How Poor Is Poor?

By Joe Cereola

A family living at the poverty level faces considerable challenges. All income is consumed by necessities, leaving little, if anything, to spend on even the small things that make life more enjoyable. But poverty is not about forgoing movies and popcorn; poverty is a life on the precipice of financial ruin. Without health insurance, a serious illness is catastrophic; a car repair, a broken refrigerator, or a traffic ticket becomes a crisis. Money for a rainy-day fund is nonexistent, and saving for retirement is an unaffordable luxury. Poverty means having to survive one's golden years on Social Security and Medicaid.