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What's the naughtiest thing you've done at your most skint?
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as others have said i feel really humbled by this thread, we've had some lean times but never to these extents.
When i used to work in a nursery we had a little boy who's mum was having money problems after husband leaving, she once came to pick him up while the kids were having their afternoon snack, that day cheese and crackers. There were a few left on a plate, some probably been pre-licked, and while we were getting them cleaned up i saw her tip them into her hand bag. I didnt really know what to do, didnt want to embarass her so ignored it, but a few days later she asked to 'borrow' a nappy from us as she had none at home, i gave her a pack and made her promise to sneak it out in her bag, she then broke down in tears and coudnt stop thanking me0 -
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"0
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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"
i agree with your points, by no means are we well off, some would say low incomes but we have a good standard of living, give to charity and help out less well off where we can. I know of a couple who despite taking home over £100k a year in wages always claim to be skint (this means to them shopping at asda one week instead of m&s) and often dodge rounds, order the most expensive thing on menu then want to split bill, even once turned upto a party with cheap beer, drunk the good stuff then took theirs home again :rotfl:the last straw in our friendship was when they were told they couldnt have children, but said they couldnt afford IVF after the NHS funded one failed. A load of us clubbed together and raised about £2500 for them. After no news of the outcome another of mutual friends asked them how it was going. They had decided not to bother with another round as it was too much heart ache, which i can understand, but they had a new kitchen fitted with the money instead :eek:
needless to say we no longer have them in our lives0 -
wow. theres some really heartwrenching stories on here - and some funny bits too. i too used to steal loo rolls - from the local pub (where i used to go and drink soda water for free - pretending i didnt drink - while my mates drank beer) but thats all i can think of specifically.
however, i work with vulnerable young people and a couple of things have really got to me where i have tried to personally help over the last few years. 1) a 21 year old lad who had been homeless for 8 years came in to see me for advice. he had finally been housed in a flat where his rent and bills were paid, and had been given a 'food bank' voucher to get some dried goods to eat but - was still sleeping in the same sleeping bag he had slept in while homeless for 8 years because he had been given no bedding, his flat only had a matress, table/chairs/cooker/fridge in it. he was unable to cook or eat any of the food he had been given because he had no pots/pan/utensils or cutlery!!!! i called my partner and got her to raid the house for every spare bit of stuff we could do without and we managed to kit him out with what he needed. this was 3 days before xmas. its great he was found a home that time of year, but i cannot get over the fact that his basic living needs were overlooked by the council and housing dept!
2) a young 15 yr old girl - 12 weeks pregnant came in as her mum had lost her job (linked with fleeing domestic violence from her partner), she had just found a p/t job but was yet to be paid. both them and her teenage brother and also younger brother (7yrs old) were all at home in a 1 bed flat with no electric or gas - meters had run out of money. also with no food. we helped them out by having a whip round of £1 each in the office (all in change so they could feed the meters) so they could make it through to the girls pay day.
it really makes you aware of how hard it can be for some, and even though there are agencies out there to help, it doesnt always work out that way. its very humbling to hear how honest ppl are about their circumstances, and i feel very lucky to be in the position we are in - not alot of money by any means - and lots of debt - but keeping our heads above the water. thanks for sharing everyone!0 -
Not my story but that of my now deceased aunt.
My aunt had moved form Ireland to England with her young son. Her husband had had an affair, been violent towards her, a heavy drinker and she had had enough. Her family, being Irish Catholics were more ashamed of her wanting a divorce than interested in supporting her so she had travelled to London with very little and no contacts.
She found a room and a job but had little money for food. She made a 'guy fawkes' and she sent her little boy out to collect 'penny for the guy' and from the proceeds fed them.
Life was this tough for many years.
She was a real inspiration, hardworking, generous and good fun and would say " God fits the back for the burden".0 -
This could well the best thread ever on this board. Alongside the humour (the well-groomed cat!) are some of the most heart-rending stories I have ever read.
My "poverty" - oh so relative compared to some - came about because of my own silliness and lack of responsibility. At one time, when I was working in London, I used to travel on the Tube without paying regularly. I wasn't going into the central zone where there were barriers.... every so often i got caught but the £10 fine and the price of the ticket was worth it for all the days when I got away with it. I had a good job, too, yet my finances were so tight. It's hard to believe that I could have been so careless.
A few years later, my finances were reaching breaking point. I hadn't learnt anything yet, you see. My cards were pretty much maxed out, except my Marks & Spencer card and I lived on M&S food for months (there's an irony in that... stony broke and living off M&S food). On a couple of occasions, when they put up my credit limit, I ordered some Euros then took them to a bureau de change to convert them to pounds. Until reading this thread I thought I was the only person to do things like this!
When that was maxed out, the only credit I could get was my Next account. I can't believe it now, but I used to order perfumes and electrical goods to sell on eBay. My account went up to over £2,000 due to this craziness. Of course, I couldn't keep it up and eventually I had to face up to things and enter a self-managed DMP. I can't tell you how much I regret building up all this extra debt (it's not credit - I've learnt it the hard way, it's debt). Thankfully for four years I haven't used any credit and I am, slowly, paying off what I owe.
