It does not go on forever.

I lived in a by-the-week shitty motel towards the final weeks of my marriage, and upgraded to my car when I just couldn't take anymore and couldn't afford a new apartment (which my folks eventually saved me on).
I've had food stamps and would pay just enough to keep utilities turned on, wearing two or three pairs of pants or skirts at once so we could keep the heat down. And, something I'm not particularly proud of... I once went home with someone because I knew he would take me to breakfast the next day, and I wouldn't have been able to eat until the following day otherwise.

Now? Well, I'm not rich. But for the first time in my life when my paycheck goes into the bank I still have some from the last check in there. I don't have a car, but I have a nice apartment complete with comforts like electricity, water, and gas. And it's been only a couple years since I was at the lowest point.

So yeah, things will get better. Chin up. And remember, some day you'll have a ditzy acquaintance talking about how they they're so broke they need to shop at walmart or something trivial, and you can totally put them in their place.

It will pass. Not knowing anything about your financial situation, that advice is pretty useless, I guess. If you are moving forward in any way, no matter how miniscule, though, it will pass. In any case, there are way worse things than being broke.

*drinks deeply, passes the bottle*

Agreed, it'll pass.

Being poor (and/or broke) sucks, but you can turn it into a bit of a game if you're determined. Challenge yourself to spend as little as you can. See what kind of kickass meal you can put together for uner $10 (and then stretch it out for several days). If you turn it into something to conquer, instead of something that's conquering you, it's a lot easier not to be depressed about it.

But yeah, sass, it'll get better.

Tonight the Dingle's on me.

I've been laid off 4 times and went through credit counseling twice. At the front end of both of those, it seemed like I would never get caught up. Ever.

And then I did.

The cool thing about getting back on your feet, is that you don't realize it's happening, then one day you realize you've done it. Hang in there, that day is coming.

Oh yeah, it really does not last forever. I promise. I remember the days of not always being able to pay the rent, laying awake at night freeting over whether to pay the gas, electric, or water, living through my first Chicago winter without a pair of boots (fun!), having to go on food stamps, not having any health insurance (during which I had my first cancer scare!) and defaulting on my student loans -- all while juggling three (low-paying) jobs straight out of grad school. It was so demoralizing and frightening, but it didn't last forever. Step by step, I came out of it. You will too. Promise.

Hang in there, you Sassiest of Hats! You can do it.

The cool thing about getting back on your feet, is that you don't realize it's happening, then one day you realize you've done it.

OMG, so true. And that realization?
THE BEST THING EVER!

I've bounced checks at every grocery store in town.

Oh yeah, nothing like seeing a copy of a bounced check taped to the register with big black lettering that says "Do Not Accept!"

Glad those days are gone. Knock wood.

Yeah, that moment you realise that you aren't broke any more is better than the best sex you've ever had. Look forward to it, knowing it will come if you want it to.

Been there on my own and been there with the mister (been there as a kid, too, but that's a different story). It does pass. I'm grateful every damned day for what I/we have and have accomplished.

Sass, I was sleeping in Allan Gardens, then two years later I was back earning six figures and buying a home. You can get out from under and as others have said it is a great feeling.

Been there. My first wife and I broke up just as I started back at college. I was stuck with a giant 6 bedroom Victorian house to heat and I was only making $8/hour doing an computer science internship designed for 19 year olds. I had to run the the utility companies offices many times at the last minute to pay the minimum to keep my phone/lights/gas turned on. Eventually I graduated, got a job, sold the giant house and paid off my debts.

I used to go to art openings for the cheese and crackers, and the wine.

The cool thing about getting back on your feet, is that you don't realize it's happening, then one day you realize you've done it.

So true. I remember the day I suddenly exclaimed to my therapist: "oh my god, I spent years living on ramen noodles, and now I have become a person with a retirement account. And I'm contributing to it!" She laughed and said I should go buy a nice bottle of champagne to celebrate. (Which I did!)

I was in my last year of college, probably a month away from graduation. I paid for all my schooling myself and I was dead dead broke. All my credit cards were maxed out, except for one. That one card had just enough room on it so that I could possibly eat for the last month until my summer job started. I was feeling depressed, scared about leaving school, insecure around my peers and on utter impulse decided to take a good portion of my class out for dinner. One last blowout! To be paid for with my remaining credit card, of course. So, 'bout 20 of us scrambled our way to a Chinese buffet (college students you know) and ate ourselves silly. It was delicious in that flourescent sauce kind of way. We were all stuffed to the gills and I waved my credit card when the bill came. My friends were so grateful and heaped praise on me. In that moment, I felt so proud of my irresponsible mess. Wealth was in friends not dollars! As I was signing the credit card slip, someone gave me a fortune cookie. Inside, the most damning and utterly accurate fortune I have ever received from baked goods.

It read: Your concept of handling funds requires review.

Damn! I was being admonished by a cookie!!!! In any case, I survived the rest of the school year by managing to get a department store credit card which could only be used in the department store. Which was kinda high-end. So even though I was broke, I was eating smoked salmon, gourmet cookies, antipasto etc.

As for the fortune I got, I took it to heart. To this day my main credit card goes into a little plastic sleeve. Taped on the outside? My fortune from over 10 years ago. A little reminder every time I pull out the plastic.

I used to go to art openings for the cheese and crackers, and the wine.

In college we called that "supperart."

Ah yes. I know this well. Honestly, If you'd told me 7 years ago that I would be a homeowner, have a car loan with never a late payment, and have my student loans in such a place that I know when they'll be paid off, I would have laughed in your face. Till I cried. I even have a financial planner, a 401K plan, and no longer get hives when I sit down to pay bills.

I raise my glass of Dingle to you! This will get better.

I used to go to art openings for the cheese and crackers, and the wine.

In college we called that "supperart."

I call that next Monday.

I call that "Where and When? I'll Be There!" My whole life is structured around free food.

Oh, same here. But, being an art major in college, gallery opening invites were much easier to come by back then.

Last September, I showed up to work and got busy. Around 2PM my boss came in and notified me and my coworker Johnny 2 times that we were laid off -- there just wasn't enough work coming in to keep us. He handed us a severance check, I heaved a sigh, said goodbye to everyone, packed my shit and left.
I was barely getting by as it was. Nonetheless, I had a cute friend in town, so for the next couple of weeks, I hung out with her and tried not to think too much.
After she left, I went to my mandatory Unemployment classes, etc. Over the next couple of months, I went on some interviews but since it was getting closer to the holidays, I didn't think I'd land anything.
Finally, in late November I did land a job...BUT! I was a contractor. We got paid once a month and I'd just missed the pay period...and the next one wasn't until sometime in JANUARY.
I'd exhausted just about everything by then. It was weird going to work everyday, but still being broke. I lost weight and managed to keep my bills paid, but beer was a luxury.
Then my house flooded in mid December. There was a freak rainstorm and I lived in a valley.
I lost my computer, shoes, CD's, two basses, my SWR cabinet and 400w bass head...art...books. Basically, half my worldly possessions.
My friend Frito totally set me up at his place on a dog-smelly futon in the basement, but I still had no money.
I had to borrow some cash from a buddy just to eat.

But by mid January, I got an initial payment from the city for the flood (for about 1K -- the city took responsibility) and my first paycheck. Around this time, I met my current girlfriend.
Then my friend Tess asked me to move in with her for less rent than I was paying before! Then I got a second payment from the city...then in June, an unexpected third.

I bought some new stuff. And as of this month I'm hired as a full-on salaried employee, with bennies and no cut in pay.

I don't know what tomorrow may bring, but yeah...it does get better.