Have you ever been 100% completely broke?

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Have you ever been 100% completely broke? (Page 1 of 3)

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:26:23 PM EDT

I was thinking about this the other day.

I mean no money in the bank at all, empty pockets, nuthin!

I have 3 or 4 times.

Back when I was an E2 and getting BAS (had to pay $ at the chow hall) a few times I literally ran COMPLETELY out of money and actually did go hungry on more than one occasion. I remember being flat ass broke with all my credit cards maxed out. Of course this was my own fault.

I'll never forget that feeling, being hungry and having no way to pay for any food, not even a candy bar.

Maybe that's why 20 years later I'm such a cheap bastard

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:29:17 PM EDT

[#1]

Yup, Top Ramen by the case.

Never thought of asking the .gov for help. I never missed a meal, but never had money for anything extra.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:32:20 PM EDT

[#2]

BTDT, not anytime recently fortunately.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:32:31 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yup, Top Ramen by the case.

Never even thought of asking the .gov for help.

View Quote

Top Ramen would have been a great luxury.

I can still imagine the conversation with my 1st Sgt (that never happened) "I drank my whole paycheck and I can't afford to eat now"

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:32:43 PM EDT

[#4]

Yep

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:35:15 PM EDT

[#5]

I bought and boiled a dozen eggs once, so I could make it through the week.

Does that count?

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:35:53 PM EDT

[#6]

Yes

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:37:51 PM EDT

[#7]

Several times. Twice in a foreign country. Contracting does have its ups and downs.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:38:56 PM EDT

[#8]

Yes.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:39:13 PM EDT

[#9]

Yep, $1.00 a day for food for 13 days. Not another red cent to my name

Sucks to be hungry

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:39:25 PM EDT

[#10]

yes.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:39:35 PM EDT

[#11]

Quote History

Quoted:
I bought and boiled a dozen eggs once, so I could make it through the week.

Does that count?

View Quote

Yup, except I wasn't smart enough to buy the eggs, but obviously you know what I'm talking about.

That makes a long lasting impression on you, doesn't it?

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:41:25 PM EDT

[#12]

Yes, there was a time when I went hungry, due to lack of money. It builds character.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:42:02 PM EDT

[#13]

When I was 19, was living in spokane and couldnt get a job if I worked for free (seriously tried everything). Would sell plasma when I could just so I could buy rice and taters if I had money after rent. I literally would get excited finding nickle and dimes on the ground and would walk 4 miles to this scummy gas station to buy a single cigarette for 35cents or two for 50cents. Had missionaries living across the way from me and they would leave "extras" at my door from time to time. Was definitely a low point in my life but at least I was trying to make it. I remember eating taters for over a month straight, you wont believe how many different ways you can cook those bastards with salt pepper and johneys seasoning

. To this day I dont smoke or like taters all that much. I almost never use seasoning salt either.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:42:59 PM EDT

[#14]

Lots of times.

Now I have lines of credit though so I can have cash and debt at the same time.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:43:43 PM EDT

[#15]

After my divorce some 15 years ago I barely had 2 nickels to rub together. I wouldn't have thrown away the heel on a loaf of bread for love or money. Those were some sad times indeed. I however did have something better than money and that was the drive and ambition to pick myself up, dust myself off and make it all back with interest. With that being said I have improved upon those lean times 15 fold.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:44:20 PM EDT

[#16]

Define broke. I always had at least $500 in the bank but had 5g on the credit cards after 18 months unemployed around '95

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:45:27 PM EDT

[#17]

Nope.

I was raised a conservative by some smart parents.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:45:37 PM EDT

[#18]

Once after graduating from college I had essentially zero cash to my name.

However, I don't count that as broke because I was still at home and I landed a good job about a week later.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:45:51 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:

Yup, except I wasn't smart enough to buy the eggs, but obviously you know what I'm talking about.

That makes a long lasting impression on you, doesn't it?

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I bought and boiled a dozen eggs once, so I could make it through the week.

Does that count?

Yup, except I wasn't smart enough to buy the eggs, but obviously you know what I'm talking about.

That makes a long lasting impression on you, doesn't it?

Yes, it does.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:46:57 PM EDT

[#20]

In 1980 I was down to my last $5. No job. No gas in the car. No money for rent. I bought a hamburger, a Coke and a newspaper. While eating the burger, I read the job listings and later that day answered an ad for a contract job. The contract job lasted seven months and I saved about $9,000.

I invested the money in stocks which are now worth enough to buy a new Bentley. I never would have saved the money had I not got down to my last $5.

(Yes I posted this in th "last $5" thread too.)

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:47:14 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
When I was 19, was living in spokane and couldnt get a job if I worked for free (seriously tried everything). Would sell plasma when I could just so I could buy rice and taters if I had money after rent. I literally would get excited finding nickle and dimes on the ground and would walk 4 miles to this scummy gas station to buy a single cigarette for 35cents or two for 50cents. Had missionaries living across the way from me and they would leave "extras" at my door from time to time. Was definitely a low point in my life but at least I was trying to make it. I remember eating taters for over a month straight, you wont believe how many different ways you can cook those bastards with salt pepper and johneys seasoning

. To this day I dont smoke or like taters all that much. I almost never use seasoning salt either.

