When I went away to university my parents and I had an fallout over my education decision and I was financially cut off from them so I had to provide for myself. I had some savings, a small scholarship, part time job and a 11 year old car. I lived in a small room (about 12’x14’) in a factory warehouse that used to be a night watchman’s office. My bathroom was a toilet and a wash basin down the hall next to the A/C closet. There were roaches that were big as my thumb and rats that would scare cats. Basically I had no money to live on after paying for classes, books and rent. I think I lived on $15 a week. That’s $15 per week for food, gas, clothes, entertainment, etc.
I learned you can make Hamburger Helper without hamburger or milk… just add more noodles and water. That nasty tasting chicken hotdogs that cost next to nothing is expensive when you only have some change in your pocket. I learned super markets would throw away expired bread after they closed. Did you know that if you eat Ramen three times a day you get the runs for days? You can get a lot of free toilet paper and soap at school when you go to the library at night and go visit the men’s room… right after the cleaning crew cleans and stock the bathroom. I purchased all my clothes including shoes, socks and underwear at Salvation Army store.
Worst thing I did was put on my best cloths and go to a wake at a home near my university because I knew they had food. It was very large gathering so I pretended like I belonged there and ate till I was full and then I left.
I think back now and laugh about it but at the time I was ashamed and desperate.
Nothing at all to be ashamed of....actually you should be proud you survived and got your degree....congratulations........
And I can definitely relate.....when I went back to school, I was married, two kids, a house and a car, and making $5.00 an hour, working Monday thru Saturday 50 hours a week,and going to shool Monday thru Thursday 6-10pm, 4 hours a night, 4 days a week and studying all day Sunday...did it for two years....time went by fast and I dont know how we survived, but we did....and I am very proud of that....best move I ever made....cuz they can never take away your education...
sounds just like me in 75-80. woke up at 5:30 walked/hitched 8 miles to work in a lumber mill 7-12 then back to school to 4pm then package store/gas station 7-11pm. ate cabbage, brown rice,carrots,onions and ANY unfortunate bird or animal I could shoot with a 22 or shotgun. cooked em in a wok on a svea gas camp stove in my dorm room. ate all the leftover hot dogs at the end of the night at work. hit bars that had free food if you bought a beer. made friends with fellow students working campus security so I knew where they were when I would steal books and turn vending machines upside down so money/food fell out. poorest kid in a rich school . friends with kids from some very wealthy family's McGraw hill publishing,Suzuki motors Japan,Boars head meats. was in the best shape of my life if a bit too thin. and was very lucky with the girls on campus that would steal me food from the cafeteria now and again. wouldn't trade the exp for anything.
Congrats to you for pursuing your education. Congrats for living within your means, and especially because you were able to do it all without BREAKING any laws, or stealing. You just proved that you CAN live on next to nothing and YOU DONT HAVE TO STEAL to survive.
yeah I stole, not proud of it but did a lot of not strictly legal thigs back then, no more. for food and books only, had plenty of opportunity for bigger paydays but wouldn't do it. school books are the biggest rip of going, they charge an arm and leg, then change books each semester so you have to buy new ones and can't use or re-sell old ones.
