Some might call it relative poverty. Josie Wales's living room is freshly and stylishly decorated, and her two boys are well turned-out.
But reality bit last week when the 33-year-old Glasgow single mother found herself without any money to feed her sons.
A friend saved the day by bringing over a pizza, and Cody 12, and Lee, 10, got through another day.
Other relatives, and family friends, have helped with the boys' clothes, and it is only due to the generosity of a family friend that the boys each have a bike.
The fact remains though, that for the Wales, ends never meet, and won't in the foreseeable future. Her income consists of £73 child tax credit, £43 income support - both weekly - and family allowance of £120 a month, a total of £147 a week.
Her outgoings include £30 for gas and electricity, £5 clawback for supposed overpayment of benefit, £10 for a loan repayment, £5 towards rent arrears run up when she was working, £20 for the boys' dinner money and £10 for cat food and litter.
The difference, around £67, goes on food, clothes, fares, and anything else that comes up - so ending up in the red is almost inevitable, even without council tax, which she simply can't pay.
"I had not worked for years because Cody was injured in a road traffic accident in 2001 and I had to nurse him back to health," said Josie.
"Cody got some presents for his birthday and £20 in cash, but I had to use that, so I feel like I stole it from him."
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