20.
“Those parties in elementary school for things like Valentine’s Day or Halloween where a sign-up sheet went around and everyone had to bring something. I felt so much anxiety when that paper went around the room, crossing my fingers and hoping with everything in me that somebody else wouldn’t sign up for the more affordable items before it got to me. I always tried to put myself down for the cheapest things, like a bag of chips or napkins.”
“The gift swaps at Christmas were even worse, since it was easier to tell who bought what. Worse still, though, was having to sit out during these activities and watch all of your friends have fun but not being allowed to participate because you ‘didn’t contribute.’”
—quitecontrarymary
Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/mollycapobianco/people-share-moment-they-realized-they-were-poor