I'm 39M, USA, work a professional desk job for a large health care provider/insurance company. I make alright money, but many factors (including a large family, one income due to wife's health problems, and bad financial decisions/luck) we live paycheck-to-paycheck and have zero savings. Sometimes can't even make it and rely on help and generosity.

But from the outside, everything appears "normal" to my colleagues, many of whom also have children but working spouses/partners. I dress pretty well on days I'm in the office, and packing a lunch isn't unusual for many in our department.

But I was thinking the other day, as another colleague (who are well meaning and great people) asked me "what are your vacation plans this summer?" how it's so hard not to just say "well, not really much of anything unless it's free!" Another variation of that question is asking what summer camps they are attending.

So I usually end up giving them a generic and vague answer. Like "you know, a few things here and there, nothing crazy" or "we'll do some fun things close to home." When in reality, they have zero idea that I can't even justifiably afford one night at an AirBnB, much less a full vacation that costs $3k or more. Telling them the truthful answer really isn't helpful or productive either, so I continue to just give appearances that we are just another middle class (if that even exists anymore) family, while they all go to Florida, the Bahamas, Disney, and London (all places my colleagues and their families are going this year, sigh.)

Being poor sucks, but especially in the summer.