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[–] bobroland 0 points 13 points (+13|-0) ago 

In terms of the bottom line, from age 21 to 27 I was homeless, and living as a hitch hiker. Not a dime to my name, no assets, and I wasn't sure on any day if I would eat or not.

Thing is, that kind of poverty doesn't hurt. You're living carefree and life is good.

The hardest poverty is when you're supporting a family. If you, as an individual misses a meal, you'll live. You can't look at your child and tell him or her that she can't eat that day.

Four years ago, after my divorce, I was in those shoes. The money I made went to child support, but five days a week I was providing for my son with literally no money. I sucked up my pride and went to food pantries, and money I did have went to flour, eggs and butter. It's amazing how far you can stretch a food budget if you have to. I would find a chicken that was about to be thrown out and make a weeks worth of meals with it. (Roast chicken one day. Sandwiches the next. Fried rice with bits of chicken the day after. Chicken Pot Pie to finish it off. Five dollars to feed two people for five days.)

In the meantime my ex is stopping at Starbucks and going on as if nothing happened.

Worst year of my life.

Things are good today. I have a great job, I have my finances under control...but that specter of poverty still keeps me up at night.

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[–] SybilVimes 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Please say that you have full custody and no child support payments.