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

PeterJohnson

I do several things to help me as times always seem hard. I always charge my mobile at work. Go to the in-laws for tea as often as I can and as I travel a lot in my job to pubs, cafes, restaurants etc they always offer me tea and coffee! I push it now and ask for hot chocolate

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

*Watching* may come in with my own Confession/s as well!:money::beer:

LittleMonkey16

Some of the stories on here really put things into perspective. I have always felt really bad about writing cheques that I knew would probably take me over my agreed overdraft. I catastrophise to the extreme, and I don't think I'll ever get over thefear that one day the police will show up and arrest me for fraud. It was just food, and the cheques were always guaranteed so the company got their money, and the account in question turned into a debt which I calculate I must have paid back doublr what I spent by the end thanks to interest, so in practical terms the onlyreal loser was me. It still terrifies me though, to the point that I often suffer anxiety attacks at the sound of the doorbell or the telephone. I thought that when things were better (which they are now) that would be it, but I'verealised that I'll never truly be free. My financial past has literally ruined my life, and despite being debt free and able to afford to eat and live if not comfortably then at least without deprivation, I would say I consider suicide as much as I did when I owed the money. I can't see a way out at all. This is why I am so very passionate about personal financial management being compulsory at secondary school- I knew nothing of this when I left for university, and I would sweat and bleed for just one chance to make different decisions. And that's a sad way to feel at 26.

There are clearly some deeply awesome parents on this board, incidentally.....

ruby_eskimo

I would like to say I truly admire everyone here! I have never personally been at that low a point yet but I know people that have. Their stories and yours make me scared of what could happen if I'm not careful.

ArseandElbow

SUESMITH wrote: »

lowest ever was when the bank took more off me in charges than i earned so that month we had no money at all and nothing in the cupboards. a friend found out and took me shopping so we could eat that month.

I was recently reminded of something I totally forgot about but a friend of mine who had split with her scum of an ex was absolutely ripped. I remember taking her food shopping over Christmas, but apparentyl I also paid for a load of presents for her kids on my credit card... dont' remember doing that! Though that was when I was financially in an a great place never been in debt and had a decent wage came in... I miss those times!

indigofire

Some of these are really touching,

When I was 16 I had run away from home and had a bag to my name. I was only making £50 a week in ETA. The only place i could find was this really dingy property (with no electric and there was plants growing in the bath.) for £49 a week.

The landlord wouldnt give me a tenancy agreement so the electric people wouldnt switch my electric on. So I lived for 6 weeks with no electric and barely enough food. I was living on speghetti hoop toasties which I was heating down stairs using there basement. (Someone bought the toastie make for me.)

ska_lover

Back when my son was very small, I was a single parent and I was in a very low paid job (before minimum wage was even thought of) we were so poor living day to day.

I would nick milk off of doorsteps, and steal stuff from work.

We worked in a hotel where the where the food/cleaning supplies/toilet rolls were not regulated. I used to regularly stick tin of meat paste etc in my handbag. I wasn't the only one there doing it either.

ArseandElbow

Octopusssy wrote: »

Also took a spare teabag home. :rotfl:

Just the one?

BugglyB

Vince_Venison wrote: »

This thread has really moved me, and also reminded me of things I had almost forgotten. The worst thing I ever did when I had absolutely no money (and I mean none - nothing in the house that could be considered a foodstuff and no money coming in for over a week) was to go out with male friends just because they would buy me a meal. I know - not something to be proud of, but it was that or go hungry. My life is very different now, but I still stick to three rules - 1. help other people when you can - a lot of people helped me when I was poor and I will never forget that. 2. don't pick up money in the street if you don't need it - leave it for someone who needs it more than you do and 3. don't pretend to be poor if you aren't. I have been poor and I know the difference between having to go into overdraft for 2 days before payday, and having to eat old sandwiches fished out of a colleagues bin at work at the end of the day beacuse that was the only thing I would eat all day. I am not a better person these days, just a richer one, but it seems to me a lot of people think that rich people are better than poor ones because they aren't driven by poverty to do things that aren't quite "respectable"

This is such a great post. I have never been anywhere near as poor as some of the people on this thread, but it winds me up so much that I have a colleague who is constantly going on about how skint he is, 'oh thank god its payday' I'm so overdrawn, yet spends a fortune on holidays/clothes/food.

I would never ever say I was skint or starving because by the grace of god I have never been either and I have enough respect for people who have to choose my words more carefully.

LittleMonkey16

Respectability is lovely when your tummy's full, isn't it? I hope no-one is too 'respectable' to bend the rules to ensure their kids are fed. What strikes me is how many of you guys made amends once things were better- that shows something more than just expecting something for nothing. The level of guilt is also plain to see.

We live in a strange society. No-one should be reduced to some of the things I've read here. I suppose it's about being able to commit to being 'paid for'. Itstrikes me that there's little or no help for those having a tough few months, but with prospects that things may get better. Those who've decided that they're staying put in the doldrums tend to get a slightly easier ride. That's not to say a life on social is necessarily easy, and I'm not judging or trying to get political. It's just something I've observed in some places.....