Mom Living Paycheck to Paycheck Has PSA for Parents: Learn ‘How to Be Poor’

A mom of four has sent a clear message to parents who say they are struggling to get by: Learn “how to be poor.”

A YouGov survey of just over 2,400 adults that was commissioned by financial services company Bankrate this year found that 34 percent of respondents said they were living paycheck to paycheck, meaning they have little to no money left over after covering their monthly expenses.

Jenni Maharidge from Metro Detroit, Michigan, and her family are among those living paycheck to paycheck. She was laid off from her job last year but considers herself “pretty savvy in general.”

“I have been a mom for 20 years,” Maharidge told Newsweek. “My kids are almost 19, 16, 7, and 5. It is much harder to be a mom now financially than it was 20 years ago but there are so many resources that I didn’t have then that I have now. I had to figure a lot out myself.”

So when she saw a video on TikTok of a mom complaining that she had to “ration her kids’ bacon” she felt compelled to speak up with a message that, while unconventional, carried real-world wisdom with it.

To Maharidge’s way of thinking, the stark reality is that many people struggling right now need to learn “how to be poor” or essentially live within their means and budget carefully and accordingly.

“Managing finances and daily life can be incredibly challenging when income is limited. It often requires developing strategies to navigate your resources effectively,” she said. “Many people aren’t taught these skills, as they typically come from personal experiences.”

Maharidge acknowledges that “prices are way too high” right now in the supermarket but the strife for some is being exacerbated because they “do not know how to sacrifice comfort and convenience because they’ve never had to.”

She understands the argument put forward by many that she shouldn’t have to live this way but explains that the reality is that this is “where we are in this economy.”

So how do you learn to be poor? It starts by making your own food. “Avoid processed foods because they’re more expensive than making them yourself,” she said. “For example, one of my son’s favorites used to be the Stouffer’s frozen chicken Alfredo with broccoli. I found that I can make 16 of them with fresh ingredients for the same price as buying five frozen ones. And the taste is a hundred times better.”

Maharidge plans meals around whatever is on sale at the supermarket, with ground beef, chicken and sausage particular favorites, though only used sparingly. “We don’t eat much meat anymore, just at dinner, because it’s expensive,” she said.

Maharidge also preps meals whenever she can, so there is never a temptation for anyone to go for something quick, easy and processed. “Prep as much as you can in one day,” she said. “For example, I can make 30 breakfast burritos that contain eggs, cheese, ground sausage, peppers, and onions for around $15. They’re good in the freezer for about 30 days.”

Maharidge also has a list of “go-to” products she always has in plentiful supply at home. They include milk, eggs, bread, butter, apples and bananas. She makes a point of keeping everything one needs for baking in stock, like flour, sugar, baking soda and vanilla extract. “You can make so many things with just those ingredients,” she said.

Though she got by without it in the past, Maharidge would also encourage those struggling for inspiration about what to make to turn to the internet for help. She regularly finds recipes on TikTok and YouTube and has even employed the help of AI. “You can put what you have in your house into ChatGPT and ask it to come up with a meal, and it will in seconds,” she said.

Maharidge doesn’t see the economic situation improving anytime soon. “It’s either going to stay the same or get worse,” she said. That is why she believes those struggling really do need to learn “how to be poor” or they might just end up learning the hard way.