Despite the strong job market, most Americans don't have enough emergency savings. More than two-thirds of people in the US — 68 percent — say they're worried they wouldn't be able to cover their living expenses for just one month if they lost their primary source of income tomorrow, according to a recent Bankrate survey.
In part, this can be seen in the growth of the subreddit 'Poverty Finance.' The firs time we wrote about it in 2021, the online community had 847K members. Now, the number has more than doubled, standing at 1.9 million. So since financial struggles have remained a pressing issue, we have decided to revisit this corner of the internet, and show you what the gang have been posting lately.
This post may include affiliate links.
Same Here My Brother
2meirl4meirl
To Be Honest
Money buys survival. Try being happy when you're starving to death in the middle of the street. "Nobody wants to work anymore". NO! We never WANTED to work. We work because dying of poverty is the ONLY other alternative for most of us.
This Post Brought To You By My Third "New" Tire This Year Since I Can't Afford A Full Set
I'd never buy one tire (unless I had one ruined by a puncture). It's always better to buy two at a time otherwise the wear is unbalanced and they don't last as long. It really sucks if you can't afford to do that :(
I Think About It Every Day Too, But For Different Reasons
We didn't need science to tell us that LOL I already know I'm stressed!
We All Know Someone Like This
Checks Out
This is a catch 22 for the banks though. They've come under fire for lending too much, too easily to people who can't service the loans (or at least have difficulty doing so). So refusing to lend people money if they'd struggle to pay it off is actually them being *more* ethical. So refuse to lend, they're bastards for refusing. Merrily lend, they're bastards for foreclosing on people when they can't pay. The killer is, as it's always been saving that damned deposit. The biggest problem is inflation has made the deposit so big it's almost unachievable :(
Preaching To The Choir
When This Hits
I have always wanted to win an appliance. I like getting useful gifts. Ironically, when I enter a raffle or a lucky draw, I usually win something I can't use myself. So far, I have won a cd from famous artists who I don't even like, so many dolls, a photo album of japanese boy bands whose name I don't even know, a bicycle that is far too small for me, a woman blouse (I am a man) and other things I can't quite remember. The most useful thing I have ever won is an electric kettle.
Can Anyone Explain Where My Starbucks Money Is Going?
I haven't bought Starbucks in over a decade. I should be a billionaire! 😂
My Current Financial Strategy
Goddamnit
At least I can starve and freeze to death with a roof over my head 👍
Tell Me About It
It's A Real Struggle Out Here. We Barely Make Enough To Support Ourselves
Why do they need to be replaced!? And there’s enough people here already, more than enough in fact
Sad In A Way You Just Gotta Laugh It Off As You Take It
I've been there and I don't recommend it. I've also slipped the cashier money to help the person in front of me who was short on their bill because I know how sad and embarrassing it can be to know you can't pay for $10 in groceries.
I have bought them, over drafted my account, and was charged $35 for not having the $2 to pay for them. Most expensive ramen ever!
Ooh that makes my blood boil. Thankfully in Australia banks have been barred from the overdraft BS
Load More Replies...
A long time ago I was struggling with mental health and unemployed. I hadn't eaten all day and all I had was 40 cents. I went to the grocery store that sold no-name mac%cheese for 39 cents. I'll never forget the humiliation of having to ask an employee if there was tax on that, because I wouldn't have been able to afford it. Of course just by asking, the employee knew how much money I had. That was pretty bad.
I was buying a small package of chicken thighs, laundry detergent, asparagus, soup and a 12 pack of coke and card declined so I asked the cashier to get rid of the coke and detergent and card went through. As I was approaching my car the cashier came running out and said I forgot my soda and detergent. I was confused and she said she purchased the items for me because I chose to put the soda away and chose to make sure my son (whom was with me) had a healthy dinner. She said she’s seen people put the necessities away and keep the junk food so she was impressed. It made my day!!
When I was homeless I would go to a kebab shop at the end of the night and ask for 50p worth of anything that they were going to throw away. Once a week they would give me a full meal with a can of coke. They saved my life and once I was on my feet I still went there once a week but paid full price and left a tip to say thank you.
Those are very kind people in the Kebsb shop . Bless them!
