There Are Just a Few Things That the Poor Can Do to Enjoy Themselves. But the Rich Seem to Be Ruining Those Too.
One might argue that poor people love many things more out of necessity as opposed to actual love, but we get used to things and love them for what they provide – whether that’s entertainment, income, comfort or just living more frugally. So let’s delve into 15 Things Loved by the Poor Until Rich People Ruined Them.
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1
Camping
Camping used to be the poor man’s holiday. The holiday where, as you grew older and realized you were poor, you started getting embarrassed telling people that you went camping in the holidays.
Camping equalled poverty.
Camping meant you packed up everything from your own home and drove it to an even sh*ttier spot albeit with a view and then lived off sandwiches and mixed cooldrink for a week or two at a time.
Mind you, families loved it. And as kids, before you realized you were poor, you would enjoy those trips immensely.
Camping is no longer affordable, especially not for lower income families.
To hire a camping spot costs a small fortune and then you need all the bits and bobs to ensure the experience is as relaxing as possible.
Camping is now a rich man’s holiday, minus the sandwiches and mixed cooldrink.
2
Festivals & Conventions
Aluxers, there used to be a time when Comic Con was actually an affordable experience. We are not making this stuff up. Where you could go to a convention and speak to a real-life actor and get a few autographs at the same time.
The same applies with festivals. We just chatted about Burning Man recently, in our video 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Burning Man, and the negative cultural trends that are happening there. People go and glamp it up which goes against what the festival’s purpose is.
At Burning Man’s roots, it started off as a few mates coming together on the summer solstice, burning an 8-foot-tall wooden statue and a small wooden dog. And Aluxers, you know from watching that video that heading to Burning Man costs a decent amount of money.
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3
Small Towns Have Become Gated Communities for the Wealthy
This happens all the time. The wealthy infiltrate the smallest, quaintest most precious little towns and they take over the place and make it their own. They push property prices upwards making the once affordable area, unaffordable for most people.
Before this trend, poorer people were living happily in their simplicity.
The rich arrive to escape the city, but then want to change the village into something better suited to the lifestyle they’re used to… and they basically f*ck it up for everyone who was living there in contentment.
4
Meals Usually Eaten by the Poor
Again Aluxers, we understand that this would have been more out of necessity, but many meals that the poor used to enjoy are now considered delicacies.
However, just because a meal was out of necessity, doesn’t mean it wasn’t enjoyed. It was what was affordable, and the wealthy would turn up their nose at these “inadequate” foods.
Dishes like tripe and trotters, which in case you’re not sure exactly what that is, it’s the internal organs and entrails of an animal.
There’s beef tongue, pork belly and even quinoa. There’s a ton more, but you get the gist. Now these meals are unattainable for poorer people.
Along with these delicacies, another food quite popular among the rich is sushi, check out 15 Things You Didn’t Know About Sushi.
5
Cycling
Aluxers, you might remember a time when people used to ride their bicycles in regular clothes with the one trouser leg tucked into their sock, so it didn’t catch on the chain.
These days, one cannot go for a bike ride without wearing a full cycling kit. From specially designed clip-in shoes, to pants that are padded, to moisture-wicking long sleeves, special glasses and so on.
Poor people not only loved cycling but also depended on it to get from point A to point B. Sadly, cycling has become a rich person’s sport, and even the most affordable bicycle is no longer affordable to many.
6
Farmer’s Markets
Ahh, remember the days when you could meander through a sweet little farmer’s market and purchase 6 eggs, some honey, fresh tomatoes, a bad cup of coffee and still have change from your twenty. Those were good times.
Today, hear the words “Farmer’s Market,” and you can rest assured that you’re going to be charged a month’s salary to pick up an artisan bread, a hand-bottled strawberry jam, which begs the question – how was it bottled before? And don’t forget your ethnically sourced coffee with almond milk, which will cost more than at your usual favourite coffee shop.
7
Theatre
Entertainment for the masses – that was the intent of theatre. The poor loved theatre, and history tells us that during Shakespeare’s time, the poor people would be right in the front while the rich would sit up high so they could see the stage better.
Apparently, the people in the pit were also called penny-stinkers, but that’s a story for another day.
