The joy of not having much

Exactly. I have seen close knit family separated by too much wealth. I have seen and heard news of siblings fighting over inheritance. I have witness family ties loosen due to lifestyle. So, money and material things doesn't always mean happiness. Sometimes,a simple life gives contentment for the heart and true happiness in he real essence of the word.

I am happy about our family till today even most of us are not in our place. We are just sharing news even we are apart. When compared to earlier situation, everyone is doing great. I have not experienced the poverty or being wealthy. But our family taught us how to respect the other beings as like other human than giving importance to money or other wealth. If we learned that style, whatever we are wealthy or poor, wherever we are in, we would be in the same family.

It is the same here in many ways. I have a daughter who is working to live frugally and enhance family time with her children, and the kids still have an embarrassment of items, to the point they do not mind destroying and wasting them. We grandparents contribute, because we want to give them all the stuff that we could not give our own children. I think personally, I am going to look into giving "experiences" to the family. Hubby and I took the girls to the park while the new baby brother had a check up. My brother gave this family a year long pass to a local zoo one year. It was thoroughly appreciated and enjoyed. I may pay for swimming lessons this summer. My daughter treasures what I did for her, and wants to do all the same for her children, but she has a really level head on her shoulders. The oldest girl got a new movie in February for entertainment at her birthday party--at this point she and her sister would love to watch it every day and there is always at least one grown up watching it with them. I am like you and see that the joy comes not in things but in time spent together.

for me i don't need much, i only need good relationship with family and other people. i can do without much money. even the little money i earn online is more than enough. but because the situation at home is not that favorable to me, so i do tend to depend on money so that i can get the means to go elsewhere and spend my time outside and eat outside to escape the problem and pressure at home. if i don't have problems at home or things are not that complicated at home, then i would be happy with the small thing i have at home. i won't need to buy or spend a lot outside.

Hi there... Well said. We had not that much siblings, we were only two, me and my sister. We did the same as you, I mean as your mom provided a mango having 9 pieces. Now a days, i have also observed that that endearment is not seen as oldies. Don't know the reason, may be people are going to be more materialistic. Have a nice time.

I don't come from a rich family either, but i would say our income's rising. we had problems before but things were simple and expectations were easier to manage. When my mom went somewhere for work, i'd been ecstatic when she came home with donuts. now, donuts no longer suffice. suddenly, keeping people happy became more expensive. it's just sad. i've been watching it happen to my family, and i feel shame for participating. our mistake was putting a value price on attention, time, and company. before, it was normal to come together and chat at the living room over bananas. now, we have to come up with expensive plans to eat out just to come together and meet. and to make things worse, money is eating up my father's senses. i wouldn't say that i prefer to live in poverty. but we must be careful not to make wealth the first consideration.

I kno how this feels! Not because I had this growing up, but because my family is pretty low in the financial stature. Now my hubby and I are happy with our life. We are stable and have what we NEED. Not always what everyone wants. Like they have each meal, but it might entail baked beans and hot dogs as a main staple. But because we live in a community that has many resources set up to help bridge the struggles for low income families. It is tough but we just keep the peace and faith in our hearts and souls and I know that we will be okay. My husband is a man of faith and he is so simple, AND humble. As long as he knows things will be okay, I know that they will. However we might be leaving MI and moving to TX. I am ready. I will start packing tomorrow. And thats because the entire state seem to be getting worse and worse. It one thing if our family needs to be conservative. But our main city is about to run out of money!! And then the theres no telling what will happen.

i think that kids that grew up during the depression and hard times are happier than today's generation that have or can get almost anything they want. there is a lot to be said about families that grew up poor. like you said, they stick together.

OH, my Lord...allknowing, I think your Brother (elder)and I were cast from the same mould..BRIBERY (our innate means of survival..LOL)! Poor as Church mice (or poorer)...survival for me, was always BRAIN over Braun...I could outwit and outlast, therefore somewhat revered..I got extra portions for doing the exact same thing...exemplory homework! There is FAR TOO MUCH today...of everything..BUT the "complete family unit!" And how I miss having nothing...BUT in reality, having everything as family!

I have to agree. There is more to life and relationships than material things.I was raised with less than most and the truth is I had a great childhood. My grandparents spent their savings fostering children and raising their own. I was the last one they took. We didn't have a lot but they give me all they could and all they were. I take that with me now and teach my own children.

I see each enjoy their pleasure, or we watch the same movies which is not at the same time, or even we watch different movies at the same time:) So we rarely talk about what we watched. I remember, a sense of togetherness that we have seen, or we feel, that we've always long for. But now I'm trying to enjoy the days at home with my family, and always try to share interesting things with my family and friends:)

Look in positif way, you have many kids, an you can make them to work with you, and you can get money from them if they work, its happy if you have a big family.