“Overall,” writes Heritage, “the typical American defined as poor by the government has a car, air conditioning, a refrigerator, a stove, a clothes washer and dryer, and a microwave. He has two color televisions, cable or satellite TV reception, a VCR or DVD player, and a stereo. He is able to obtain medical care. His home is in good repair and is not overcrowded. By his own report, his family is not hungry and he had sufficient funds in the past year to meet his family’s essential needs. While this individual’s life is not opulent, it is equally far from the popular images of dire poverty conveyed by the press, liberal activists, and politicians.”

“Nearly three-quarters of poor U.S. households own a car,” says the study, “31 percent own two or more cars. Ninety-seven percent of poor households have a color television; over half own two or more color televisions. Seventy-eight percent have a VCR or DVD player; 62 percent have cable or satellite TV reception. Eighty-nine percent own microwave ovens, more than half have a stereo, and more than a third have an automatic dishwasher.”

In these times of economic hardship, it makes you wonder how desperate some of our fellow Americans really are… Hey, if someone can afford a microwave, stereo, car, color television, and some type of DVD or VCR player, then they can certainly afford to pay the rent or mortgage each month, right?

When read statistics like these, it just makes you wonder how “bad off” we really are during this recession.

Kate Meinhardt felt like a clown jammed into a Volkswagen bug when she lived in a 21-square-foot room aboard a circus train.

Bungee cords crisscrossed her walls once a week to prevent an avalanche of items from raining down. A microwave, mini refrigerator, her laptop and baskets of personal items lined the dorm-like room.

Showering, going to the bathroom and even doing laundry became racing contests on the train, Meinhardt said. The 13 people on board shared one shower, two toilets and one washer and dryer.

Wow. Could you imagine living in a 21-square foot room? That’s about 4 feet by 5 feet – something like a prison cell if you ask me.

The trend towards smaller homes continues. I read an article a few months ago that talked about how people are increasingly downsizing their living spaces to save on utility bills, upkeep, and maintenance costs. Some of these people were moving into 80-square foot homes – entire homes that are only 80 square feet! It sounds crazy, but these people are doing it and doing it successfully.

I’m not looking for an 80 square foot home. I’m looking for your average home size with at least two bedrooms and at least two baths. I’d prefer a home with a yard and a finished basement, but those are what I consider to be somewhat luxury items. Of course I could just move to the Poconos and get a gigantic home for a ridiculously low price, but there are no jobs up in the Poconos…

Is there a day coming when we all live in 80 square foot homes? Doubtful, though there is definitely a day coming when we live in more energy efficient homes which are designed to take advantage of the sun’s heat and the shade provided by trees.

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