--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Being poor with three small children is…" description: "\"Being poor with three small children is terrifying. You can't make any plans. You know you're not going on holiday, ever. There's no way you could ever..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/sue-townsend-8170_afford_being-poor-with-three-small-children-is_1954306.jpg" --- # Being poor with three small children is terrifying. You… ![“Being poor with three small children is terrifying. You can't make any plans. You know you're not going on holiday, ever. There's no way you could ever afford driving lessons or a car. And the guilt I used to feel: they had holes in their shoes, and at one point, I had to send them to school…” quote by Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/sue-townsend-8170_afford_being-poor-with-three-small-children-is_1954306.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/sue-townsend-8170_afford_being-poor-with-three-small-children-is_1954306.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bb7/sue-townsend-8170_afford_being-poor-with-three-small-children-is_1954306.jpg) > “Being poor with three small children is terrifying. You can't make any plans. You know you're not going on holiday, ever. There's no way you could ever afford driving lessons or a car. And the guilt I used to feel: they had holes in their shoes, and at one point, I had to send them to school wearing Wellingtons when the sun was shining.” [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Poverty with children creates constant fear and limits future planning, leading to chronic stress. **In simple terms:** Being poor with kids is scary and blocks planning. Key Takeaway Seek community support and advocacy. Themes poverty family stress inequality Mood empathetic somber Type personal social When to use this quote - single parents - low‑income families - social workers - NGOs Key Concepts social safety nets child welfare psychological impact Questions to Reflect On - What resources could break this cycle? - How does societal stigma affect help‑seeking? A Different Perspective Systemic change is needed beyond personal coping. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Driving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/driving/) [Guilt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guilt/) [Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/holiday/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Shining](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shining/) [Small children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-children/) [Sun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sun/) [Terrifying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/terrifying/) ## Related quotes > [Nature reserves the right to inflict upon her children the most terrifying jests.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thornton-wilder/nature-reserves-the-right-to-inflict-upon-her-children-the-most/) [Thornton Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thornton-wilder/) > [The war against war is going to be no holiday excursion or camping party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/the-war-against-war-is-going-to-be-no-holiday-excursion-or-camping/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [I have an art-school background, not a fashion background where it's like, 'Oh, we're going on holiday to Miami.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-deacon/i-have-an-art-school-background-not-a-fashion-background-where-it-s/) [Giles Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-deacon/) > [I've never stayed in a tent or a caravan in my life, and I never joined the Boy Scouts. I don't see the point…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-wogan/i-ve-never-stayed-in-a-tent-or-a-caravan-in-my-life-and-i-never/) [Terry Wogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-wogan/) > [I enjoy shopping and going on holiday.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tamara-ecclestone/i-enjoy-shopping-and-going-on-holiday/) [Tamara Ecclestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tamara-ecclestone/) > [People are lost. Their feelings are based around material things, and because that doesn't make them happy, they look for something else: bullfighting or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justo-gallego/people-are-lost-their-feelings-are-based-around-material-things-and/) [Justo Gallego](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justo-gallego/) > [I have been keeping myself fit. I am going on holiday next week in the Mediterranean so that I can really unwind after the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-ginola/i-have-been-keeping-myself-fit-i-am-going-on-holiday-next-week-in-the/) [David Ginola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-ginola/) > [One of the biggest things I used to struggle with was about things like going on holiday. Whereas all your friends can talk about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-booth/one-of-the-biggest-things-i-used-to-struggle-with-was-about-things/) [Douglas Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-booth/) > [“Small children are great accepters. They don’t understand shame, or the need to hide things.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/small-children-are-great-accepters-they-don-t-understand-shame-or-the/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [“I’m attracting small children,” Orma muttered, twisting his hat in his hands. “Shoo it away, will you?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hartman/i-m-attracting-small-children-orma-muttered-twisting-his-hat-in-his/) [Rachel Hartman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hartman/) > [Well, I've got two small children and this is a very important time for me to be around them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/treat-williams/well-i-ve-got-two-small-children-and-this-is-a-very-important-time/) [Treat Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/treat-williams/) > [Dogs, like very small children, are quite mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-white-2/dogs-like-very-small-children-are-quite-mad/) [T. H. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-h-white-2/) > [Blame is for God and small children.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-hoffman/blame-is-for-god-and-small-children/) [Dustin Hoffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-hoffman/) > [Being a display pilot is probably the thing I've been most proud of in my life. Don't really fly anymore now though. I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-numan/being-a-display-pilot-is-probably-the-thing-i-ve-been-most-proud-of/) [Gary Numan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-numan/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) ## More by Sue Townsend > [I always wanted to be Jo in 'Little Women.' She's a bit reckless and feckless, always getting into trouble like me. But I'm probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-always-wanted-to-be-jo-in-little-women-she-s-a-bit-reckless-and/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Sex with the gorilla went on a bit, but once he'd stumbled over my clitoris we both had good times.