This is meant to be a light thread. We've all been in situations where cash is tight.  
 
I used to go through coat pockets for change to have gas money. Then I would jokingly tell the gas station I just wanted to get rid of all this spare change and give me $5 in gas because I am in a hurry.  
 
I would make cheese slices last by splitting them in fourths instead of a full slice.  
 
I made hamburger stretch by adding tons of crackers or breadcrumbs.  
 
I know there are thrifty ways to live out there, so I want to hear the broke stories. You know you have one or 2.  
 
 
 
 

When I was younger with a room mate... We lived on instant noodles. it's like 5$ for a box of 25..LOL

when I graduated from nursing in 1994. There were no jobs. There were over 100 casual nurses at the hospital.I was one of many . I made muffins for supper .That was the only thing left in my cupboard.Funny now every time I make muffins ,I am reminded of that time. LOL

I have done the powedered milk thing when the kids were little, I would make it at night so they didnt know if I had to do it.

I lived in a tent for 3 weeks. Used the last of my money to buy a loaf of bread, and the biggest log of balogna I could. No mayo, mustard or butter. Just bread and balogna. 3 times a day for almost 2 weeks. I kept it in one of those koolatron coolers that you plug into your cigarette lighter during the day so it wouldn't spoil. This would kill the battery throughout the day, so when the rig crew dropped me off at night, they would boost my car before leaving and I would let it run to charge the battery.  
That was ten years ago now, and I've still to this day not ate a bologna sandwich since!!

When I went to ACC 20 yrs ago we were so broke that my roomate and I had 1 loaf of white bread and a jar of mayonnaise to last 3 days until payday. Mayo samwiches are pretty good when you've got nothing else.....

floresentblack said "I lived in a tent for 3 weeks. Used the last of my money to buy a loaf of bread, and the biggest log of balogna I could. No mayo, mustard or butter. Just bread and balogna. 3 times a day for almost 2 weeks. I kept it in one of those koolatron coolers that you plug into your cigarette lighter during the day so it wouldn't spoil. This would kill the battery throughout the day, so when the rig crew dropped me off at night, they would boost my car before leaving and I would let it run to charge the battery.   That was ten years ago now, and I've still to this day not ate a bologna sandwich since!! "

Haha, that's a good one.  
 
I don't think I would ever eat bologna again either.

I had to use Canadian Tire Money to buy the kids Easter Chocolate Bunnies. How sad!

Went on EI once in my life one winter. My claim was "under review " for 2 months before i got a penny. My wife, myself and daughter lived on Macaroni and rice, by the boxes and very little else for couple months . Never forget it but you know what. I still don't mind macaroni

2 of us were living in a van living on freshie and instant noodles. Couldn't afford the fee for a shower or laundry so we'd put our clothes on, drizzle dish soap allover us head to toe and go swimming in the river. Now our kids like to do it at least once when we are camping and it's an everyday event when we are house-boating.

The thing I remember most about being broke is when I was still in highschool and living with a boyfriend. We had no spending money at all but once a month we would go and get a doughnut and a whopper (i think they were $1.49 without the cheese). Good times lol.

Gypseee said "2 of us were living in a van living on freshie and instant noodles. Couldn't afford the fee for a shower or laundry so we'd put our clothes on, drizzle dish soap allover us head to toe and go swimming in the river. Now our kids like to do it at least once when we are camping and it's an everyday event when we are house-boating. "

I LOVE that you call it "freshie"!!! That's what we called it as kids. The other day I asked my daughter and her friends if they wanted some freshie and they looked at me like I was from another planet!!

floresentblack said "    Gypseee said "2 of us were living in a van living on freshie and instant noodles. Couldn't afford the fee for a shower or laundry so we'd put our clothes on, drizzle dish soap allover us head to toe and go swimming in the river. Now our kids like to do it at least once when we are camping and it's an everyday event when we are house-boating. " I LOVE that you call it "freshie"!!! That's what we called it as kids. The other day I asked my daughter and her friends if they wanted some freshie and they looked at me like I was from another planet!! "

OOps - that must 'date' me as I do to all the time. I asked them the other day if they knew there was once Purple Ketchup and my kid said, 'yea and I bet McDonalds had Pizza too'! I had to get online to prove that yes, there was and yes, they did! They have decided I'm older than dirt (their words)!

was so broke that I went and got a job, so I wasn't broke hehe.

I still live on instant noodles

*Mittens* said "was so broke that I went and got a job, so I wasn't broke hehe. "

THAT WAS AWESOME!  
 
Well crafted!

When I first established my business, I was fairly cash poor. I needed a store front as well as a place to live, so I built a living quarters in my office out of some old 2X4's and silver tarps. Had to be on the ball though, because the building inspector came around frequently a,d I would have to pack all my stuff up in a hurry, as it was a commercial space... definitely started at the bottom...

Nelle said "When I was younger with a room mate... We lived on instant noodles. it's like 5$ for a box of 25..LOL "

Not laughing at you at all! But thats my story too! Thanx itchybans!)

While in college. I was close to broke, so I was rolling my coins. A friend called and asked to borrow 5 bucks. I said sorry I am rolling coins right now to get some lunch items. Well this "friend" showed up begged for money and I said I would split the rolled money. When the friend left a few minutes later I went to get the rolls off the table they were all gone. I borrowed 5 bucks off another friend!

I was so broke that I ended up buying my daughter's first bra at DollaRama.  
 
This really happened. Her puberty was during the last year of me being a single parent and having to stretch every dollar to Rama and back.

I'm so poor I can't afford to pay attention!!!

I'm lucky I have such an awesome mom who would never let my child go without. I might have to call her for a ride, so I can use my free milk coupon. I have no money, am out of gas and milk haha. Come tomorrow I'll be good again.

Trevor said "I'm so poor I can't afford to pay attention!!! "

I'm so poor, I can't spend the night.  
 
Edited by I_justwanna_say, 2011-08-11 15:23:13

When I left home and went to Wpg. to school, my parents would give us food to take back whenever we came home. I remember getting huge boxes of Rice Krispies. The last days before payday was always Rice Krispies and water for 3 meals a day!! Couldn't wait to go home for the weekend.

i remember one time i was so broke that i ate the bologna that was in my fridge for a month, i picked the green out first needless to say there wasnt much bologna left

but i sold my dads car without him knowing it.

Ha Katwalk your posts are always awesome. Talking about your daughters puberty on eBrandon! Simply stunning thanks for the Thursday chuckle I needed that.  
 

30+ years ago I had just moved to Ottawa, paid a months rent at the YWCA and ate soda crackers and drank water until I got a job and my first pay check (no friends there either at the time). The thing I remember most is Rich Little was putting on a show ... the cheapest ticket was $8 and I couldn't go ... I thought Rich Little was terrific.

Like everyone else, my student-era nutritional standards were pretty dismal - we ate only once a day and we lived on pancakes, cereal, and peanut butter sandwiches. In fact, we ate so little fresh, whole food during that time that I'm surprised we, like a couple of my other friends, didn't get scurvy. At one point, my boyfriend and I were super broke, it was the last day before payday, and all we had left was a package of Stove Top stuffing and a box of Kraft dinner. We called it hobo delight, and ate it by candle light. On the plus side, as I moved towards graduation, I became an expert at making survival foods that last, like soups and chilli.

when i found 10$ on the side of the road i felt like I had won the lottery!