Inspired by one Mom's Blog that tells of the shattering tale of how poor she is, was, and forever will be; Here is the story for the ones that are also trying to make it in the world. 
Being barely middle class is also a trial of sorts. If you take away all the "assistance" that one qualifies for when being "Poor", you have..me. I am the domestic engineer for a family of 5. Supposedly, we are 130% above poverty level. I have a feeling that the Government forgets basic necessities that you have to pay for, food, gas and insurance.The expense it takes to get back and forth to your job. You see? If my husband and I just didn't work; it'd be a whole lot easier to afford my car insurance. We could live off a welfare check and get all of our food for free. Free medical insurance too. Then I wouldn't have to worry about the trivial things such as Christmas because some church group would adopt our family and I wouldn't have to pay for that either. 
But it's not that way. The Government doesn't HELP the people that are actually trying. They don't give US a break. Not that we deserve it. We're not entitled to it. We're pretty happy with busting our humps. 40 hours a week without a real vacation. Or worse, hours for a vacation that you can't afford to take off because it isn't paid, or saved for. Medical bills piling up. Two cavities that I'm sure are causing migraines.. You could say "Well, Jenstar, why don't you get a job and save your money?" It doesn't work that way. When you pay half your paycheck to the Government and the other half to child care..what do you have left? 0% of a W2 that you have to file anyway. And then kick us into a tax bracket that makes your insurance premiums go up, and your tax returns go down? Nah, that's ok. I'll be a stay at home Mom. Dream of the day that my youngest is old enough where I can leave her at a sitter to go to school. Maybe by then, my husband who was fortunate enough to land a job in his field of study; will get a raise and we'll be able to afford said sitter.  But for now, I budget out $80.00 a week for a set menu (yes for 5 people),to get the groceries we need. An error of more than $100.00 could set us back for months. No one should have to live like this.  Paycheck to paycheck, or worse, without one at all.