How sad. I hope your friend can find something, especially if he is supporting a lot of family. I understand being unable to accept that your next job won't be better than your last, or at least as good. It makes it immediately apparent that progress is a lie.
Growing up poor certainly doesn't guarantee that you will live frugally as an adult. My husband's parents grew up poor, which meant they didn't know how to manage money when they started bringing in more significant amounts and they eventually had to declare bankruptcy. My parents grew up working class and are relatively frugal, but my father is a big advocate of "you can't take it with you" and so likes to spend on things like hunting trips and family vacations. I grew up pretty much working class/lower middle class (my parents didn't really climb into a secure middle class position until I'd moved away from home; much of my extended family is or has been on welfare at various points) and I hate spending money because I like to feel in control and am always afraid of the bottom dropping out. All of which to say - our society is really messed up when it comes to money! All the emotions rolled up into our interactions with money and wealth will complicate the situation.
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Date: 2020-09-16 06:48 pm (UTC)Growing up poor certainly doesn't guarantee that you will live frugally as an adult. My husband's parents grew up poor, which meant they didn't know how to manage money when they started bringing in more significant amounts and they eventually had to declare bankruptcy. My parents grew up working class and are relatively frugal, but my father is a big advocate of "you can't take it with you" and so likes to spend on things like hunting trips and family vacations. I grew up pretty much working class/lower middle class (my parents didn't really climb into a secure middle class position until I'd moved away from home; much of my extended family is or has been on welfare at various points) and I hate spending money because I like to feel in control and am always afraid of the bottom dropping out. All of which to say - our society is really messed up when it comes to money! All the emotions rolled up into our interactions with money and wealth will complicate the situation.