Spiritual poverty occurs when we become conscious that there is something lacking in our lives. It can also be recognized as self-denial. Poverty can be conveyed by poor surroundings in a dream. It may be that we need to deal with our surroundings; there is something lacking in our environment rather than ourselves. When we feel poor we do not have the wherewithal to look after ourselves properly. To experience poverty in a dream highlights a sense of being deprived of the ability to satisfy our basic needs. We may feel inadequate, either emotionally or materially. Often we need to go right back to basics to discover what our real needs are. You might also like to consult the entries for Money and Wealth.