Suffice to say, going to the theatre these days costs a lot of money. If you can only afford the cheaper seats, unfortunately, you do miss out on a lot. I mean, imagine buying Cirque de Soleil tickets, and your view is partially obscured by a pillar, or you’ve bought the cheapest tickets to Disney on Ice, and you are so far away, you’re not sure if it’s Moana or Anna that have made their way onto the ice. #truestory
8
Sewing and Knitting Supplies
Fabric, wool, needles, sewing machines… basically anything in this field is really expensive nowadays. These skills were used by poor people who couldn’t afford to go out and buy new clothes, so they would make their own. Or instead of shelling out money for a warm winter blanket, would knit one themselves.
Again, we reiterate, that sure these were born out of necessity, but sitting at the end of a busy day and knitting while chatting to your family also makes people happy.
Now, knitting becomes a sudden craze, and the prices of everything knitting related goes up. Same for sewing, or any craft that is the latest greatest hobby.
9
Vinyl Collecting
Vinyl collecting was always cool… but then it was affordable. It was a hobby that even those that didn’t have money, could still do and enjoy it.
Try and buy a cheap vinyl today with music that you love, it’s going to cost you.
And Aluxers, we’re not speaking about the vinyl that holds a medley of music from Elvis Presley, Shakin’ Stevens and Chuck Berry, because those can still be picked up at boot sales for a song…
We’re meaning the latest music, the secret tracks, the new release that are only available on LP. You want them, you’ll need to pay for them.
10
Hunting
Do you remember the story of “the most hated man in America?” Jimmy Kimmel gave the 55-year-old dentist that title, whose real name is Walter Palmer, after he shot and killed a lion in Zimbabwe. Palmer paid $55,000 to hunt the animal. After it was wounded from a bow and arrow, the lion walked around for 2 days with an open wound before they managed to find it again to kill it properly.
Back to the cost though, it was $55,000 to shoot one lion.
Poor people loved a hunt. And the difference between a poor person doing a hunt and a rich person, is that the poor person would eat the meat and use the skins whereas the wealthy person would take a photo and be on their way home.
11
Football
Leftvoice.org wrote an entire article about this titled, “Football: Created by the Poor, Stolen by the Rich.”
In a nutshell, footy is a sport that is meant to be for everyone. It’s a game that you don’t need to buy the latest gear, or the correct attire… you could grab a ball, your friends and head outside and kick the ball around.
While the sport can still be played by anyone, it’s become expensive to watch. Poor people would head out to games often, and that’s just not doable anymore.
12
Disney Land
It’s hard to remember a time when Disney Land was actually affordable, but we promise you, there was.
When it opened in 1955, according to CNBC, tickets cost $1 for adults and .50cents for children. It’s clear that the current Disney prices have completely outpaced inflation, making it a luxury only the rich can afford.
AS reported by the LA Times, “the latest illustration is Disney’s abrupt hike in the price of its top-ranked unrestricted Annual Pass to $1,049 from $779, an increase of nearly 35% at a stroke.”
It does go against what Walt Disney said himself though, “Disneyland is a work of love. We didn’t go into Disneyland just with the idea of making money.”
13
Clothing Trends
Vans Sneakers… the much-loved shoe brand integral to any skater’s wardrobe… have been around since 1966.
And to this day, Vans credits the skateboarders for putting their shoes on the map and keeping them there.
They didn’t cost a lot, and they were perfect for skating. But skaters weren’t exactly deemed cream of the crop. Skateboarders were counterculture, and so were the shoes.
Fast-forward and Vans are just as popular, except this time they cost a da*m side more and they’re not first choice for poor people.
14
Cannabis
Weed, Marijuana, Dagga or Ganja, whatever you want to call it – it’s expensive. And before the herb was legal as it now is in many parts of the world, it would cost next to nothing.
Now that it’s legal, there seems to be a high demand, shortage of supply scenario –and it’s priced accordingly.
Cannabis products are on the rise, which is also contributing to the shortage of stock. There are now Cannabis beauty products, cannabis chocolate, sweets, peanut butters, lip balm, cannabis-infused drinks and more.
But Aluxers, it’s like all these kind of trending phases, just give it time and the prices will drop again.
15
Montessori Schools
Montessori schools were meant to be attainable for any income bracket. The resources used in a Montessori schools are designed so that a child can go home and put into practice what they learnt at school.
This was an enormous help to parents who couldn’t afford learning materials.
Sending your child to a Montessori school now is an expensive process, rivalling the cost of private schools in many countries.
Sadly, there are very little options available left for those that are in a lower income bracket.
Question:
Aluxers, what can you add to our list of things loved by the poor until the rich ruined them? We value your input.
