What's the naughtiest thing you've done at your most skint?

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.

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.....

Wobblydeb

This is certainly a thought provoking ... and humbling .... thread.

I feel so lucky to be able to say that my poorest times were as a student, and like others always knew I had mum and dad to fall back on. Living on noodles and walking everywhere doesn't actually feel too much of a hardship at that stage of life.

I did fall back on Mum and Dad occasionally - the most embarrasing was arriving home for Christmas in my 2nd year, and having to ask for money to buy my family Christmas presents that year. £200 cash appeared on my bedside table the following day, and a note to tell me to spend no more than £50 on presents.

Those were also the days before bank systems were sophisticated enough to keep real time track of your spending, so I would often buy my food shopping and then run around to the ATM to draw out the same small remaining amount of cash. The ATM gave you fivers then too

Ooooo and I remember doing the interview rounds. I bought a nice M&S suit, kept the tags on (and well hidden) then returned it for a refund after my interviews had finished and I had secured a job. I really regretted it 6 months later when I started work and had to go suit shopping again.

CountingPennies

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver wrote: »

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

I'm the same... been *watching* for ages now... Still torn on if i should post.

jpwhittle

nattypants wrote: »

What an amazing thread - I was thinking earlier on that there was too much month left to eek out money, however reading these posts have really kicked me into "gratitude" touch.

I lived in a flat that was so cold I dragged the matress through to the living room, and myself and the kids (toddlers at the time) would go to bed early to keep cosy. We had one calor gas heater and I will always remember the feeling of dread when I could hear the ptt ptt ptt sound which signalled the gas was almost finished :-( I guess the naughtiest thing I did whilst at (fairly) rock bottom was to spend a tenner which was meant for the children on a bottle of gas.

Of course it wasn't cold ALL the time - sometimes it just felt like it;)

i once felt guilty at spending money that had been given to the kids on food and nappies and clothes for them, especially as id wanted to save for them and i still havent managed it. But my dad said one day, when people give you money for the children, it doesnt matter weather that goes on treats or basics, as long as its for the children. People would rather know you used it for something they needed than saved it and they went hungry.
I still havent to this day saved a penny in my kids bank accounts, i do intend on doing soon i hope. But we are now very comfortable after turning our lives down and the kids want for nothing, i guess i make up for spending their money by buying them things now.
Dont feel guilty for getting gas wich kept them warm, your friends and relatives would rather it go to that than another new toy or something xx

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

CountingPennies wrote: »

I'm the same... been *watching* for ages now... Still torn on if i should post.

:beer::beer::money:to everyone on this thread.
It is such a nice thread.
I don't think I have been such a deviant in my life. I have been brought up very strait-laced BUT should push come to shove then there are plenty of good ideas here for my more naughty-but-got-to-survive self.
It is also heartbreaking to see the incredible depths of poverty expressed here and the seemingly absolute need to hoard supplies against a rainy day; something I do. I cannot and will not live in an hand to mouth style and despite being on benefits try to live best life possible on a low fixed and despised!!!! income!!!!!
*wordless*
Needs Must/Must Needs. Once again*wordless* Love and best wishes to all and the stories of peoples kindnesses are again outstanding.
More please!
NB Will this thread be deleted? If I be honest this thread looks historical in MSE terms. There is such a lovely store of threads on MSE.
????:A:A:A:T:T:beer::beer:

regret70

This thread has really made me think about things.

I saw a lady picking blackberries off a bush on the main road, I used to think everyone did that? Now I wondered if it was a meal to her. Also, this morning I saw a pregnancy test that had been disguarded at the till in the pound shop, and I wondered if that person couldnt afford to buy it, which is sad if that is the case.

I also saw 20p on the floor and thought about an earlier thread where Someone said leave money on the floor if you don't need it someone else might need it more than you.

Is it just me that can't stop thinking about it?!