Is it normal to be this ashamed of poverty

There is far too much waste and greed in this world. You should not feel ashamed or jealous because of the situation you're in. In fact, it should be the other way around. You should feel proud that you are not as wasteful and greedy as them. At least you know how to live within your means, many people don't.
This should not be taken to mean that older things are necessarily better or that everyone should be poor. Instead of feeling jealous because they have a better car, think how we can live a better life, without a car. Think instead how we can end this cycle of poverty. Then we can all afford new and better things, but without the waste and greed.

You have nothing to be ashamed of! the fact that other people have more money, better cars or are better dressed than you doesn't make them better persons.

Money come and go. I don't have money either, but I have faith that this will change soon, in the meanwhile enjoy your life and don't let anybody tell you that you don't deserve something.

I understand how you feel, but you don't have to be ashamed. Your personnal belongings don't define who you are!

you need to chill otherwise you will have wasted your life but good luck hope get that sports car and other artificial crap it won't bring you the real happiness you should get by just bein comfortable in yourself

having a car from the 90's isn't the worse, unless your driving an ugly POS like some domestic vehicle. Its okay to rock thrifty vintage as long as you can do it with some style, hipsters right? and plus, 1992 mazda rx7 is still sexy, IDC what you say or think

You do need to be rich or successful to enjoy life. Why, because you and i covet that lifestyle as happiness. But if you aren't having fun now, i don't know how fun it will be like after college, it is college but life after high school? Just like high school...

Embrace it. I've only ever been poor, you learn not to care. Even if I had money, I don't think I'd buy some fancy expensive car...a car gets your ass from point A to point B. As long as it does that, who are you trying to impress?

Everyone has childhood issues, I certainly have several of them and they still haunt my life everyday but I'm still here. Keep studying and give it your all and focus on things that are important. Yes parties are fun but I wouldn't worry about not going to them. Focus in your studies and later on you will start seeing the benefits of your hard effort. Money isn't everything in life.

No need to feel this way. Be happy for what you do have:)

I'm kind of the same, I hate how alot of the things I own aren't new like everyone elses I know. I'm also graduating college/university soon (The main reason why I'm always so broke) And I feel like life isn't going to begin until I get my higher paying job and catch up a little. Just have some patience. Some people just think the way we do :) I don't want people to see where I live either cause it's pretty poor looking. I also insist that i'm financially stable and own my own home before I have children so they live better than I did. Planning ahead I guess lol I hate having to work for most things I get in life, but it's better than some people who give up and resort to spending the rest of their pay cheques on drugs..

I know exactly what you mean. I get it. The whole poor thing, I'm in the same situation and I went to a high school with friends that had money even if they were not really rich and compared to me, it was like having everything in the world! I dressed poorly in the first half and nobody noticed me. Then my second half I used the money I've saved up (finally, because when you're poor that's what you have to do) and bought clothing, changed my appearance a little bit and people notice. So dressing bummy is not "comfortable" and dressing "nice" is basically a requirement in society.

I'm in college now so I don't care as much but I still notice it days when I dress up and down, the variations. Differ from you though, I have both my parents. They are poor immigrants who don't speak english, therefore unable to make a good living for themselves and us. You should see our apartment, it's like shit compared to the houses of my friends' parents. I like you though because I feel like honest,educated, poor people are the most humbled when they "make it" to the 'American Dream'.

I also think fun is entitled to the rich because if you live in society, basically everything costs money to do. I stick mostly to parks and free places to have fun and exercise.

I also try very hard to not let people know I'm poor, its humiliating,even if not everyone can be wealthy. I mask it through my appearance. When I get off the bus and I'm with someone I know, I walk a circle around the neighborhood so that person doesn't know where I live and I try not to let people know exactly so very few people know my address. When I talk about home, I say "house" instead of apartment because that would indicate I'm poor or not average since it seems most people live in houses. I'm in college and I don't have my own room, its a one bedroom apartment with my brother and parents, we sleep in the living room. Sorry this is rediculous now but I felt like I could really relate and this whole thing is jumbled but it's what I'm in so feel some company in misery. :]

Don't worry be happy...

You should feel special because you aren't like them. I myself don't give a crap about rich people and trust me they aren't any happier than you are... if you keep your mind in the positive.

I really never want to be rich it ruins the effort you put in life... it would be no fun.

You just need to be happy with yourself; BE HAPPY YOU HAVE YOURSELF.

Like they always say you need to focus more on your needs than your wants or desires. It is nice to have you wants and desires... but think about it if you had all of them... you wouldn't have anymore wants or desires... it would be pretty boring. You have most of your needs like your car, clothes that you have, shelter and food. You just NEED to focus on the positive.

Like what Marty says... “If you put your mind to it you can accomplish anything”. Which you can accomplish your wants and desires through time and effort.

You'll eventually have a family of your own in the future to if you choose to. Plus meet new people they should never dislike you for who you are... a true friend will stick around and help you when you need it.

Wow this is a long comment... welp... thats all. :)

Yes and no.

It's normal to be ashamed, but not normal to let it rule your life. Take your shame and fuel it towards higher goals. Have fun more, it should make you feel better.

Good Luck:)

I'm in the same boat as you.

Trust me, the term "Broke college student", really isn't a stereotype, it's REALITY.
The reality of being young and too busy with school to dedicate the whole of your energy to promotion or getting a better job, the reality of Mommy and Daddy not buying everything for you. I'm going through a "loser" spell right now. My car is a '90s car and my clothes come from thrift and discount. I don't have much in the way of new things save for some kitchen appliances and hygeine items. Yeah. The towels were a donation from my family =/

Young adulthood sucks. I'm constantly seeing new cars and new houses and nice loving families thinking "Damn, I'm such a loser, I am 20 with nothing but shit to my name".

I don't know whether or not it will get better for the two of us, but I hear that it's worth it. Hey, gotta start somewhere, right?

your ashamed of yourself, not your poverty.

You can't be a student in the UK coz here it is a requirement to seem as poor as possible with beaten up cars and thrift shop clothes :o)

I would park beside the expensive cars too - just in case thieves wanted one to steal. I'd hope they'd pick the nicest one.

You need to realise that people who like you or even those who want to get to know you, don't want you for the car you drive or the clothes or how skinny you are. They like you for being FUN to be around and everyone deserves to have fun every single day of their lives - including their student days! You should be smart enough to know that :o)

I read this recently and copied it for you:-

Alice Herz Sommer, 108-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor, On Conquering Hate (VIDEO)
www.huffingtonpost.com

You really can't go out to a bar or whatever when you know half of the college kids there are in the same situation? I never even thought of this..I'm a poor college kid too but I deserve to have fun damnit.

I don't even have a car or a place to live but hot chicks still love me and give me a place to live...fuck materialistic shit man....

If people don't accept you the way you really are, why would you want to know them?

You have to accept yourself for who you are and the 90's weren't that long ago. Even if it is a 1990 car, that is only 12 years old.

just get drunk...all that goes away with alcohol.