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/sex-with-the-gorilla-went-on-a-bit-but-once-he-d-stumbled-over-my/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [Yes, I hate it when people call me a 'national treasure'. It takes away your bite and makes you feel like a harmless old…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/yes-i-hate-it-when-people-call-me-a-national-treasure-it-takes-away/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I am the world's worst diabetic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-am-the-world-s-worst-diabetic/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Personally, nothing would surprise me any more. If my father announced that he was really a Russian agent or my mother ran away with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/personally-nothing-would-surprise-me-any-more-if-my-father-announced/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Pauline: "All under-fives are mad Adrian, you used to talk to the moon. You invited it to your birthday party and cried when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/pauline-all-under-fives-are-mad-adrian-you-used-to-talk-to-the-moon/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [“Had a note from Mr Cherry asking me when I can resume my paper round. I sent a note back to say that due…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/had-a-note-from-mr-cherry-asking-me-when-i-can-resume-my-paper-round/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > ['The Gambler' by Dostoevsky. It was the first time I realised that it was possible to have good and evil in one person. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/the-gambler-by-dostoevsky-it-was-the-first-time-i-realised-that-it/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [People down on their luck deserve the best: beautiful surroundings and well-paid professional staff to help them out of their difficulties. Why not train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/people-down-on-their-luck-deserve-the-best-beautiful-surroundings-and/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [Most social problems could be helped or prevented if people had more money and practical advice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/most-social-problems-could-be-helped-or-prevented-if-people-had-more/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I take life very seriously. I can laugh at it, because what else can you do? But it's a hard daily battle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-take-life-very-seriously-i-can-laugh-at-it-because-what-else-can/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [Yes - I am usually overweight. I have had to be interested in diet because of being diabetic for 30 years and having kidney failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/yes-i-am-usually-overweight-i-have-had-to-be-interested-in-diet/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [My dark secrets are life threatening. Pockets of unhappiness set in aspic that build and build. I have this primitive feeling that if something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/my-dark-secrets-are-life-threatening-pockets-of-unhappiness-set-in/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [I'd love a day devoid of responsibilities. I've often thought about going to a hotel just to have a day away from everything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/i-d-love-a-day-devoid-of-responsibilities-i-ve-often-thought-about/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) > [In the early days, it was, you know, I used to weep while I was writing. I used to grab at any kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-townsend/in-the-early-days-it-was-you-know-i-used-to-weep-while-i-was-writing/) [Sue Townsend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) [Explore all 82 Sue Townsend quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-townsend/) ## More Afford quotes > [We can't afford any president to fail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-beck/we-can-t-afford-any-president-to-fail/) [Glenn Beck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-beck/) > [Just because you can afford it doesn't mean you should buy it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/just-because-you-can-afford-it-doesn-t-mean-you-should-buy-it/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [I am not a Ph.D. in economics or a doctorate in literature that I can afford to take my singing lightly. Even if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kailash-kher/i-am-not-a-ph-d-in-economics-or-a-doctorate-in-literature-that-i-can/) [Kailash Kher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kailash-kher/) > [Now I'm having to live with sales of around 50,000 per album - but I'm pretty content with my place in the general scheme…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-knopfler/now-i-m-having-to-live-with-sales-of-around-50-000-per-album-but-i-m/) [David Knopfler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-knopfler/) > [I was lucky because I got so successful so early, and when you get successful early, then you can afford to be a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-von-furstenberg/i-was-lucky-because-i-got-so-successful-so-early-and-when-you-get/) [Diane von Furstenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-von-furstenberg/) > [I have crooked toes from wearing boots that didn't fit me because that's all I could afford as a kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lomu/i-have-crooked-toes-from-wearing-boots-that-didn-t-fit-me-because/) [Jonah Lomu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lomu/) > [The most common reason new mothers return to work sooner than they'd like to is because they can't afford to go without their salaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexa-von-tobel/the-most-common-reason-new-mothers-return-to-work-sooner-than-they-d/) [Alexa Von Tobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexa-von-tobel/) > [This fatigue can not afford to do](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israa-ali/this-fatigue-can-not-afford-to-do/) [ISRAA ALI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israa-ali/) > [A good player is a good player, it's just that we cannot afford signings that do not work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-dyche/a-good-player-is-a-good-player-it-s-just-that-we-cannot-afford/) [Sean Dyche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-dyche/) > [I'm not the most talented writer in the world. I know that. But I also know that I'm disciplined, that I work my butt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-coe/i-m-not-the-most-talented-writer-in-the-world-i-know-that-but-i-also/) [David B. Coe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-b-coe/) > [Unfortunately, some people go to a restaurant, and they aren't really there to enjoy themselves. They're there because they think they deserve to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-dinicol/unfortunately-some-people-go-to-a-restaurant-and-they-aren-t-really/) Joe Dinicol > [Nobody has so many friends that he can afford to lose one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/nobody-has-so-many-friends-that-he-can-afford-to-lose-one/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [My earliest memories were when my mom would put me in the plays that she was in because she couldn't afford a babysitter... she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-applegate/my-earliest-memories-were-when-my-mom-would-put-me-in-the-plays-that/) [Christina Applegate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-applegate/) > [In Washington journalists can afford to live almost as well as people who work for a living.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/in-washington-journalists-can-afford-to-live-almost-as-well-as-people/) [P. J. O'Rourke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-j-o-rourke/) > [I'm a little bit tough because I can't afford to get my heart broken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandi-glanville/i-m-a-little-bit-tough-because-i-can-t-afford-to-get-my-heart-broken/) [Brandi Glanville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandi-glanville/) Browse all 784 Afford quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Being poor with three small children is terrifying. You can't make any plans. You know you're not going on holiday, ever. There's no way you could ever afford driving lessons or a car. 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