The worst/naughtiest thing you've done to survive whilst at rock bottom

no_choice_now

Thanks folks for some of the most recent confessions, it's an interesting insight in to how these problems can lead to things going in completely the opposite direction.

To answer some previous comments, yes the cat was fine and lived for many many years. The neighbours never ever knew that had a prize winning puѕѕy.

flyingguy

Great thread and I echo the many comments of how sad in modern times this can happen. I'm thankful for never having been in a desperate situation.

I wanted to mention though, my mother has always been incredibly sharp when it comes to food buying and use. She would spend hours in the supermarket working out the best deals. My mum would use everything, cut the mould off food, mix left overs together, everything! Not because she couldn't afford it, just something her mother instilled in her (war time generation perhaps?). Strangely, my dad had a much less comfortable upbringing, lived in the East End of London, 4 brothers in one room, parents in the other and was working in markets at 14, yet he is far less tight when it comes to shopping etc. Just think it's strange how things pan out.

One thing I will say though - this thread demonstrates that loo roll is a total rip off! :mad:

no_choice_now

flyingguy wrote: »

One thing I will say though - this thread demonstrates that loo roll is a total rip off!

Is there a pun in there somewhere?

notatvstar

I have to join in and say that this thread has to be one of the most moving and at time hilarious ones that I've read in a long time. I am especially envious about finding blank whoopsie stickers...

To all those who did 'stuff' to feed their children. So did my Mum and my OH's Mum (we're both from skint families), but me and OH turned out alright (sort of). I do not think you should ever feel ashamed or embarrassed about whatever you had to do and my heart goes out to you.

Mags_cat

My mum used to work for one of the big banks. I had an account with them (still have, though it's no longer my main one).

When I left home she used to "keep an eye on it" - there was, apparently a marker on it that read "DO NOT send nasty letters, this is our Chief Cashier's daughter" so I never got charges...also she used to make a very occasional deposit if my month got too much for my money

Lovely as that was (and it was, honest!) it did make me think twice about putting stuff on the debit card - mum could see *exactly* what I'd been buying :eek:. Luckily, she left that position a few years after I'd moved out and I got my privacy back.

Living away from home for the first time also resulted in the invention of "gunge" - mashed potatoes, fried onions and baked beans, all baked together. If we were flush, there was grated cheese in it too. Still make it now :rotfl:

Memory_Girl

I told my Mum about this thread today ....................... we had a chat as she was reading through. She then asked what was doing?

"I'm sewing"

"What are you making?"

"6 pairs of trousers, 8 shirts and three pair of shorts for the toddler"

"Nice - where did you get the fabric?"

"From the bin liner of Dads clothes you asked me to take to the Charity Shop" :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

But seriously we are talking quality chinos and decent M&S shirts:D

So "Forgive me Martin for I have sinned":money:

MG

BEAT_THE_DEBT

I have sold my birthday gifts for money. . Well done to all that have posted on this thread i think it shows people who are really struggling that they are not alone xx

toothfairybuttkicker

BEAT_THE_DEBT wrote: »

I have sold my birthday gifts for money. . Well done to all that have posted on this thread i think it shows people who are really struggling that they are not alone xx

Me too!! Worse still recycled a gift from OH as a present for a friends 21st. She was over the moon as she thought i'd spent a bomb on her!!

Sharon87

Worst things that I've ever done... well only had one time where I couldn't feed myself, it was getting to the end of my student loan period, and I stupidly bought a DSLR camera at the beginning of term, which I still own now, didn't do anything naughty then though, juts borrowed money and found a part time job!

But other times when I was skint, just not as skint, but more in debt I 'forgot' to tell job centre about some work I done (1 day) so I wouldn't lose any of my JSA! I was annoyed with them a few months previously as they took 6 weeks to process my claim!

I currently am in an ok position, I'm a food hoarder too, but in a shared house so a bit more difficult with one fridge and freezer between 5 people. But at most places of work we can get free tea/water/juice/cans of coke/toast/bicsuits/fruit, so I usually take advantage of that, sometimes take fruit or a can home with me, have breakfast there and sometimes use the bread for lunch with something cheap I bought from a supermarket.

My uncle is a toilet roll pincher. We paid him some money to drive the van to take me to uni (parents couldn't drive then) and when he was at my mum's house he stole 2 loo rolls! We knew it was him he's known for it lol. He was shocked the amount of money I spent at the service station!

regret70

We have a diet club at work we pay £1 a week and whoever looses the most in the month wins the kitty. I was so skint I wore the heaviest clothes I could find at the beginning of the month and put things in my pockets... The last week I wore a skirt and vest top. Needless to say I won lol
People still said I looked like I had lost weight (I hasn't!)