Have you ever been that broke?

Hi Moonchild, I haven't reached that stage, and hopefully never ever reached that stage in life. It must be very stressful to constantly worry about getting money for the next meal. I think budgeting is really necessary. Sometimes the poorest folks have the worst eating habit. As a result, they need to worry about medical bills and money for the medications. I think it is good to set priority and learn healthy eating as well. If we cannot have money to enjoy life, at least we have the health to make more money.

Yes, I think we've all been there. I stock up when items are on sale for this reason, so there's always the makings of a cheap meal in the cabinet and freezer. When that's not possible, I've grabbed $1 burger from McDonald's and called it dinner. Last night I made a quesadilla with onions and peppers left over from another meal that I had frozen and a block of cheese that was on sale for $1.49 at the store.

I have not really had the chance to experience such (and I do hope I never will) but I have first-hand experience on loving someone in that situation. I saw his struggle, I know it's different from living the struggle yourself, but I felt it deep in my heart. We were far apart physically but communication was really our best connection. We talked about everything and I saw how he tried hiding his 'situation' because of pride. How he would say he was on a diet that's why he would eat popcorn for dinner. I knew it was because he didn't have enough money to go around. I even thought it was the reason why he cheated on me for several times - so that he'd have food. It's really sad. But I did stick it out with him, sometimes I'd send him little of what I had. Sometimes I'd send him food. It was a tough life. But in the end he found a very good job that gave him the opportunity to reach his potential. Now, he's in another country with a very well-paying job. My only remorse is that now that he has a better life, he forgot all about me. Found another girl, and living life with her. I may have not experience difficulty of being financially incapable, but I think being financially incapable is better than being emotionally hurt. At least, in finances you could find solutions - it's in your control. For something concerning the health or the heart, you just have to live with it. You can't do anything about it.

Things have been pretty tight quite a few times over the past few years since I have been self employed but each time things looked really bad and I have thought about going back to work as a panel beater, the situation has picked up again and we have become complacent again when it comes to saving and spending. Then things get tight again and we stress. It is a cycle that seems to happen being a small business owner. We get low in stock so we have to spend up big to get a huge order in from the USA which takes all of our money and the bills keep rolling in of course and the orders are less at these times because we are low on stock. Then the shipment comes in and we have all these products to sell again and the sales skyrocket and we get on top of things, but then it goes back to being quiet again later when the stock gets low again. We have always been able to get through without compromising the family's eating of healthy organic foods which cost a little more, but this year was tougher after being ripped off by credit card fraud and having to pay the bank over $10,000. Things are finally starting to look up again as we just had our best month's sales for 2010.

Not recently. But I always try to look a week or two in the future. In fact, I have a running spreadsheet which always tell me which day two weeks from now when I will be flat broke. So, I work around it so that I still have a few monies left before that day. I do remember when I was in college where I did not know when my next meal was coming from. I survived it. It involved a lot of pride-swallowing!

Yes, i have. I have never experienced being broke before but just this recently i have to experience it. Good thing, i'm still living with my parents and other siblings i don't have to force myself to pay the bills and buy the food. But you can never take away the thought that you also have to contribute something at home. I have to give financially somehow..but i can't do that since I only receive a small amount of money from my parttime job. It could only sustain my day to day expenses and being broke by the end of the month before the salary comes :(( Being broke really give me more stress. I manage it by simply buying only my needs and forgetting my wants..and going to places only for important purposes other than that i stay at home.

I've been there and I'm still there. I've just been at several stages of it. From you bank account being in the negative and with no job and bills still needed to be paid and right now I might get kicked out of my rental (along with my 2 young children) because my husband has no income beside the unemployment which isn't even enough to their standards even though we're making rent every month. We just can't pay other bills. I've been in the situation where I had to improvise dinner. It's hard for young kids. We'd eat a lot of Saimin (ramin) and peanut butter. Sometimes that's all they would eat. It's hard for yourself, but when you have to see your children go through it, it's heartbreaking.

Yes, I have been there. I'm sure that a lot of people have been at that stage at one time or another. Actually, right now, I have a few things to pay, which I'm not 100% sure how to pay. But I'm taking care of it and I'm hoping that I will be fine at some point in the next several months. This is what I'm hoping, but I'll just have to work hard and see.

Yep. There have been several times that I have had absolutely no money. And I don't mean money in the bank, or just a little money. A lot of people claim they are broke, when they're not. They just mean they don't have any money they want to share. I have been actually broke. No money to pay for food. I could go on and on with the stories about what I've been through, but lots of people have been through the same thing.

I had experienced totally broke financially and it is really hard to be in that situation. But i am still thankful for my friends and family who were always there to lend a helping hand. But it also give me so much lesson to learn in life,like what you have stated being wise for expenses eg.foods and clothing. Yes we learn from each experiences and we must always be thankful for all trials that comes in our life for it made stronger and be a better person inside and out. Happy mylotting

I have had plenty of financial woes in my life. there have been many times that I have struggled with being so broke i didn't know which way to turn. It can leave you feeling depressed or discouraged if you let it. I know i have had moments that i just didn't know what i was going to do next. A financial crisis can be bad enough to face when you are alone. When you have a family to care for, it makes the burden even more. All you can do is keep your head and keep pushing forward. Somehow i have always mangaed to get through it.

You bet ya dear I did and that was after college when my family kinda abandoned me all like that! I mean when I was studying I've had everything and money was not much of a problem but when I graduated they expected me to earn right away which is totally ridiculous! In this country if you work for the next 2 months you will not receive salary just yet! So I did hit rock bottom but I managed too with a little help from my friends. I can say it has made me a better person in terms of managing money although at times I do splurge and go over budget but I am learning one bit at a time, taking one step at a time too. Guess lessons we learned when we are young, fabulous and broke lol

I've been through with that.., a lot of times recently.., because i am still jobless.., and even getting a volunteer job in hospitals here is way to hard.., i am stuck at home with no income at all.., and i spent for my cellphone load and snacks and all my personal necessities..,my savings went dry.., but i don't want to tell my mom.., i don't want to ask a single dime from her.., I am old enough to earn my own.., and i should be the one giving them by now.., =(

yes i've been there my friend, i was that broke at one time i had to share shoes with the missus, lucky we share the same size but have you ever tried walking in stilletoes ;P

That was up at the end of April. LOL We had a couple of great opportunites, and one of them involved an overnight stay in another city, and two tickets, so that cost money, and my computer fell apart, so that cost money. Recently I got some tax money back from the government, and saved it. I never want to be that broke EVER AGAIN, and that tax money is going to stay in savings. I might "borrow" some of it now and then, but I promise to always pay myself back, so I'll never be broke again.