How poor/broke did you ever get?

[edro]

1st semester of College.

I quit my job at Wal-Mart to go to college.
Didn't find a job for a few at school.
I was on my last $100 (I paid for everything).
Then, the company I work for called and wanted to interview me for a paid intern position.
Woo hoo!
7 years later, I am still here today.

 

[Modelworks]

Was disabled for a time.
Had no income.
Lived in a abandoned house with no heat or hot water.
I broke open the meter box outside and jumpered a wire across where the meter went so I could have some power.
Was in the winter, cold enough in the house to see my breath.
Couldn't afford food, was eating what a local church supplied.
Had absolutely no money.
Lived that way for a couple months till I could get some disability income and get back on my feet.


That was years ago and now I am back with a steady income and all is well.
I hear the country song "find out who your friends are" and it really hits home.

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare

This is where the rubber meets the road
This is where the cream is gonna rise
This is what you really didn't know
This is where the truth don't lie

{Chorus}
You find out who your friends are
Somebody's gonna drop everything
Run out and crank up their car
Hit the gas, get there fast
Never stop to think 'what's in it for me?' or 'it's way too far'
They just show on up with their big old heart
You find out who your friends are

Everybody wants to slap your back
wants to shake your hand
when you're up on top of that mountain
But let one of those rocks give way then you slide back down look up
and see who's around then

This ain't where the road comes to an end
This ain't where the bandwagon stops
This is just one of those times when
A lot of folks jump off

{Chorus}

When the water's high
When the weather's not so fair
When the well runs dry
Who's gonna be there?

{Chorus}

You find out who your friends are
(yeah, yeah)
You find out who your friends are

Run your car off the side of the road
Get stuck in a ditch way out in the middle of nowhere
(Well man, I've been there)
Or get yourself in a bind lose the shirt off your back
Need a floor, need a couch, need a bus fare
(Man, I've been there)

Man, I've been there
Oooh yeah.

 

[1sikbITCH]

I slept under a bridge with all my belongings for a few months until I could get a job and save enough for an apartment. I was living in a tent in a field but somebody found where I had stashed it and took it. I'd shower at my girlfriend's house. I was only 18 at that point, and it was pretty much self/imposed (drugs). At another low point I lived off eggs, bread, and Oodles of Noodles for 3 months. I never had more than a dollar in those days.
Going through that period obviously sucked but now allows me to truly appreciate things that most of you likely take for granted such as marriage, home ownership, and a steady job. I always thought I'd be dead by now so anything else that comes along feels like bonus points

 

[RadiclDreamer]

Originally posted by: ballmode
Back in 2004/2005 I was living in an Apartment for college. I made 200-250 a month working at the tech support place on campus.

Split that into two checks, 100-125 every two weeks.

45 for cell + 40-50 in gas a month the rest was food money or entertainment, sucked.

I stole alot of stuff to make money... but it was stuff people didn't realize it had value. Yes, I know its wrong, but better than doing/dealing drugs

You shouldnt have had the cell then.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

anyone who has been to college knows what its like to stretch 30-40 dollars for a week.

 

[Casawi]

I'll start with when the bread is moldy and you toast it, you can't really tell the difference...lol
I recall one time my car (was given to me) was on E for like 3 or 4 months(drove without insurance for over a year).
I made noodles one and run out of salt, it took me over half an hour to collect enough change from around my car/house. I am talking about 76 cents. At this time all my credit cards were maxed and my bank account was about ~ -$200 (The bank called and said they would close the account and have collection agency contact me about the amount).
Good thing Clamum was living in the dorms and gives me meal about every other day.
The same semester, the school had dropped all my classes for not paying my tuition.

I was like this for only about a year tho, things got better after that. I mean I was still broke, but looking back at the year before, I was satisfied.

