joyboytoy79
Sexy Member
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2006
- Posts
- 3,686
- Media
- 32
- Likes
- 61
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- 193
- Location
- Washington, D.C. (United States)
- Sexuality
- 100% Gay, 0% Straight
- Gender
- Male
I see smokers at the free food lines and I don't know how to feel. I've financially helped friends who had no food money, but who smoked or had Internet connections and cell phones.
But, as for me, I somehow always had enough to buy food, but have made sacrifices to do so. When I see my bank account dwindling, I start cutting back first on luxuries, like eating out, movies, extra trips, etc. I have significant medical costs, and have sought help from the state government and free programs of drug manufacturers. I even started waiting in food lines myself, just to prevent "going under" in other areas.
I'm still ineligible for food stamps, but am aware some day I may need them, as I once did. I haven't seen a dentist in eight/nine years, but a lost filling is making that necessary soon. I do have some investments, but have stopped giving to them for years.
As a type I diabetic, the thought of no food does frighten me. I fasted for three days, once, and kept my blood sugars normal, but I like to have a reserve of food nearby in case.
Back when I was going hungry, I did smoke. A carton of cigarettes was cheaper than food and smoking kept my mind off being hungry. I no longer smoke - but if I was in the same situation now, I would have to quit. Cigarettes in Canada cost a fortune! On the other hand - smoking is an addiction and not a luxury like cable.
No I've been very lucky. One of my least favorite feelings is being hungry so if I encounter someone on the street who says they have no money and are hungry I buy them something to eat if they are willing to let me buy them something in lieu of giving them cash.
Been there.
Ever since, I've been a lot more generous with beggars.
There but for the grace of god ....
I believe being poor or not having anything to eat is a choice in these days but then again I have never been poor.
It isn't always a choice...
My husband lost his job years ago, there was no way of knowing he'd lose his job, it was purely situational and not something that he had any control over. His boss wanted to keep him, but had no choice. We'd recently moved, which took all of our savings (which wasn't a problem since we were putting plenty away each month, at the time)
He went to sign up for benefits while looking for work. It takes around 2 weeks for the claims to be processed and the money to start arriving in your account, which would have been fine, had that been the case.
It took them 6 months to process the claim, 6 months during which time he was constantly looking for work, both of us applying for any and all jobs going, while trying to build our own business just in case we couldn't find work with the way things were where we were at the time. They claim they have emergency funds for things like this, but the truth is... you can't get to those emergency funds unless you have a processed and accepted claim in the first place.
Not everyone has a choice.