Have you ever been so poor

crescendo69

Expert Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Posts
7,786
Media
0
Likes
161
Points
283
Age
70
Location
Knoxville (Tennessee, 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.
 
Last edited:

LaFemme

Mythical Member
Staff
Moderator
Verified
Gold
Platinum Gold
Joined
Aug 16, 2010
Posts
40,863
Media
2
Likes
38,885
Points
743
Location
Canada
Sexuality
90% Straight, 10% Gay
Gender
Female
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.
 

HiddenLacey

Cherished Member
Joined
Apr 28, 2010
Posts
5,423
Media
5
Likes
332
Points
118
Location
somewhere
Sexuality
No Response
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.

I smoked at that time as well, though only about a pack a week and it really helped when I felt kind of lost and frustrated, nevermind being hungry. However, I didn't have cable, internet, phone or a even a bed for that matter. I slept on a loveseat, I did have a tv though... whoo hoo 3 local channels that I never got to watch:tongue:

I stopped smoking soon after that time, ridiculous and icky habit. I tell myself that everytime I've thought about one since then:biggrin1:
 

Incocknito

Sexy Member
Joined
Jan 11, 2009
Posts
2,480
Media
0
Likes
67
Points
133
Location
La monde
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male
One time when I was a student I ran out of money. I think over a weekend (about three days) I ate a sausage roll.

And that was before the recession :p lol. Things are good now though, I have a constant supply of cookies and sometimes even treat myself to some Galaxy Cookie Crumble ;)
 

D_Gunther Snotpole

Account Disabled
Joined
Oct 3, 2005
Posts
13,632
Media
0
Likes
73
Points
193
Been there.
There was one period where I was eating lunch in a soup kitchen for maybe three weeks. (Very good meals, I must say.)
It was quite an education, sitting next to peeps, many of whom had been in prison, were substance abusers, some obviously of very low intelligence (and I only mean that descriptively ... not judgmentally), some just profoundly lost.
It was not good for my self-esteem.
Ever since, I've been a lot more generous with beggars.
There but for the grace of god ....
 

nudeyorker

Admired Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2006
Posts
22,744
Media
0
Likes
778
Points
208
Location
NYC/Honolulu
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
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.
 

The Dragon

Sexy Member
Joined
Sep 11, 2007
Posts
5,767
Media
0
Likes
51
Points
193
Sexuality
50% Straight, 50% Gay
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.


I've done something along those lines, NY.

A lady I know was involved with a drug addict who spent all their money and never had food in the house for the children or for school lunches.
I regularly gave her groceries out of my own freezer and pantry and had the children over for dinner and sent them home with a large clip-lock container of "extras".
In the end I gave them the address and phone number of the Salvation Army who regularly help out those who can't afford to buy food.
 

CUBE

Superior Member
Verified
Gold
Joined
May 28, 2005
Posts
8,542
Media
13
Likes
7,675
Points
433
Location
The OC
Verification
View
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
My masters was a hard time the first year. Several times very hungry and had to do peanut butter and old bread and make it last a week. Maybe one meal if that a day. The cat had some dry food and I felt bad for him to but we made it. I remember thinking, I will never be this hungry again...oh yes, it was my Scarlett moment but it was real
 

luka82

Sexy Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2007
Posts
5,058
Media
0
Likes
44
Points
193
Age
41
Location
somewhere
Sexuality
100% Gay, 0% Straight
Gender
Male
Guys, I`m doing Ok! Since starting this thread I have been asked in chat more than once how I`m managing. I would like to thank everyone for their concerns, but I am seriously doing OK! The reason why I have started this thread was an evening news video about people in southern parts of my country, especially a single mother of two who is going through hell just to feed her kids.
 

Mem

Sexy Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2006
Posts
7,912
Media
0
Likes
54
Points
183
Location
FL
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
Never have gone hungry, thank God.
 
Last edited:

Mem

Sexy Member
Joined
Jul 4, 2006
Posts
7,912
Media
0
Likes
54
Points
183
Location
FL
Sexuality
99% Gay, 1% Straight
Gender
Male
Been there.
Ever since, I've been a lot more generous with beggars.
There but for the grace of god ....

You are better off donating what you can to the food kitchen itself. If I see a person carrying a homeless sign (at many onramps and major intersection in south Florida) I ignore them. The last one I saw I happened to notice that his clothes were cleaned and pressed. If I see a disabled person I am more apt to give because they may be less able bodied to help themselves.
 
6

693987

Guest
Yes I have. I've slept in a doorway to a building outside, and survived off of charity food from churches before. I'm not a person who hoards food or anything since I got myself straightened out, but moving/having a remotely unstable living situation makes me incredibly stressed out. Surviving off of bread and soup when pregnant and homeless = utter shit
 

Thirdlegproduction

Formerly WhiteMonst3r
Verified
Gold
Joined
Sep 28, 2010
Posts
1,496
Media
13
Likes
2,519
Points
368
Location
Amsterdam (North Holland, Netherlands)
Verification
View
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male
First off I will say that I have been blessed to never experience this kind of situation.

On the other hand it It makes me not able to understand why people ever get in these situations.

I have never met any people who actually don't have money for food they just had other priority's like drugs or luxury.
The only real poor people I've ever seen were in DC sitting on top of a sewer outlet because the steam coming from the pipes was the only thing that would keep them warm and it was a horrible smell but they endured it because they had nothing.

I believe being poor or not having anything to eat is a choice in these days but then again I have never been poor.
 

Kotchanski

Expert Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Posts
2,850
Media
10
Likes
104
Points
193
Location
England (United Kingdom)
Sexuality
Unsure
Gender
Female
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.
 

Thirdlegproduction

Formerly WhiteMonst3r
Verified
Gold
Joined
Sep 28, 2010
Posts
1,496
Media
13
Likes
2,519
Points
368
Location
Amsterdam (North Holland, Netherlands)
Verification
View
Sexuality
100% Straight, 0% Gay
Gender
Male
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.

I see there are lots of unforseen situations you can not prepare for.

I mean I have been to some poor countries in latin america and all the food those people got was the food they themselves grew with the only store at 200 miles away or something if they even had the money.
I wouldn't call them poor because they made the best with they can do.
But in the western world I can not understand this concept of being too poor to have something to eat.
We have lots of kind people in our environment who are willing to share and even the homeless are getting decent meals every day, so why can't people who own a home, cellphone, 50" tv, pc, 10 different pair of shoes, fancy jewelry, get something to eat?

Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't the problem just pride and luxury in most cases?

I apologize if I'm disrespecting anyone, the example I'm using are of people in my direct environment.