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Poorest you ever been?

Poorest you ever been?

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by: beastmode Active Indicator LED Icon 12 OP 
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 4:02pm  
What's the poorest you have ever been?  The poorest I've ever been was in college. I was so poor that I would raid the fruit basket and break room at my part-time job because I had nothing to eat. Then my car broke down so I started running to work, 2 miles there and 2 miles back for 6 months.  Funny part, I was also in the National Guard. When the physical fitness test came up there was this Captain who was insane fast and would brag how nobody could beat him on the 2 mile run. I destroyed him, it was not even close. Think I ran it in 11:15 or something, he was closer to 12 min. He was completely humiliated and I was the hero that weekend! All in all I guess it taught me a lot of life lessons about keeping your head up and never quitting. Glad I'm not poor anymore but there is a lot of value you can get out of it about life if you push through it.    4951
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buffaloglenn Active Indicator LED Icon 11
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 4:07pm  
I worked part time all through college and my parents paid my tuition, so I paid for my living costs (car, apartment, etc.).  I didn't have much but got by, and didn't have any debt until I graduated, quit my part time job and started my real job.  But, I had a couple months before my real job started and had to buy suits.  That was the only time in my life I charged up my credit card and did not pay it off that month, until my first real paycheck came in.  Had to cut off my mullet too. I can't say if I was happier then or now, but my life was certainly more simple back then. 4951
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Francita Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 4:21pm  
1991, was so poor I attempted to boil a squirrel for food. It was disgusting, not edible. I starved for the rest of the day and the next. The emergency help place would only give me food for my two kids who at the time was 5yrs old and 6 months. I didn't qualify for anymore help than that since I hadn't established residency. Didn't even have a measly quarter to buy ramen. My job at a diner started the next day. This was in my 6 month long attempt to survive in the country in TN. My then husband wanted to raise the kids there, where he grew up. It took us a while to find super crappy jobs, spent all our savings. Six months was all I could handle. I told him I'm going back to Houston where I can have a job in two weeks. And I did. He had one waiting for him here before we could even make the drive back. So yea, I know poor. 4951
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LuluLayla Active Indicator LED Icon
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 4:39pm  
Way back when, we had to give my son when he was a baby to my best friend to take care of because we became homeless and could not even afford a mcdouble from mcdonalds. I would take showers with old water bottles.. It was pretty terrible, but because of that hardship I experienced, I take absolutely NOTHING for granted and am so blessed to have what I have today. I wake up with gratitude, and I go to sleep with gratitude. Life is unpredictable. I am lucky that I managed to pull myself out of that situation by not giving up and keeping my faith.
 
I cannot stand the feeling of mosquitos by my ears or the sound of locusts. It triggers some pretty awful memories.
 
...I am just so grateful for my roof, running water, and the presence of my husband and children.
 
