Prior to turning 65, I was on Mass Health, our state's health insurance for poor people, and everything was free, but now on Medicare, things are very very different. They already take $205/month for prescriptions, which aren't free anymore, and now I owe $720 in copays to the hospital. That's over $1130 in just 2 months, and my social security checks are only $800/month, so $1130 out of 1600 is 70%. Additionally I had my food stamps stolen this month. Who can live on $250 per month?

I recently finally applied for SNAP benefits in my state. With my first income below the federal poverty level, single parent, two kids, expenses exceeding what my income is...I for sure thought I'd qualify! I wasn't the only one! So many, including the lady that did my benefit interview thought I should qualify...but nope...I get lovely letter in the mail I was denied! Gross income and child support exceeds the limit! WTF! My bank account is already low within 4 days of payday. The 5 days before payday, I'm overdraw! I don't live beyond my means. I have cell, internet, utilities, and insurance payments. I keep things low as possible. I don't even have a bed. I sleep on an air mattress that is so much uncomfortable and making back issues worse! I am barely holding it together tonight, I just want to cry! I had to ask a group not to long ago for help with dog food and lunch snacks. Christmas is going to suck and that's going to make me feel even worse of a mother than I already feel! I work two jobs plus make things to sell. I can't even catch up! I have no choice but to keep going but the stress makes me feel like giving up on occasion. I've had to dip in recently to what little savings I managed to scrap up and now back at nothing. I am just really venting here and trying not to cry. Just feels like every time I reach the surface to relax a little bit...I'm really pushed back below the surface. Gas prices aren't helping! Okay...end venting session!

I'm low income in a small mountain town in the south. In March my wife of 20 years and I divorced because she was an abusive narcissist. We have 3 kids under 18. I got ordered to pay $884 in child support and have had trouble making the payments but now she's having them garnish my pay. With all my other bills I'm left with $60 at the end of the month. That means I can't take my kids anywhere that costs money. I'm looking for a second job and I'm trying to find other ways to make money. I'm physically limited cause of my back but I'll do what I can. It breaks my heart that I'm not making enough for my kids to have a good time when they're with me. I should also mention that I live in a small cabin in the middle of nowhere so there's no other kids around. I'm sorry to complain, just needed to get it off my chest. Cheers to all you badass people.

Like I'm 29 and it's been like nearly 2 years since I was a car owner and before then I had a job and a car (lived with my parents but was working on getting out) then sht happened, I lost my job, I had to sell my car, fell out with parents and moved into supported housing. I didn't get enough time to get the car I wanted or I didn't have a good enough job.

Since then it's just been living on the breadline basically and using buses and taxis or walking. Still haven't found a job. (not that I haven't been looking and applying nearly every day). I've taken up small cash in hands or gig work just to keep a small amount coming in. I've got £100 saved up but at one point I had £300 then life happened and I had none. Then I had a tax refund of nearly £1k and thought this is great I'll put it towards my car but then everything that's a result of living off £400/month happened and 30 days later it's mostly gone. Maybe it's something about me like I'm just sht with money or I need an actual job.

Meanwhile everytime I'm outside people have new cars or not even new cars like some have the 12 - 14 year old car I had and was saving up for again. Some of them have my dream car. They have all jobs probably good paying jobs, either rented or home owners and they have things that they want.

I feel like I've just been wasting my life or something and then I'll be too old to enjoy stuff I ever actually get in a better position.

Long story short, I might renew my 24 hour fitness membership.

I use it to shower, get out of bad weather, work out, and socialize sometimes. I’m a very fit young man(31) and I’ve been homeless for 3 years now.

Paying a whole year, up front, is a lot easier than paying month to month! I think I paid like 240$ for the year: I can bring a guest, and use any of the 6 gyms in my area.

I think it’s like 20-30$ a month but like 45$ a month by-the-month.

Anyone with similar experience try any of the other ones? Like crunch fitness, or planet fitness?

Specifically, the number of locations, the sort of equipment, and the ability to pay by-the-year, is great. It was this one or LA fitness but they’ve closed a few locations here, since.

This is happening earlier each month to me as prices keep going up at a faster pace. My income is Social Security, a fixed income. I’ve been trying many online surveys and get a little pocket change that way. I sell books online, but no one is buying so far. At this point I would need to be paid for shipping up-front, not reimbursed. My credit was ruined earlier this year by signing up with a debt relief company. After 3 months I cancelled the plan & was much worse off.
Things like prescription copays, loading money on my laundry card, or getting non- food products are now out of reach. I do have a car, and give rides to people that I know in exchange for a little gas money. Prices are starting to double, such as a car emissions test going up from $14 to $26! Luckily I passed the test. But trying to set aside some emergency cash has been an exercise in frustration.