Ep.60- 5 Big Moments You Realize You Aren't Poor Anymore

Read Time: 3 Minutes.

This article is inspired by an article from MarketWatch by reporter Alessandra Malito, where she calls out the big moment where many people suddenly realize they are not poor anymore.

What's the moment, you ask? It's grocery shopping, specifically the moment when you are not doing mental math anymore at the check-out counter. Yep. Been there, done that. 

Grocery shopping is by no means the only big moment. Here are 5 more moments you suddenly realize you are no longer poor.

1. YOU HAVE YOUR OWN NETFLIX ACCOUNT

I remember the days I "borrowed" my friend's Netflix password, and my friend's brother's HBO password. If you are around my age or younger, you probably remember a similar time in the not-so-distance past, or maybe you are still "borrowing" right now. 

2. YOU NO LONGER ONLY DRIVE TO THE CHEAPEST GAS STATION

Growing up, my parents always shopped around for the cheapest gas, which is usually at Costco. As a result, we usually waited for the gas tank to be empty, before going on a Costco shopping trip. That drilled into my head.  In the earlier years of my career, after work, I would take a detour home just to save a 10 cents on gas. However, that is no longer the case. 

3. YOU AUTOMATICALLY TIP 20% 

I was taught to tip differently between 15% and 25% based on the quality of service. More and more often now although not all the time, I find myself tipping 20% regardless for its convenience.

4. YOU USE A THING CALLED "HEATER" IN THE WINTER

When It becomes cold in the rare days in Southern California, my parents used to tell me to layer up as the ultimate solution. Only in the rarest cases, I was allowed to enjoy the luxury of a space heater, still NOT central heating.  Well... that's no longer a concern nowadays.

5. YOU SPLIT A BILL EVENLY, NOT JUST YOUR SHARE

The first coupe of years after college, I was a very big advocate on paying for what you order at a group dinner.  The chances are, there are always people who order more drinks, or the most expensive thing on the menu, while someone else only orders a small salad. It seemed like the most reasonable practice at the time. But as I get older and progress in my career,  I'd rather split the meal evenly, because it saves time, and possible some awkward silence.

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