View Quote

Interesting. Is there a way to ID people who that a $20 bill could change their entire lives? I live in FL there are crackheads begging for $ on every single corner and in front of every store. I'm not rich but I would help with a $20 if I knew they wouldn't drink it or smoke it. Fuck, I could have fed myself for a week with $20.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:48:42 PM EDT

[#22]

Yeah I've been there. Freaking blows. Got through it though and am doing much better now. This wasn't all that long ago. Less than a year ago for sure. Moved for a job and they backed out on me after I moved. Every penny of savings went into rent and food. Ran out of money pretty quickly and didn't know how I'd pay rent the next month. Job opened up and I made enough to pay rent and by some bread. I hated it, but glad I went through it. Made me better with money and made me appreciate little luxuries a whole lot more.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:49:08 PM EDT

[#23]

I've started my life over twice with nothing in my pocket, and one of those times with borrowed clothes

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:49:28 PM EDT

[#24]

Yes.

I have honestly gone hunting so i could eat. I lost everything once.

Never again

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:49:39 PM EDT

[#25]

Which time? You aren't being very specific.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:50:41 PM EDT

[#26]

yep

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:51:04 PM EDT

[#27]

Close, but no.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:51:33 PM EDT

[#28]

Yep a few times in the Army spent the night in Paris sleeping in a cardboard box and another night on a train station bench , France on a poor plan and not enough cash was bad .I was bad broke when I was an e-1/2 as well. Also after my first divorce I had a roof and a job and a pinto to drive to work but not a lot more . I got some borrowed furniture and my friend came and fed me and made sure I was okay ./

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:51:53 PM EDT

[#29]

Yep....almost 2 years ago. Power was turned off, no food at all. Pretty bleak...

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:51:55 PM EDT

[#30]

Yup. All i had was my clothes and my car, which was my home. Coasted on fumes into Texarkana, where I camped a coupel days until food ran out. Then bummed a quarter, called mom and begged for $50 to get me home.

Got home, found a job, found a place to live, paid her back 40 days later.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:51:56 PM EDT

[#31]

Back when I was a very young married man, happy to say I have matured/grown up some, and have a much better job.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:52:15 PM EDT

[#32]

Yup, coming out of a 5 month layup from a broken leg. I lived on a tight

budget during that time to stretch my savings but I was at the end.

I took the last $300 to my name to the race track and played the ponies.

I got lucky and made enough to meet the upcoming rent and electric bill.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:52:59 PM EDT

[#33]

Yes, and I raised my fucking self from the ashes like a Phoenix.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:53:08 PM EDT

[#34]

Yes. And now that I'm pretty well off, I still wake up each morning scared.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:53:10 PM EDT

[#35]

I've been poor, but never broke.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:53:36 PM EDT

[#36]

Yup, its called being Married.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:53:52 PM EDT

[#37]

Quote History

Quoted:
Define broke. I always had at least $500 in the bank but had 5g on the credit cards after 18 months unemployed around '95

View Quote

I used to think that would be a lot, then I ended up with 12k on mine this winter.

One more job and it's totally gone, plus I wiped out a 3k loan.

Make more money, get more debt. That seems to be the story of my life lately.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:53:58 PM EDT

[#38]

Many times, was a starving artist for real.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:55:21 PM EDT

[#39]

At one point during my college career I thought I was able to pay extra one of my student loans. A little later, I remember eating every scrap I had in my kitchen because only had enough money for rent.

Other than that... I don't think so.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:56:53 PM EDT

[#40]

I was down to my last $5 on a number of occasions, but I always managed to avoid having to borrow or apply for gov't cheese. Then I got divorced and it was as if my income doubled overnight. Christ that bitch was sucking me dry.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:56:55 PM EDT

[#41]

I've been close enough that I went hunting to have something to eat.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:56:56 PM EDT

[#42]

Yup! Life was tuff as a PFC! $240 every two weeks ain't much.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:57:13 PM EDT

[#43]

Quote History

Quoted:
Yup, coming out of a 5 month layup from a broken leg. I lived on a tight
budget during that time to stretch my savings but I was at the end.

I took the last $300 to my name to the race track and played the ponies.

I got lucky and made enough to meet the upcoming rent and electric bill.

View Quote

My dad was a jockey in college, he said if you hung out at the bar they all went to and listened close you could make a killing. If one of them owed another guy from a card game or something he would hold his horse back on a decent purse so the guy could get the payout.

Posted: 7/31/2014 4:58:58 PM EDT

[#44]

Yes.

Posted: 7/31/2014 5:01:11 PM EDT

[#45]

Raised in poverty and continued that way in my early twenties so yes I was broke many times. Ended up getting my head on straight in my mid twenties when I had my own family to support and now at age 35 I hold three college degrees, rental property, several investments, minimal debt, oh and a .gov job

Posted: 7/31/2014 5:01:30 PM EDT

[#46]

Yes. 100% of the time, it sucks 100% of the time. I highly recommend it if you start sweating the dumb shit in life.

Posted: 7/31/2014 5:01:37 PM EDT

[#47]

Am...

Posted: 7/31/2014 5:01:53 PM EDT

[#48]

Yes. When I was first starting out I had to call in vacation days because I couldn't buy enough gas to get to work. My wife and I were young with a newborn. I was so ashamed to tell my boss why I had to miss work. He understood completely. It all worked out though.

Posted: 7/31/2014 5:03:29 PM EDT

[#49]

Yep. Been there, done that.

I'm upper middle class, but even today I know that is a fragile thing.

Posted: 7/31/2014 5:03:53 PM EDT

[#50]

Quoted:
I was thinking about this the other day.
Have you ever been 100% completely broke?
I mean no money in the bank at all, empty pockets, nuthin!

View Quote

$2 dollars to my name and 2,000 miles to go, yes, I've been there and done that.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Have you ever been 100% completely broke? (Page 1 of 3)

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