Q&A for How to Survive Becoming Poor

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Does growing my own food save money?

Community Answer

Typically, yes.

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Question

No matter how I shop, I always spend far too much on groceries, cat food and paper goods. How can I budget for this?

Community Answer

Partly this is about budgeting but partly it's also about realizing that food prices are continuously rising while many incomes are not keeping up. Write out a budget for everything, working out what you can spare for food. Then, go through weekly specials for wherever you shop and make a list of all the essentials you need. Avoid junk food and focus on home baking/cooking, vegetables, fruit and meat Add other essentials not on sale. Stick to this shopping list when you go shopping and you won't overspend. And buy up on pet food in bulk whenever it is on special.

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Question

How could you manage financial decisions to survive from being poor?

pbrower2a1

Community Answer

You can decide to live as if you were still in an earlier decade, using stuff expensive then that people have cast off. Yes, you can watch VHS tapes on a VHS player on a CRT screen. You do not have to be fully up-to-date. Your dishes do not have to match. You can watch your money. Don't shop for anything other than necessities. Go to the library instead of a bookstore. Ask whether you really need to take that pleasure trip. Get food stamps, but don't buy junk food with them. Prepare your own food instead of buying processed food. When things get better you will know what matters and what doesn't. Heck, you might be proud of the lasagna that you make yourself

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Question

Is it bad to take advantage of a food bank?

Community Answer

If by "take advantage" you mean patronize the food bank when you are poor and in need of food, no, it is not. If you mean "take advantage" like get free food when you don't really need it, yes, that is bad. You'd be taking food out of the mouths of people who are genuinely needy.

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Question

I am a kid and my parents lost their jobs. We are not totally poor, we have money for food and home, but we can't afford much more. What do I do?

Community Answer

Just don't ask for expensive things and don't complain when you can't have all the things you want. Remember that it's only temporary and the situation will improve. Until then, just try to be supportive.

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