Stories of being absolutely skint!

GobbledyGook

19lottie82 wrote: »

in scotland you can buy glass bottles of "pop" and take them back to the shop to get 30p.

i remember once, when I was a student, a couple of days before the loan payments came through, taking a few to the shop to buy bread, then cutting the mouldy bits off the cheese from the fridge, so i could have cheese on toast for my dinner!

Gosh that brings back memories!

Before my grandparents took my brother and I away from our 'parents' I remember one time when my father was actually working. The benefits people had found out and stopped his money then he, inevitably with his drink/drug/temper issues, lost his job. He didn't tell my mother there would be no wages and this week we had nothing in to eat at all. She was wrecked by drugs by then so we didn't have much, if anything, left to sell. They had a huge row and he left. She found a bottle of vodka and got absolutely tanked up. I remember my brother and I being the happiest kids in the world when we found 4 'gingeys' that we could take to the shop. We were so hungry and it seemed like we could buy so much with these bottles (now I realise the shopkeeper must have taken pity on us) - it was like a feast! A roll, crisps, juice and a bit chocolate each. Best meal of the week.

I had completely forgotten about that memory until I read that about the bottles. Blimey I must have only been about 6 as we were moved a few days before I was 7. I can't imagine my daughters living like that.

Caroline_a

Memories, eh? I remember when I was with first husband and his business failed, and I was expected to feed the him and the kids, pay the bills, put petrol in his car and buy fags for him (and me I'm ashamed to say). The kids were fine, he had some petrol for his car, and I lived on fresh air and cigarette smoke. My income was £21 a week child benefit and Family Income supplement... and I weighed 7 stone..

roadiegirl

In my first year at uni, my loan didn't come in when it was supposed to, and I was relying on that to be able to live on. I didn't have an overdraft as I didn't think I'd need one, and I had £3 to live on for seven days. So I had a lovely 3 mile walk to uni (uphill, and not long after a big operation on my knee), and lived off pasta and cheese. I didn't want to have to ring home so soon begging for money, and I really wish I had done now. Luckily my parents did a surprise Tesco delivery with loads of food for me about two days before my loan went in!

sulkisu

These stories really bring back memories.

When I was in my mid 20's and between jobs my giro (remember those?) went missing in the post and took almost a week to be replaced. I remember taking toilet roll from the local library's toilet because I had run out and couldn't afford to buy any, using my friends deodorant (I was desperate) while visiting the bathroom, using a free shampoo sample to wash a few clothes and surviving on those cheap nasty noodles (10 packets for £1). I now operate in survival mode - I keep a stock of dried and tinned foods and toiletries (just in case) and a jar full of change - despite earning a healthy salary. I hate the thought of being in that position again.

newcook

I remember a few years ago I used to get the train a few times towards the end of the month without a ticket as my bus pass had run out and for the 11 minute journey used to pray that there wasn’t a ticket inspector on the train or at the station.
I also used to go to tesco across the road from me about 9pm to see what had been reduced (and sometimes even pay for the reduced item with my clubcard vouchers!)
I’d also often buy the dirt cheap noodles and cuppa soups for lunch at work.

Ive also done the calling in sick the day before payday as Ive had no money for the bus and had seen a conductor at the train station.

It sounds a bit backwards but as much as I knew I would be skint at the end of the month, I would allow myself £10-15 at the beginning of the month so I could go and have a drink with friends – I think I may have gone stir-crazy if I didn’t have that to look forward to!

Thankfully, the above only lasted about 3 or 4 months while I was paying off a massive bill

fannyanna

I hope this doesn't come across as though I'm gloating (as I'm not) but.....

Reading this thread has made me grateful for what I have and reminded me not to take for granted the basics such as having a roof over my head and food in my stomach.

BJV

When I was at uni I ran out of money, thinking back I think i spent it in the student bar lol. I had been so used to my parents just looking after me. I lived on Kwick Save own cornflakes for two weeks.Did not have the money for milk so I used water. Mmmm soggy cornflakes and cold water ! nice

codemonkey

Uggh this brings back memories of my first flat, going to the supermarket, buying value bread and value tins of beans and spaghetti (beans and sausages if I'd just been paid), value tomatoes and value pasta and living off that. I worked as a waitress while I finished writing my dissertation (pre-minimum wage) but the company I worked for was so tight that all you got as your food allowance for a shift was a dry roll and a small drink and the Christmas bonus was year out of date fruit cake that they couldn't sell. Oh the bliss when I found a job in an Italian restuarant just around the corner who paid more, and gave massive plates of pasta as staff meals.

amyloofoo

Fortunately although I've had a few 'coinstar' moments as an adult, I've not really been in a horrendous situation. However, I remember when I was young, my dad was a student and my mum was pregnant with my 4th sister - she'd planned to carry on working right until the last minute, but then ended up with medical complications and was told she couldn't work at all and should be spending time doing bedrest. Looking back on it, I really don't know how my parents would have managed without the help and support of friends, family and neighbours. From being a very particular woman who liked things to be just so, mum's new mantra suddenly became 'we're not proud' and I remember neighbours coming round with tins of food, one of mum's friends who did product testing for birds eye used to always be coming round with fish fingers, nana washed our uniforms, etc. Dad was having to get the train every day to college and his income was practically nil, with 4 children (and one on the way) all under the age of 7. It must have been so hard for them but they managed to keep it out of our consciousness, it's only looking back as an adult that I realise it probably wasn't normal for kids to be eating the same stew all week lol. I really am blessed with my parents, and as dad always says 'I'm the child they chose specially' (adopted) lol. Hooray for hardworking parents :T

miss_hh

I can remember as kids not having any milk for our cereal so we use to have to go out and steal the neighbours occasionally which we diluted with water so it was enough for the four of us!