 

[hiromizu]

I had ~$200 bucks, a pending job interview when I had no suits - which I landed - and an upcoming rent to pay while my mother was sick, my teeth falling apart and gf depressed. Hard times although I wasn't in debt. Now I'm livin and lovin life as intended.

 

[Casawi]

Thats what I thought, someone is got to had it worst. Thanks for all the input.

 

[child of wonder]

After I dropped out of college I have no idea how I survived.

I was making about $320 per month by working PT as a stock boy at Shopko. I paid $105 per month in rent for a 2 bedroom apartment I shared with 2 friends, I smoked at least a pack a day (when cigs were $2 per pack), and drank heavily every weekend. After these expenses there was about $100 left per month for food and bus fares to work.

 

[MyThirdEye]

I have been saving for times like these. Ever since I was ~11 i have put 50% of everything I make in the bank. I'm 16 now, and it's really starting to add up.

 

[FoBoT]

not super bad, i was never homeless
once in college i ran out of money and lived on rice and butter for about one week until my next stipend check (from a scholarship) arrived

 

[slsmnaz]

I left college for a time, had no job, bank acct was negative, was living on a friends couch and had no motivation to do anything. He picked me up and helped me find a job, place to live and helped me get my life together. I eventually got my own place and went back to school to get my degree. Not sure where I might have ended up without his help so :beer: to him.

 

[paulxcook]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Was disabled for a time.
Had no income.
Lived in a abandoned house with no heat or hot water.
I broke open the meter box outside and jumpered a wire across where the meter went so I could have some power.
Was in the winter, cold enough in the house to see my breath.
Couldn't afford food, was eating what a local church supplied.
Had absolutely no money.
Lived that way for a couple months till I could get some disability income and get back on my feet.

I think you win.

 

[Alphathree33]

Wow, some of you guys had it rough in college.

I had a new car and ate out all the time... lol. I just wondered why my friends wouldn't always join me... now I know.

 

[child of wonder]

Originally posted by: Alphathree33
Wow, some of you guys had it rough in college.

I had a new car and ate out all the time... lol. I just wondered why my friends wouldn't always join me... now I know.

We were all at home cursing your name. :laugh:

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
When I was in the Navy going to school in Great Lakes, IL, my credit card company lost the $100 payment I made that was going to be my food money for the next 2 weeks. I was going to a "C" school, so I couldn't just eat at the galley. I used the $3 or so that I had to buy 2 loaves of bread, and I ate bread and water for 11 days. On the 11th day, it came up in conversation somehow, and I bitched about having to eat bread and water for 11 days, and someone asked if I was serious. I told them the story, and they let me borrow some money til payday. I ate good on payday though...

Another time, while in the Navy, I lived in a closet. More of a pantry really, as it was by the kitchen. I got tired of living on the ship where I had no place that was mine, so I lived in someone's closet for about 4 months. It wasn't that bad actually. It had a phone line going directly to it, so I could get online with my laptop, and there was almost enough room for me to lay down all the way.

Well, all of us at ATOT are glad that you came out of the closet.

 

[Casawi]

Originally posted by: paulxcook

Originally posted by: Modelworks
Was disabled for a time.
Had no income.
Lived in a abandoned house with no heat or hot water.
I broke open the meter box outside and jumpered a wire across where the meter went so I could have some power.
Was in the winter, cold enough in the house to see my breath.
Couldn't afford food, was eating what a local church supplied.
Had absolutely no money.
Lived that way for a couple months till I could get some disability income and get back on my feet.

I think you win.

Yeah that sounds like rough times. He wins...lol

 

[Casawi]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: Fullmetal Chocobo
When I was in the Navy going to school in Great Lakes, IL, my credit card company lost the $100 payment I made that was going to be my food money for the next 2 weeks. I was going to a "C" school, so I couldn't just eat at the galley. I used the $3 or so that I had to buy 2 loaves of bread, and I ate bread and water for 11 days. On the 11th day, it came up in conversation somehow, and I bitched about having to eat bread and water for 11 days, and someone asked if I was serious. I told them the story, and they let me borrow some money til payday. I ate good on payday though...

