How to survive with little or no money
Strapped for cash? So poor that your piggy bank has collapsed on itself? Never fear—money is all around us.
How to earn money
Participate in a Kellogg School-conducted study. Often times, they offer reasonable pay per half hour (more than $5) with a chance of bonus during the session. You’d probably spend this time getting fat in front of your computer, anyway.
Sell your stuff. We all have stuff we don’t need that someone would die to have (or at least pay a few bucks for), whether it’s a Limited Edition Yoda Giant Pez Dispenser or an empty photo album. I know—some useless items have sentimental value. Decide how desperate you are for cash, and then let go of SOMEthing. Offer it up on your dorm’s listserv or sell it on eBay.
Get a job.
Sell your textbooks directly to people. Try not to sell it back to the bookstore, as they give you 1/100th of your money back and are stupid.
Offer your services and expertise in exchange for money. Don’t start turning tricks or anything, just tutor kids or baby-sit. Often times, registrars in any office on campus will know of someone in Evanston who needs a tutor or a babysitter.
How to retain money
Don’t buy shit you don’t need. Simple as that. Find ways to remind yourself that spending a little here and there will definitely add up, even if it means eating nothing but ketchup packets and Splenda ‘til you head home for the winter. Tie a string around your finger. Put up posters of starving children (or Nicole Richie). Just don’t spend money unless you have to.
How to eat for free
Attend guest lectures, speeches and student group gatherings. Often times, they offer free food and drinks to attendees, like pizza and soda. Be prepared to fill up on snacks, like cheese and crackers. It many not look like a “meal” to you, but any food is a meal if you eat enough of it.
If you see food at a gathering to which you were not invited, make sure you are dressed well enough to blend in with the people around you, and walk the walk. Act like you were invited and start eating. Do not cram food into your mouth or pockets and run away. Be casual. Make conversation. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve scored a free lunch this way.
Have a friend smuggle food out of the dining hall for you. I have no qualms about this, as our meal plans are heinously expensive and, personally, I never eat my money’s worth at Hinman. This is not stealing. This is getting your money’s worth.
Feast on free samples at places like Whole Foods. The salsa is divine.
How to ask for money
This should be your last resort. Being in debt to ANYONE sucks, and it’s not that hard to score cash (as I have already explained). But if you must, approach someone you’re close to, explain your dire situation, and then politely ask for money. Do not ask for too much. Humility is key here. Even if you do not feel it, act embarrassed (and anyway, you should be embarrassed). This behavior is more likely to create sympathy for you. Tell the person that you’ll return their money by a set date, which you two should work out. And then stick to the deadline. Make sure you pay your friend/parent/relation back. They could lead a double life of mafia relations and hit men…but seriously, pay them back or you risk breaking your friendship and being a lame-ass.
So remember—be smart and don’t blow your money away again!
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More ways to not be poor/get by while being poor: Buy cheap gifts, learn how to network for jobs, and get the best deals on music. Or you can return home.
Witty & concise.
Tommy Rousse
December 3, 2006 at 12:57 pm
I would love to not ask for anything, but because my husband picks and chooses when he will work, I am usually the one hussling for food, money for bills, and gas money for him to venture around in. I just can’t get him to see the forest for the trees, or him to care about me & our 4children instead of himself solely. Any advice would help
Retta
July 9, 2008 at 6:41 am
I’m on a limited budget and here’s a few things I do.
I shop at Goodwill The first week clothes or new wares is out it’s full price, but as each week goes by they dicount it. Week 2 10% off, week 3 50% off, then 4th week 0.25 for clothing and 0.10 cents for wares. Goodwill now gets many NEW items and they often make it to the quarter rack.
When you cook, if the recipe calls for a pound of meat, use a 1/2 lb.
Dilute your juice with water and it will go farther. Juice is usually to strong anyway.
Go to Aldi’s, and Savealot and look to see if there are other food outlets near you. Sometimes there are.
Join freecycle, it’s a place to post items so they don’t go to the junkyard. You can request items you need or post items you no longer need. Anything can be posted but must be free.
Don;t buy new. Go to yard sales, garage sales, thrift stores , Salvation Army stors, goodwill, etc. You will find everything you need eventually, and for a lot less.
Find moms who have kids and start a clothing exchange, toy exchange. Kids get bored with what they have. You can plan a get together and all bring items and exchange.
If you live in an apartment, when someone new moves in the other side ask if they want to split on the garbage, usually you can put out more bags than you have anyway. So your not cheating the garbage company any.
Fill out the school lunch program forms, your kids can eat breakfast and lunch at school.
See if you qualify for hud, liheap, lira, or other programs. Just CALL! Your kids need you to do what you need to do.
I look for coupons and then I compare who has it for less. Dollar Stores are not always the lowest.
There is something called angelfood ministires check that out. It’s not what I want to eat all the time, but it can help.
collect alluminum cans & sell them. It’s not much but it helps.
Car pool with other mothers, or ask someone to take turns transporting your kids and thiers to wherever they are going.
Don’t live above your means. If you have a couch purse or drive an expensive car you are. I know several people who live like they have money but they don’t. I can’t understand whats behind that. Who they trying to impress.
Make friends, You might find you both have skills you can share with each other. Maybe she can cut your kids hair, maybe you know photography and can take pics for her holiday cards. Get creative. Go to your local foodbank. Thats what it’s there for. Many people have had to go there, doesn’t mean you will always have too. Just accept the help when you need it. Later if you can help the foodbank if your thankful.
Join a church, pray. God loves you! And God helps those who help themselves.
If your husband picks and chooses when he will work, talk about it with him. Is he being unfair to you and the kids? TELL HIM. Is he having difficulty holding a job? Perhaps he has a condition like bipolar or something else that medication could help. People who have bipolor often have unstable work histories and do impulsive things. If you suspect this, tell him, but do so in a loving way. Him getting the counceling or medication he needs can make all the differance.
Hope that helps a little. God Bless ~ Keep your chin up!
But do what you have to do!
Christine
December 7, 2008 at 9:08 pm
great advise and sugestions
andrea
June 25, 2009 at 9:30 am