1. Never pity yourself. Ever. There is always someone who has it worse than you, no matter how bad it seems relatively. Self pity is whiny and counter productive, and also rude for not thinking of what you are blessed with compared to some others in the world, so stop doing it. 2. Pennies add up. When birthday money pays for tolietries for the year, you learn budgeting early. You may want that 5 dollar dove shampoo now, but you better settle for Suave if you want shampoo in 7 months. 3. You are responsible for your own success or failure, nobody else. Poverty can make it tough, but it teaches you that you start determining your life trajectory with your high school grades. High school leads to college leads to your future, and without monetary support from parents, you know every step of the way is on you, no one else. 4. Poor people are the most fun. Albiet at times with crazy conspiracy theories, they know how to let loose and be crass. Sure your Uncle's knee high moccasins