Rewatching from the start. It just occurred to me how ludicrous it is that the Kents are so desperate for money (In Redux).

• Martha is Lionel's PA. A good executive assistant is normally on a high wage
• Martha runs a side hustle selling food
• They sell produce to half the stores in town including things like flowers
• They grow enough produce to give stuff away
• They have no employees as Clark can "do the work of 4 laborers" and they seem to only pay him a small allowance as the class ring seems to be a big deal purchase at a few hundred
• Yes they lost some cows and part of a field due to the chemical spill but, while Johnathan didn't take Lex's check, the field also stops costing them money as well
• Also when they got the check they talked about a new tractor rather than "we are in debt, pay it off"
• Johnathan is also a mechanic, although considering how often he is repairing things there must be a question about how good he is or at least how much accidental damage Clark causes. This is their only extra expense that I can think of. Especially as one of their cars got blown up as well

Like I get being a famer can be tough but if the Kent's are in trouble then every other farm in the area should be in a worse position and, while the area never seems rich, it doesn't really come up that often.

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Edit: You guys make some good points.

However I just got to 2x23 Exodus and Clark makes an offhand comment about how the farm is out of debt. Perhaps they just really were scrimping and saving to pay down loans. Or that check from Martha's father was fat.