4951
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GoldenGirl Active Indicator LED Icon 15
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 4:57pm  
I got married the year after I graduated so didn't really go to college - other than taking a few couses at the community college... I guess there were a few times i had my  utilities cut off.. There were several times our AC would go out and we had to skip a house payment in order to get it fixed, there was just no other resources as we lived paycheck to paycheck...Glad those days are over.. Although now with two kids in college things are TIGHT again.. lol   It is like having two households to support !! 4951
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bp2018 Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 5:02pm  
My mom was laid off/fired from her job towards the end of my dad's long battle with cancer because she was having to take off work a lot to take him to his doctor's appointments and all of that not so fun stuff. His disability didn't kick in until they had already gone through his pension and were in some pretty hefty debt, and they didn't give very much when it did kick in. After he passed away, things were really tight money wise. While we were extremely lucky to still have a roof over our heads(we were buying the house from a friend who told my mom not to worry about paying the mortgage until we were back on our feet), we found the choice between paying the bills and eating was becoming a constant thing. We would roll whatever change we could find walking to and from the grocery store and use that to buy bread, and most of my meals consisted of peanut butter sandwiches, my mom often did without. Our power was constantly getting cut off, so we learned to revolve everything around the sunlight we could get through the windows. My mom's health wasn't exactly the best either, so she would usually skip her appointments so she would have had to take me to school (we didn't live in the school district so I couldn't catch a bus and it was way too far to walk in an unsafe part of town.) I had some great teachers back then, so once they learned what was going on, they would wait until school was over and everybody left, then send me home with different casseroles and things like that so we could eat, and would watch me until my mom could come get me. Luckily we were in uniforms, so I could wear the same thing over again without being made fun of, and my mom didn't have to worry about buying school clothes. 4951
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bp2018 Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 5:02pm  
double post 4951
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jack1 Active Indicator LED Icon 1
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 5:17pm  
Poorest I've ever been wasn't as poor as most. We got laid off and we had to live with various family members for probably about 10 years until we could finally get enough money to rent a place out. We often had to go a few days without food in order to make sure the kids ate, but it wasn't too terrible. Got lots of family time and learning experiences for the kids to learn to be grateful for what they have and not be angry about what they don't. Emoticon 4951
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cgm10sne1 Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 5:30pm  
I didn't have children and I got married at 31 the first time.  I always worked and I was a saver with money early on. I would say my worst times were when I divorced at 36. I had a good job, but there was no way I was moving from my home. I got two roommates who were also recently divorced.  My home became the divorcee halfway house. Win win. I'm blessed and I always try to help out young struggling folks. My coworker is 23, 2 children under the age of two. I slip him money all the time.  Talk about dire straights. Heart aches for this person Emoticon   I think  our life strife builds our character....hopefully for the good!  4951
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Ray Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 5:43pm  
After I got out of the military I took my Honda 750 and toured the country making all but 4 states.After my leave money piddled out, I did odd jobs, sold a little herb, and slept in rest areas, beaches, wherever. As a card carrying coonass I never once went hungry. I set snares, ate rabbits squirrels, snakes robins, misc wildlife and plants. Air force survival training was awesome. For gas money I did odd jobs for cash here and there, bartered,....Did this by choice for about a year and a half...It was an awesome wonderful experience. Total freedom. Literally a wondering vagabond. I stayed clean bathing daily, kept my personal hygiene up. It was an enlightening adventure. Found that most folks are giving and helpful. ANd then there are also those that should not be breathing our oxygen. I dont thing I made 5000.00 during that 16 months or so...It looked a lot like this guy.... 4951
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Jpgurl Active Indicator LED Icon 18
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 6:52pm  
@Ray- that's not poor- that's living the dream!! Which 4 states did you not get to??For us- college- we were so poor hubby stole pop bottles from the break room in the Pscyh Building ( where I studied) to turn in so we could buy Peanut butter and bread - we ate that stuff and out of date chicken and Ramen noodle for a year. Dh was on the GI bill which paid for his school and rent. No land line- electric was sketchy and Thank God the water was free. I walked everywhere (or biked) because we couldn't afford gas for my car. After graduation I worked full time - hubby worked full time AND went to school 16 hours a semester for 2 years  to finish his engineering degree. Those years SUCKED-BUT we both grew up and realized no matter how bad it got ( gets?) we were survivors. Not real fond of chicken and don't want to eat ramen noodles- but will if I have to. Happy/ sad times  4951
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Retired_Engineer Active Indicator LED Icon 13
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 7:50pm  
When I was young, my father was injured on his job.  Back then, there was no disability pay.  You didn't work, you didn't get any money.  For about two years, we lived on government peanut butter, butter, and cheese and whatever we grew in our garden.  After that, I wouldn't eat peanut-butter until I was in college.Debbie and I married when I was still in college. She was working and I worked for her uncle's septic tank service part-time.  I also worked part-time as a professor's assistant.  Money was tight but those were great years. 4951
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Spork Active Indicator LED Icon 9
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 8:20pm  
I was so poor, I used to have to cut holes in my pockets...just so I could have something to play with. 4951
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angiekaye Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 8:39pm  
Poorest was after my husband lost his job. I was home with a very sick child. We had no lights no water. Used electricity from a nice neighbor for a fan and the fridge only. Did not qualify for financial assistance because my husband made $20 too much the month before. Only food we had we fed our boys. My dad tried helping least to keep them fed. We had the poorist but happiest Christmas that year tho. We can honestly say that year made us stronger. Made us appreciate the small things and let go of the stressful things. It can always be worse. But cherish when it's good God took care of us. We survived as a family 4951
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Retired_Engineer Active Indicator LED Icon 13
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 10:51pm  
I was so poor, I used to have to cut holes in my pockets...just so I could have something to play with.
 
@Spork:  The joke goes:I was so poor that for Christmas, my parents gave me a pair of pants with the pockets cut out.  That way, I had something to wear and something to play with.   Emoticon
4951
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Brat Active Indicator LED Icon 15
~ 8 years ago   Apr 23, '15 11:11pm  
Four years ago.....Living on $20 a week after bills were paid made me feel how blessed I am to at least have some.    4951
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