What is the brokest you've ever been?

[Soul_Glo]

Even if it was as an intern you had to steal napkins from Burger King to use in the toilet at home.

If there is too much sorrow then feel free to add how you went from rags to riches - inspire. I think we'll get some funny stories though.

In 2009... I contracted a tropical fever. I was out of work for months. I had to sell my watches, old phones sold to gamestop, collectors box sets and, couldn't even make minimal payments on the mortgage. I couldn't even spare gas money so had to ask friends to take me to appointments. I left 1$ in my account so I could purposely overdraw for gas before that. Made a few trips to some hotels to walk in and have continental breakfast. However, one day that wasn't a good idea because I was too broke to get to work so called in sick.

After six months I had no choice but to move in with my mother for a year. She helped me to get back on my feet and even contributed to paying some debts without my knowing. After all that I have lived happily in my new home coming up to 10 years and never missed a payment.

[obert]

Slept in my car for a year and worked at temp labor places just to eat and put gas in my car and to support my bad habit. Lost everything including my car. Slept in a trailer for a couple of weeks that had cockroaches running around that you could see from the tv light. Took a bus to go to treatment with a box and bag of cloths. Spent 30 days inpatient and then a year of out patient.

Slowly worked my way up to the job I have now and I continue to upgrade and make more money. It’s been 20 years and never looked back

[Seeyal]

When I move to the US (legally), I had 2 suitcases, 2000$ and a degree... And no credit, so I could not even been able to buy anything... But broke was just in finance, as I still was rich, fully ready in my heart for the American dream with my lovely wife on my side and ... 28 years later, she still pulls up with my crap...lol

[Rmtt]

I grew up poor. Constantly moving around in assisted housing when we could get it, stayed in homeless shelters when we couldn't..

Ate in food kitchens, and we had our first permanent residence when I was 15 which was basically a family member's condemned mobile home.

Started working as soon as anyone would pay me, and eventually paid my way through school although my degree was delayed.

I learned very quickly that I didn't want that for my kid.....so have always been OCD about stashing cash, emergency funds, etc. It wasn't until I was in my mid 30's did I lighten up a little. Until then, I wouldn't buy anything unless my daughter needed it.....otherwise I would wear a pair of shoes into the ground!

Obviously not as bad as some have had it....but still shaped me none the less.

[roastbeef]

the poorest i've ever felt was working some minimum wage job at the time for $6.75 an hour at a clothing store. i was trying to earn extra summer money and you just had to have a pulse to work there. one day i had a five hour shift and had to clock out for a half hour lunch or some crap, and i bought a $11 steak sandwich and realized it was like two hours worth of work at that place for that lunch. felt like an idiot.

[chetman7]

Waiting for the 18 year old college students with m3/m4s complaining that there parents were going to buy them a Honda instead of a BMW. The struggle is real

[Darth One]

when we were starting out I made $6 an hour, my wife made $5. Two year old son to feed, didn't have a bank account. Moved in with my mother in law who was equally income-deficient, but at least had flexible hours. She was literally a godsend, even though all we could collectively afford was a $500 a month apartment in semi-ghetto LA. But she took care of my son while we were at work and I was so thankful to be able to have him always be with someone I trusted (and didn't charge a fee)

The other great gift we received was that my parents scrounged up a couple G's to buy us a used Civic that was cheap, bulletproof transportation - sorely needed because I had to drive my wife to work 30 mins away and then another hour to get to work myself. And then back again at night.

During the weekends we would allot ourselves $10 as our 'fun budget'. Could be a cheap meal, could be ice cream or a little toy for our son. We found a lot of free things to do, lol. I came to appreciate it because if you ain't got shit to distract you, you spend time with your family. And just running around with your kid is the best free thing to do.

[adobeee]

Grew up poor and graduated college in 2010. Was jobless for a year during a tough job market for finance. Had $300 in my bank account and I had spent less than $35 per month on groceries alone while doing an unpaid internship and paying off my student loan at the same time.

9 years later I am debt free (other than the mortgage) with a beautiful supportive wife who was there for me since the beginning and now I have two homes (one in San Gabriel Valley and in NorCal) and ~$500k in liquid cash.

[vreihen16]

The brokest for me was the moment we stepped away from the closing table when buying our house 15 years ago. Besides the huge new debt, I put every dime that I had into covering fees and stuff...to the point of keeping my fingers crossed that I had enough gas left in the car to last until my next pay check arrived.

Fast-forward 15 years, and we are finally financially net-positive as of this past spring in that our outstanding debts are less than my 401(k) balance.....

[1MOREMOD]

I once had to mow my own lawn and get my own food from the fridge

[P1]

Originally Posted by Seeyal

When I move to the US (legally), I had 2 suitcases, 2000$ and a degree... And no credit, so I could not even been able to buy anything... But broke was just in finance, as I still was rich, fully ready in my heart for the American dream with my lovely wife on my side and ... 28 years later, she still pulls up with my crap...lol

You are from Belgium?

[Joekerr]

This thread should be retitled "the American dream"

[ASAP]

Relevant...

-Had to work several jobs to make ends meet

[detroitm2]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

the poorest i've ever felt was working some minimum wage job at the time for $6.75 an hour at a clothing store. i was trying to earn extra summer money and you just had to have a pulse to work there. one day i had a five hour shift and had to clock out for a half hour lunch or some crap, and i bought a $11 steak sandwich and realized it was like two hours worth of work at that place for that lunch. felt like an idiot.

username checks out...

