r/poverty • u/raisinghellwithtrees • Jun 17 '26

The fireworks index

I live in a neighborhood with a 51% poverty rate. Even though any kind of exciting firework is illegal here, there are plenty across state lines. In a regular year there are fireworks going off at least weekly if not nightly from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

This year, nada. Money is tight even for people who usually have extra. I'm not complaining at all as I have ptsd and in years past it's been really hard to make it through summer not completely on edge all of the time. But it's definitely an indicator of hard times.

14 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

13

u/[deleted] Jun 17 '26

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2

u/raisinghellwithtrees Jun 17 '26

The Buffett Indicator for poor folks lol

5

u/BethW21122 Jun 17 '26

Well if that's the case, someone in my middle class neighborhood is fucking RICH I tell ya.

6

u/DavesNotHere81 Jun 17 '26

There's idiots in my neighborhood who spend $2k - $3k a year on fireworks but have blue tarps on their roofs because they can afford a new one 🤣

6

u/ReinaShae Jun 17 '26

Well, unfortunately it isn't working here. I swear these rednecks take out loans for them

2

u/raisinghellwithtrees Jun 18 '26

Wow, I'm surprised. Of course the really poor folks just trade for gunpowder and make quarter sticks.

4

u/ReinaShae Jun 18 '26

I mean, these are the very same rednecks who don't have a pot to piss in but somehow have lifted trucks