Another time, while in the Navy, I lived in a closet. More of a pantry really, as it was by the kitchen. I got tired of living on the ship where I had no place that was mine, so I lived in someone's closet for about 4 months. It wasn't that bad actually. It had a phone line going directly to it, so I could get online with my laptop, and there was almost enough room for me to lay down all the way.

Well, all of us at ATOT are glad that you came out of the closet.

LOL :laugh:

 

[iroast]

My family was broke when we first came to the US. 1 bag of M&Ms per week for 6 kids was a real treat.

Personally? I was always ok since I didn't need much. Only recently did I want more (build new computer, get new car, new TV, etc).

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

I'm on a running meter. Everyday you see me is the worst day of my life, financially speaking. Emotionally is still is as well. Like an eraser that can never erase a pen marking. Some things just can't be undone.

What I once considered to be an undesirable position is now the everyday norm.

Having held two jobs, whether it be a full and a part or two full time jobs, for the longest time in years, money was never really an issue as bills were always paid and I had enough for fun and games. As long as my bills got taken care of every month I was fine and dandy. Although uneducated, I had a motivator and didn't mind working relentlessly. Mind you I didn't just get by, I lived worry free.

There's a time and a place for everything I guess you could say. 2007 was neither my time, nor my place. Quit one job, and lost another. My financial situation took a backseat to what was really on my mind. Didn't work for a good 6 months. Moved out of the siblings place as I didn't want them to see what I was going through at the time. Took up drinking, smoking, and got back into gambling.

Revenue Canada was on my arse for last two years of back tax ($5600). Spent whatever I had left in my account at the time (~$1200) and decided to fcuk it all and went on what I beleived to be my last holiday to Vegas before the sh!t really stunk. Came back. Took on another job for a month or so, walked off, took yet another trip down to Vegas. Came back to a letter stating that my dispute for back taxes came back in my favour and that Revenue Canada instead owes me $600 and cut me a cheque for that amount. Mind you, all this time my monthly obligations were still paid on time every month.

CC has more than doubled from $4000 in Nov '06 to over $15000 present day.

There are a few items I've left out, but in a year or two if I ever do end up in jail and there's an internet connection there, I'll tell you about it.

Meanwhile in a few months I'll be heading out to China. Maybe I won't come back. Who knows.

The last 2 yrs has been one fcukin' roller coaster ride after another. Just taking it all in before the fun stops. I knew what I was up for, and quite frankly, at this point in my life I could really care less.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I started turning tricks to buy diapers for the baby.

.....I ended up with another baby.

 

[scorp00]

I lived in a roach infested apt for 2.5 years. It was $250/month in 04. It wasn't infested when I moved in but the area went downhill fast, and I couldn't find anything else for cheap. Nothing like waking up to roaches crawling all over you a few times every night. I remember a girl cooking me dinner once and for some reason she wanted to get away from her roommate so she insisted on cooking it at my place. A roach actually fell into the dinner while she was cooking it. She was disgusted and left, but I still ate it. Sadly I remember it being a great meal because I had been eating ramen for months.

Other than that the normal stuff of never going out with friends because I never had any money. No dating or eating out. Sleeping in my car if I had to travel.

 

[funkymatt]

I live on a couch in the alley behind an apartment building. one of the tenants was angry that i moved my couch and various things in the alleyway blocking the gate. He moved my stuff the other day when I was visiting some of my other homeless buddies. i showed him though, i moved it all back. i also break into his apartment at night.

 

[datalink7]

I ate Ramen Noodles for a month straight because, at 10 cents a meal, it was all I could afford. My bank account was at -$100 dollars. This was second year in college.

 

[jandrews]

paying for cigarrettes w/ change in college, not being able to drive places cuz i cant pay for gas etc.