(sorry, had to do it)

[Seeyal]

Originally Posted by P1et

You are from Belgium?

Yes I am... Born and raised in the south... Bastogne to be precise...Better known for the battle of the bulge in Band of Brothers...

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by Seeyal

Yes I am... Born and raised in the south... Bastogne to be precise...Better known for the battle of the bulge in Band of Brothers...

was it cold in the winter?

[Haywood]

After my divorce and every 15th of the month. Worth every penny.

[ScottyRyan2019]

After owning a Dodge.

[Joekerr]

University student - almost on the campbell soup diet. Scraped every four months I had off per year to try to get enough money to pay for the next year of university, still borrowed.

I remember my parents gave me $500 one time because they were taking my brother on vacation and not me, so that was the equivalent benefit. And all I wanted for a year or more was a cold air intake and that would have been enough to realize my dream. But I put it to university tuition instead and never did get a CAI. It was a tough decision at the time though...I figured I could do it and then just borrow some more, but I hated borrowing.

Now I'm in reasonable financial shape, but more importantly blessed with a great family.

[King Rudi]

In 2009, I went from making a very comfortable living, being married, two kids, a couple of cars and a nice house; to being unemployed, house in foreclosure, divorced and going to food pantry type places to get food to feed my kids.

I trusted the woman whom I was married to with the finances. HUGE mistake! I never found out where my money went, but X% was suppose to go into savings, while the rest was to go towards mortgage, bills, child care expenses etc. I made more than enough money to cover all the expenses and then some. I find out, while out of town on business, that I was flat broke. When I got home, 3 days later, I find that the wife had moved herself and my children out. I filed for divorce. Two weeks later, when I make the mortgage payment, I find out our home is in foreclosure, as the wife had not been making the mortgage payments. I sell the home, move into an apartment, then 2 months later the company I worked for, changes hands and they let everyone go above manager level. Within a 3 month time frame, I go from being employed, married with kids, the home, etc. to being so poor I can't afford to feed my kids.

In the meantime, the ex-wife gets food stamps, government assistance, works for cash for her brother, files for unemployment, is awarded $600/month child support, lives in her aunts home for free - without having to pay any utilities, plus due to working at her brother's car lot, drives whatever car she wants home, thus not having to pay for gas, car payment or insurance. I didn't have two nickels to rub together and had done nothing but work my ass for years. I was pissed, so I did something about it....

For the next 10 years, I work my ass off doing everything I can to make money. Now I live in a nice home that is paid for, have a great job for the area that I live in, drive a decent car and my bills are paid each month with enough left over to save and some to play with. By no means am I rich or loaded, but I am comfortable. She has since been fired from her job at the car lot, therefor no longer has a free car, no more government assistance, no more food stamps, no more child support from me and is completely falling apart. Although she ruined me financially for close to 15 years, I still hate to see this happen. One could say that this is karma. If I were a lesser man I would take delight in watching her suffer as she put me through absolute hell for many years; but i would much rather see her take control and do something about it. I don't expect this to ever be the case. The lesson here is that free rides don't last long. Those that take advantage of the system and use their children as a means of financial support will eventually get what is coming to them. Hard work and perseverance eventually pays off.

[Soul_Glo]

Originally Posted by Now_Rudi

In 2009, I went from making a very comfortable living, being married, two kids, a couple of cars and a nice house; to being unemployed, house in foreclosure, divorced and going to food pantry type places to get food to feed my kids.

I trusted the woman whom I was married to with the finances. HUGE mistake! I never found out where my money went, but X% was suppose to go into savings, while the rest was to go towards mortgage, bills, child care expenses etc. I made more than enough money to cover all the expenses and then some. I find out, while out of town on business, that I was flat broke. When I got home, 3 days later, I find that the wife had moved herself and my children out. I filed for divorce. Two weeks later, when I make the mortgage payment, I find out our home is in foreclosure, as the wife had not been making the mortgage payments. I sell the home, move into an apartment, then 2 months later the company I worked for, changes hands and they let everyone go above manager level. Within a 3 month time frame, I go from being employed, married with kids, the home, etc. to being so poor I can't afford to feed my kids.

In the meantime, the ex-wife gets food stamps, government assistance, works for cash for her brother, files for unemployment, is awarded $600/month child support, lives in her aunts home for free - without having to pay any utilities, plus due to working at her brother's car lot, drives whatever car she wants home, thus not having to pay for gas, car payment or insurance. I didn't have two nickels to rub together and had done nothing but work my ass for years. I was pissed, so I did something about it....

For the next 10 years, I work my ass off doing everything I can to make money. Now I live in a nice home that is paid for, have a great job for the area that I live in, drive a decent car and my bills are paid each month with enough left over to save and some to play with. By no means am I rich or loaded, but I am comfortable. She has since been fired from her job at the car lot, therefor no longer has a free car, no more government assistance, no more food stamps, no more child support from me and is completely falling apart. Although she ruined me financially for close to 15 years, I still hate to see this happen. One could say that this is karma. If I were a lesser man I would take delight in watching her suffer as she put me through absolute hell for many years; but i would much rather see her take control and do something about it. I don't expect this to ever be the case. The lesson here is that free rides don't last long. Those that take advantage of the system and use their children as a means of financial support will eventually get what is coming to them. Hard work and perseverance eventually pays off.

What the hell brother? So she just woke up one day and decided she wasn't in love? Sounds like a piece of work. Swindling money. Jeopardising the well-being of children.