Seeing the comments here about people is interesting. Whether it's in the comments or in reality, most people aren't conscious they are poor.

Poverty isn't a privilege reserved to those who live under bridges, or take showers once in a while.

Driving to work and back every day, stuck in traffic, getting home exhausted and not wanting to do anything is poverty.

It's amazing how many guys I know who start working and consider it a success and start spending cash, get a car on credit, get a mortgage and what not. They actually think that having an expensive car makes them rich, yet can't even afford a part of that car breaking. It's a disaster for them.

So, if you have to slave for a pittance (or not, you're slaving anyway). If you can't afford to be ill with some weird disease and getting properly treated for it without waiting social security. If you can't afford a good life for your children. If you can't buy something (a car, a house) without a loan and it still doesn't represent a good portion of your assets..

If you can't do that, you're poor. Poor in money, and most probably poor in time, too.