Living without financial resources makes life profoundly challenging, and even basic necessities feel like a luxury compared to the comforts enjoyed by others.

“money doesn't make happiness money blah blah blah I'm like give me the money and then keep the happiness because I have been without money and I know what it feels like all day long I prefer being with money”

Megan feels that her childhood experiences with food stamps and subsidized services caused her to feel inferior and powerless compared to her peers.

“it goes back to I grew up with a single mom who was we were really poor she she still makes ten dollars an hour and she did throughout my childhood and we had to ask for a lot of help like we had food stamps we had the Salvation Army Christmas gifts I had discounts at all of the after school activit”

Growing up in extreme poverty meant his family struggled to meet basic needs like clothing and food.

“it was everything she could do to keep a roof over her head and and something to eat in our belly we have a lot of f beans and a lot of fried Jers and Cornbread you know all many of a day you know many of a day that's all we had”

Growing up with financial hardship influenced his motivation and perception of the world, eventually driving him to seek wealth.

“I'm like, I don't want to be poor. Like that's terrible. Yeah. So this combination of all this is happening and you're like, where am I going to go in life?”