My experiences are nothing, though, compared with some on here. I can't say how much I admire all those who have bared their souls about what they did to survive, and all those whose stories have also been shared on here by grateful children, relatives or simply those who have helped someone down on their luck. Tonight, I am very grateful for all I have. Stories such as the one above, about the young man who had been homeless and when housed hadn't been given even basic pots and pans, and the lady from Ireland, have touched my soul.
I feel immensely grateful for my home and my family. I still have debts but I can manage them these days and one day, I'll be debt-free. Thanks, OP, and everyone for giving us a smile or two along the way and also reminding us what real hardship is.0 -
Have to say I was once putting up my add for private tuition for entrance exams when I saw an ad looking for Escorts....well I reasoned it was in our highly repectable news agent run by a very conservative couple so I rang number! WHAT an awkward conversation that was - me quite nervous but deserate for some work - lady on the other end quite tactful but obviously looking for a 'differently qualified' sort of lady. The final question - 'Now dear I have to ask = have you done this kind of work before?' ME 'Well no but I'm very good company and quite presentable and a good companion for the theatre or opera, that sort of thing' PAUSE 'I dont think this is for you really my love - its not really that sort of escort Im looking for....you'd be better looking elsewhere for work...' WHOOPS. THe ad lasted a week and was NEVER placed in THAT newsagent again. Probably a close shave for me and really quite kind of her to point me in the other direction!!debt free 2021 at current DMP rate[/COLOR] (probably be in an old peoples home by then)0
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A few years ago, my ex and I moved to another country for a job opportunity. Things weren’t working out between us so I knew a breakup was imminent. Still, I wasn’t expecting to come back home one night (the day before rent was due) and finding out he’d left without a warning.
I couldn’t cover the rent on my own the next day because it was his month to pay the whole thing (I had paid the previous month) so I had absolutely no money on me. Thankfully the landlord gave me a break for a couple of weeks until I could come up with the money. Still, there was no food in the house and I had a total of $2.40 to my name. All I could afford was some rice and some potatoes to feed myself and my dog for 12 days. On the last two days, there wasn’t enough food for both of us, so I fed him and I just drank lots of water. I was alone in a foreign country with nobody to turn to (and I have no family so there was nothing to "go back to"). I’ve never been so miserable or felt to guilty.
The next two months were really tough and I went without food (or ate bread with butter) several times. I ate a lot ramen noodles too. All I cared about was making sure my dog didn’t go hungry.
I now buy high-quality dog food in large bags so I always have a surplus. My pantry is full too so I could eat for two weeks without spending a penny.0 -
Gosh Im sat here with tears streaming down my face reading these posts
I think its bringing back memories of when I was in a bad time in my life with my daughter.
We moved to a different part of the country and the first week all we had was 13p bread and a large tin of gravy,all week thats all we had,gravy butties,the only saving face was my daughter was having meals at school.
But the one I remember the most was the time I was on my knees with worry about having nothing and it was a day I took my daughter to school,she was about 9 at the time,this is the same gravy buttie week.
On the way there I looked down on the floor and found a little purse,while no one was looking I picked it up and put it in my pocket,I honestly thought i was going to have a heart attack!
I dropped my girl off at school and ran all the way home,inside was £2.50,nothing else,just the £2.50 so I went out and bought enough food to fill 2 carrier bags full,I felt so guilty but so relieved we wouldnt have to eat gravy butties and we woulold have something decent in our bellies.
When my girl came home from school she was so upset,she explained her best friend had lost his little purse with his dinner money in it on the way to school and he didnt have any food at school that day at school,she also went into great detail about how upset he was and how he spent most of the day in floods of tears.
To say I suffered guilt that day is an understatement.
Years later myself and my daughter was in a pub and suddenly she pointed to this lad in his 20,s and said "thats the lad who cried all those years ago because he lost his purse"(for my girl to remember that must mean it was a horrible day at school when he lost it),I could of died!
So in the end i went over to him,explained who I was,explained what I did all those years ago and appologised to him and told him how sorry I was for not handing it in at the school because deep down I knew it must of belonged to one of the children.
He was so nice about it,he said he does remeber it and he got a belting off his mum when he got home and told her he lost it,she sent him to bed with no tea,oh God.
As I was leaving I went over to the bar,ordered a pint for him and asked the bar girl if she would take it to him and give him this.....
a £20 note with the words "Im so sorry" on the corner of the note.
Still didnt make me feel better though.0 -
Done so many. .
when I was with my ex I used to go down the market and pick up the veg from the ground and cook it up with a bit of gravy powder as 'stew'
Managed to find a few 'whoopsie' tickets which reduced the nappy bill down to a manageable level
Went in a telephone box and found someones M&S clothes shopping and took it back and explained that it had been bought as a joke and could I get a refund (I did) and bought food after not eating for 2 days.
Recently the Job centre managed to make me wait 10 weeks for my Job Seekers and I have been going and doing extra days at the charity shop I help in as I get free tea and coffee and a £3 lunch allowance which if you shop carefully will feed 2 people for a couple of meals and still look like lunch.The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.0
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