Or both. Most times it gets paid back, but twice a year something falls through and the parents can't pay it back. The child is industrious / saver / works an after school job and manages to save about $200 every six months, but can never build up a long term balance. It's one of the things that can make growing up in a family in poverty feel like trying to escape a gravity well.

I've seen this play out over couple years between my younger brother (after I'd moved out) and my parents. I see the pattern repeat with my sister and her son. He, my nephew (13), stayed with my wife and me over Christmas. He said he had been making money with after school jobs and hoped to be able to save enough for a car when he's 16, but wasn't sure if that was going to be possible because his Mom and step Dad have to borrow (or "borrow") money from him every month.

I didn't tell him yet but I decided there that in 2 or 3 years I'm going to start fixing up a good 1st car for him.

If you’re living paycheck to paycheck it’s entirely possible to not be a budget problem, especially I f you’re spending almost exactly your income and just barely feeding and sheltering your family.

If you start any one pay period in a hole due to an unexpected expense; or if your bills become due earlier in the week/month than your paycheck arrives, you can cover your monthly expenses with your income but not with your cash on hand.

It’s the same as how a business can be making a profit but still go out of business due to cash flow problems.

Regardless of whether or not you are right, this is just not an appropriate way to respond to someone who has just shared a trauma. This is a case of "if you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all".

No worries. I don't think its fair to say I'm traumatized. Just standard immigrant stories. We weren't rich, or comfortable, but never skipped a meal. Therefore we were actually very fortunate.

My wife, on the other hand, is from an ex commie country. She could write a book of her insane stories.