Expert: Chris G. - 5/5/2009

Question
If you live on welfare and medicaid,does that mean that you are poor but you don't live under poor conditions?
Are low income and poor the same?
But what if you have more than what you need?
Plus you have the basic neccessities?
Does this make you poor?

Answer
Poor is more of a state of mind. If you don't have much money, then you are probably broke, but I wouldn't say that you are poor. There have been times in my life that I was broke and living off of unemployment with very little income coming in each month, but I never considered myself to be poor.

If you are able to take care of your basic neccessities, then you can live to fight another day. And most people can make enough money to take care of their needs, even if they aren't living very impressive lifestyles.