If you think the fic deserves 3/5, Naruto stories in his favorites is not a valid reason to up it to a 4/5 at all. It certainly isn't a valid reason for the fic to be library worthy. From your description and the small amount of the it I can bring myself to read, this is exactly the kind of fanfic that does not belong on DLP.

 

I read the entire thing, for want of something better to do with my time. Barely a 2/5, but some of the ideas aren't bad in themselves - Harry having no money, making his own way in life from a young age, and the general issues this might cause. I kind of like the idea of Harry losing his money for a good reason, but it is very contrived in this case.

I also quite liked the idea of stealing things to sell from the room storing the diadem, when desperate for money. It is almost a victimless crime, considering how long it is likely a lot of items have been stored there (and subsequently forgotten). This may be an idea used previously in fanon, but I've never personally seen it.

 

The same here. I liked the situation Harry was in and the mood. He was alone and had no backup at all. In almost all of these Dumbledore-robs-him stories it has no real meaning. It's just following some lazy and stupid "established" pattern to show how "evil" Dumbledore is.
In this story it wasn't some simple minded greed nonsense. Dumbledore just sucked the easiest source dry as he needed money to keep the worst elements inside Azkaban while feeling bad about it. His future was sacrificed callously. Unfortunately then the writer rushed through the years with a simplified plot, dropped the ball with at least Neville and made Harry a Gary Stu.

2/5. With a better execution it could have been more.

 

It's at best something for Almost Recommended and is nowhere near library quality.
Also the title keeps making me think of the Gran Torino scene where Walt teaches Taou to talk like a man: "Don't talk about how you have no job, no car, no girlfriend, no future, no dick."

 

The other problem with the title is that it becomes inaccurate almost by the end of the first chapter. Harry is more knowledgeable than his canon counterpart about magic and clearly has an aim: to be the best wizard ever.

I won't dogpile on the fic (it's definitely Almost Recommended-quality and has a myriad of problems that most everyone else has already addressed) but I will say I was surprised how long it took Harry to find out that Dumbledore stole his money given how quickly the author was willing to have Harry learn or discover ridiculous magic powers.

 

I couldn't make it past the second chapter.... Just couldn't make myself read any more of this drivel.

 

Guilty pleasure at best, interesting premise and ideas but 50k in a year and no updates since summer? This will quickly be forgotten, no reason to put in on the alert list or constantly check on it.

 

I tried, I really tried however I couldn't finish it.
The premise of a NotBWL Harry with limited funds that had to rely on himself alone, was unbelievably intriguing. however this was followed by the most contrive cliches; Dumbles steals Potter money, Douche-bag BWL!Neville, OP Harry for no reason etc. This coupled with the bland writing, makes it below 'guilty pleasure'.

I vote this fic a 2/5

Cheers