Load More Replies...
I have often struggled to pay for food at the supermarket. I once had a stoned-looking cashier just wave through a punnet of peaches (pregnancy craving, they were on offer!) for EUR 0.01 because she couldn't be arsed to find the code for them and I could have kissed her!
I was so broke, I wrote the checks for 2 bills and deliberately mailed them to the wrong utility. So, it looked like I was trying to pay....buying time until the end of the . month. Crackers, cheese, really, I've even spread margarine on crackers to add some kind of taste..not so bad.
Happened to me once with a soft pretzel at Sam's Club, so about a dollar. They told me to just take it as well
Been so poor I knew very well I couldn't afford meat, or anything but the basics. Ate a lot of oats, pasta, canned tomatoes (made tomato sauce) and bananas. But somehow I never considered myself poor; I was so young and I just figured it'd sort itself out eventually. I was just so happy I was on my own. Luckily I live in a part of the world where life does tend to work itself out.
Guy I’m Talking To Told Me This: Thought It Belonged Here
Ridiculous
Federal minimum wage in my country is USD $15 an hr. Average monthly rent here is USD $1,575. It really amazes my why anyone would want to migrate to the US.
Hm
Is that even possible though? There's just something about seeing a lounge, or dinner table or whatever sitting on the curb that screams "you should check that out" no matter how well off you are.
Too Close To Home
Every. Freaking. Time
It's the water bill for me. For some reason the city only bills us quarterly for water and that means an automatic $150+ bill every three months. I don't know why they do this. They don't know why they do this, but it just is how they do this.
Accurate, I Love Spending Time At Home
This Hit Close To Home
I never sign up for anything that asks for my bank account details, for this very reason.
Let The Good Times Roll
Relatable
I've broken my body, never complained, never took time off when my back and knees hurt so bad I could barely walk so I'd seem like a dedicated employee only to have them hassle me when I needed a couple extra days after my dad died. 19 years at that company and I knew I had to get out of there. Take care of yourself. Work your scheduled hours, go home and have a life. Companies don't care about you no matter what BS they try and sell you. Self employed now - broke - but happy in what I do.
Who Made This Meme About Me ?
"If I sleep through the weekend, that's two whole days I do not have to worry about food, electricity, water, etc.."
Bought A Burger For Dinner. "A" Burger
Got Myself A Motivational Pin At The Thrift Store
In Trying Times Like These, It's Important To Remember This Advice
I Used To Think Going To Macdonald’s When I Was Young Was Exquisite
Kids with a playground in their backyard, or a tree house.
Me After Paying Rent And Bills This Month
My niece dating now--"you have the WHOLE basement to yourself....hey boy haaayyy"
The jerks who howl that increasing the minimum wage will result in $20 tacos and robotized restaurants clearly have never tried to live on minimum wage.
We’re already paying $20 for tacos. they just skipped the increased wage part
Load More Replies...
I adore vampire movies, books, and shows because I'm so curious how they can afford being alive forever.
Easy, eat and rob some rich people, then invest the money for a few centuries. It's not like they need to buy groceries. Free meals are just walking around. Or be like Lestat, and inherit a treasure trove from your maker. 😄
Load More Replies...
Being considered poor would actually be a step up from my current financial situation.
$10 per hour wage in australia is livable only if the govt. removes income tax and gst.
Where I live wages were raised. Then five months later costs for all life essentials tripled. Sometimes I wonder if there is a connection.
The jerks who howl that increasing the minimum wage will result in $20 tacos and robotized restaurants clearly have never tried to live on minimum wage.
We’re already paying $20 for tacos. they just skipped the increased wage part
Load More Replies... I adore vampire movies, books, and shows because I'm so curious how they can afford being alive forever.
Easy, eat and rob some rich people, then invest the money for a few centuries. It's not like they need to buy groceries. Free meals are just walking around. Or be like Lestat, and inherit a treasure trove from your maker. 😄
Load More Replies... Being considered poor would actually be a step up from my current financial situation.
$10 per hour wage in australia is livable only if the govt. removes income tax and gst.
Where I live wages were raised. Then five months later costs for all life essentials tripled. Sometimes I wonder if there is a connection.
