I grew up poor & there was 13 things that gave me away – I was called ‘tacky’ for my Umbro trousers which I saw as cool
A YOUNG woman has revealed that she grew up poor in the noughties and there were 13 things that gave it away.
Sadie Bass, a content creator from the UK, explained that not only did she have to share bath water, but she was also never allowed branded items, and was called ‘tacky’ by her school peers for her Umbro tracksuit bottoms.
In addition to this, the brunette beauty confessed that Disney Channel and the ice cream van were off the cards, and instead, she would have free school meals, no school trips or fancy holidays, and would only eat items from Tesco’s value range.
Opening up about her childhood on social media, Sadie shared the things “you will only understand or know about if you grew up poor or working class”.
She explained that instead of having a gas bill, her family had a gas and electric key, as she shared: “So basically when the electric goes out, it starts beeping and the whole house shuts down, there’s no electricity.
“It’s great because you don’t get caught out with massive gas and electric bills, but it’s also not great because you have to keep topping it up, and it’s just a unique, poor person experience.”
Not only this, but Sadie claimed that she was never allowed to “use the ice cream van”, as she added: “Your mum would be like ‘we’ve got chocolate ices in the freezer’ – and let me tell you, those chocolate ices slapped, they were only about £1, but you weren’t allowed to have two, they were sacred and delicious.”
As well as this, Sadie continued: “I think the biggest marker of whether someone grew up working class or middle class is whether they had Disney Channel.
“I was so jealous of people who had it. I missed out on watching Camp Rock, High School Musical – but you could always watch at your friend’s house, it was crack to kids back then.”
Sadie claimed that another thing that flagged her lack of funds was having “Tesco’s value in the cupboards.”
She beamed: “In the 2007/2008 recession, Tesco‘s value kept us going.
“It was the ugliest packaging I’d ever seen on anything, no thrills, but you could get custard creams, bourbons for 10p.”
The young woman shared that free school meals gave her “trauma”, as she revealed: “Great that the government offered that, but it was just so obvious you were different from everyone else.
“I was so jealous of people who had packed lunches, I had to have the sloppy jacket potatoes. It makes you feel ashamed and different to everyone else.”
Sadie confessed that sharing bath water was commonplace in her working class household, as she admitted: “It’s actually so gross, but sharing bath water.
“It takes a lot of water and a lot of heating to do a bath, so when you were kids someone would have a bath and you would just share their bath water.”
What It's Really Like Growing Up On A Council Estate
Fabulous reporter, Leanne Hall, recalls what it's like growing up in social housing.
As someone who grew up in a block of flats on a council estate, there are many wild stories I could tell.
From seeing a neighbour throw dog poo at the caretaker for asking them to mow their lawn (best believe they ended up on the Jeremy Kyle show later in life) to blazing rows over packages going missing, I’ve seen it all.
While there were many times things kicked off, I really do believe most of the time it’s because families living on council estates get to know each other so well, they forget they’re neighbours and not family.
Yes, things can go from zero to 100 quickly, but you know no matter what you can rely on your neighbour to borrow some milk or watch all of the kids playing outside.
And if you ask me, it’s much nicer being in a tight community where boundaries can get crossed than never even knowing your neighbour’s name while living on a fancy street.
In addition to this, Sadie explained that she knew she grew up poor, because she was never allowed to have branded items.
The British woman reminisced: “I remember everyone had Nike and Adidas tracksuit bottoms and I just want to be like the cool kids so bad but obviously your family can’t afford it, so I think I got Umbro ones, and I thought it was so cool.
“I got to school and everyone was like ‘that is so cringey and tacky, can’t believe you’re wearing them, that is so embarrassing’.”
Not only was Sadie not allowed to have “cool” branded things, but she also never got “new things that came out”.
She remembered: “By the time you could afford it, for your birthday or Christmas, everyone’s already playing a different game and you can’t get involved.”
When you were kids someone would have a bath and you would just share their bath water
Sadie Bass
Reflecting on harder times, Sadie highlighted that school trips were always off the cards, as she admitted: “One thing that still makes me really sad is not being able to go on the big school trips because they’re too expensive.
“You’re literally just sat in school for the day, feeling like a little loser looking out of the window.”
Similar to this, growing up poor meant that trips abroad were also limited, as she added: “Not really going on holidays – your holidays would be in England to either a caravan park, or to your grandparent’s house in the countryside.”
I remember being so embarrassed for people to come and stay around my house
Sadie Bass
As well as no holidays, Sadie explained that being poor meant that she had to walk everywhere.
She shared: “Thinking you literally had to be rich to have a car because your family didn’t and having to get the bus everywhere.”
But that’s not all, as Sadie also asked her followers: “Who remembers going into Jane Norman and you’d buy the cheapest thing just so you could have the shopping carrier bag to use as a PE bag.
“We didn’t even have normal bags and that was like the biggest status symbol in the 2000s, you had to have a shopping bag for a PE bag.”
I was so jealous of people who had packed lunches, I had to have the sloppy jacket potatoes
Sadie Bass
The influencer also admitted her embarrassment about having people over to her home, as she highlighted: “I just remember being so embarrassed for people to come and stay around my house – all my friends had massive flat screen TVs or really nice houses and I just thought people were gonna judge me, but I remember being so worried about things like that.”
But despite it all, Sadie claimed that growing up poor has made her who she is today, as she concluded: “I will say, as hard as it was growing up like that, it does make you the person you are today.
Free cash schemes if you're struggling
Many of us are still struggling with the high cost of living - but there's help you can get.
New or expectant parents can get up to £442 a year to spend on food through Healthy Start scheme.
Some new parents can get £500 via the Sure Start Maternity Grant. The money is designed to help you cover the costs of having a child.
Councils also offer support through the welfare assistance schemes, to help cover the costs of essentials, from buying new furniture to food vouchers.
The amount you can get varies but an investigation by The Sun found that hard-up Brits can apply for help worth up to £1,000.
Discretionary Housing Payment is a pot of money handed out by councils to those struggling to keep a roof over their heads.
A scheme is available for those who find themselves unable to cover housing costs, though the exact amount varies as each local authority dishes out the cash on a case-by-case basis.
Many energy forms offer grants to help cash-tight customers. The exact amount varies depending on your supplier and you circumstances, but could be as much a £2,000.
“It is a character building – it makes you really kind, really empathetic, I feel like it made me ambitious.
“I wouldn’t have that fire and passion to be successful if I just had everything I wanted growing up, so it gives you good vibes and it gives you good humour.”
SOCIAL MEDIA USERS RELATE
The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @sadiebass16, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up 620,200 views in just two days.
Whilst many social media users could relate to Sadie, many also shared examples of how they knew they grew up poor.
This is my entire childhood
TikTok user
One person said: “I remember thinking you were rich rich if you had kitchen roll.”
Another added: “Leaving the oven door open after using it to heat the house.”
A third commented: “Please say you remember in the 2000’s when all the middle class girlies had Paul’s Boutique?? I used to be so jealous coming from a poor council home.”
A fourth admitted: “Not being allowed to answer the door incase it was the bailiffs.”
Meanwhile, someone else penned: “Omg I’m getting flashbacks.”
At the same time, another user chimed in: “This is my entire childhood.”