assistants, or the receptionist. I was, in fact, the lowest-paid person in the building including the interns. I hadn’t known what was possible, so I couldn’t even think to ask for what I was worth to them. A lot of these issues would probably have been fixed if they just earned market rate. It seems that they were very underpaid. It is unsurprising that they felt poor when they earned the least of anyone in the company.

shoo 5y ago
harder to negotiate a good deal for yourself when you are operating at an information disadvantage (e.g. not having friends/family/former classmates as peers in industry to give insider advice), if you don't have good alternative to employer lowball offer, or you are in poorer negotiating position due to having fewer resources (cash, time, higher expenses due to not having enough cash & stability to secure cheaper long term accommodation, etc).
- mwcampbell 5y ago
  I don't blame her for not negotiating a good deal; I blame the company for screwing her over.
sidlls 5y ago
This person is writing from a lifetime of being poor, not being cash poor in-the-moment because of a salary. This article resonates strongly with me. I grew up poor, too, and even though I have a 7 figure net worth now one of the first things I consider for anything is the cost. I don't have to, but I still do. I eat the low rent snacks and I use the company's daily cafeteria allowance to eat a sensible lunch and then take the rest home to share with the family. Being poor in America isn't just about money--it's about the psychological barriers and oppression that are erected.
- colinmhayes 5y ago
  I grew up upper middle class and do the same thing. I know generationally wealthy people that do too.
  - sidlls 5y ago
    But you didn't and don't have to just to survive, and neither do those with generational wealth. The context certainly matters.
    - 6gvONxR4sf7o 5y ago
      I thought your point was the psychology: you don't have to anymore but you still do.
      - sidlls 5y ago
        Yes, but the person I responded to never had to, except perhaps to consider how often rather than whether. Those with generational wealth never had to for any reason. Those are important differences in context.

shoo 5y ago

harder to negotiate a good deal for yourself when you are operating at an information disadvantage (e.g. not having friends/family/former classmates as peers in industry to give insider advice), if you don't have good alternative to employer lowball offer, or you are in poorer negotiating position due to having fewer resources (cash, time, higher expenses due to not having enough cash & stability to secure cheaper long term accommodation, etc).

mwcampbell 5y ago
I don't blame her for not negotiating a good deal; I blame the company for screwing her over.

sidlls 5y ago

This person is writing from a lifetime of being poor, not being cash poor in-the-moment because of a salary. This article resonates strongly with me. I grew up poor, too, and even though I have a 7 figure net worth now one of the first things I consider for anything is the cost. I don't have to, but I still do. I eat the low rent snacks and I use the company's daily cafeteria allowance to eat a sensible lunch and then take the rest home to share with the family. Being poor in America isn't just about money--it's about the psychological barriers and oppression that are erected.

colinmhayes 5y ago
I grew up upper middle class and do the same thing. I know generationally wealthy people that do too.
- sidlls 5y ago
  But you didn't and don't have to just to survive, and neither do those with generational wealth. The context certainly matters.
  - 6gvONxR4sf7o 5y ago
    I thought your point was the psychology: you don't have to anymore but you still do.
    - sidlls 5y ago
      Yes, but the person I responded to never had to, except perhaps to consider how often rather than whether. Those with generational wealth never had to for any reason. Those are important differences in context.