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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 06:49 PM
Original message
You know money is tight when...
You put actual thought and discussion into which is cheaper, buying the Kirkland-brand toilet paper at Costco or using the 39¢ coupon for Walgreens.

Your turn...
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dropkickpa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 06:54 PM
Response to Original message
1. You reason that milk
Isn't all that appealing anyway.
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Deja Q Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 07:01 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. You replace milk with water for that instant pudding mix...
:hide:
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AllegroRondo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:52 AM
Response to Reply #2
35. same for mac and cheese
you dont really need milk for that!
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AllegroRondo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:55 AM
Response to Reply #35
36. you dig through the sofa for loose change for gas money
been there
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zanne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:56 AM
Response to Reply #35
37. A mac n' cheese "gourmet meal" is...
A can of tuna mixed in with it.
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AllegroRondo Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 09:49 AM
Response to Reply #37
42. I used to make that all the time!
when I was single. My wife thinks its gross.
:shrug:
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hfojvt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:07 PM
Response to Reply #35
64. I use powdered milk for that
then it's not so watery.
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 07:35 PM
Response to Reply #1
6. It really isn't
but ironically enough in light of Hypnotoad's post, we bought some yesterday to make a chocolate pudding pie. Neither of us drink it.

I had stuff to make a graham crust, the pudding mix and some Cool Whip already. So, it was relatively cheap -- and yummy -- indulgence, not to mention somewhat healthy as it was sugar free and low fat.
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dropkickpa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 07:40 PM
Response to Reply #6
7. That's how it is in my house
I am NOT a milk drinker, use it mostly for cooking and maybe 2-3 bowls of cereal a month. Dropkid likes it a little bit more, but she gets plenty of milk during the day either at school or at the sitters.

I COULD eat me some puddin pie, tho!
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skygazer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 07:03 PM
Response to Original message
3. And then your eye falls on that old newspaper.....
:P
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Connonym Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 07:06 PM
Response to Original message
4. examine the menu at taco bell to figure which item would give you
the most calories for your money
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Richard Steele Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:56 PM
Response to Reply #4
32. When money is REALLY tight, buying a Taco Bell item is just a pretext to stock up on sauce packets.
I used to get a single chicken soft taco, and grab enough
sauce to season ramen noodles for a week.
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Nikia Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 07:10 PM
Response to Original message
5. You have to beg for a one day advance on your pay check
So you can afford to put enough gas in your car to get you there and back.
That scenario happened to a couple of people at the company in a rural area where I worked previously.
On a related note, my parents both ran out of gas at the bank drive thru window when I was little. They were cashing their checks in order to have money to afford the gas.
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 07:40 PM
Response to Reply #5
8. Wow, that's really sad
We have bikes and panniers and often do errands on bikes since everything's relatively close. There's many days when neither of us drives at all, and for me, it's mostly to go to work and I'll group big errands into a "run."
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rug Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 07:42 PM
Response to Original message
9. When you buy generic spam
and look for a dented can to get it cheaper.
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madinmaryland Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 07:45 PM
Response to Original message
10. You don't use toilet paper.
:puke:
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SeattleGirl Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 07:47 PM
Response to Original message
11. You spend the little you have on food for the animals instead of yourself.
:banghead:

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Skittles Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 08:13 PM
Response to Reply #11
13. that shows you're a serious sweetie pie too
yes
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Kali Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 08:03 PM
Response to Original message
12. you rant angrily in the store
on topics such as why can't they just cut the frigging price in half instead of making you buy two of something. (sometimes it is two for and those can be half price at the register, but the buy one get one free scam isn't - :grr: )
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NewWaveChick1981 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 08:13 PM
Response to Original message
14. You look around the house for loose change to see if you have enough for lunch from the Wendy's....
...value menu the next day. :yoiks:
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MorningGlow Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:35 PM
Response to Reply #14
27. Worse
You start eyeing the toddler's piggy bank! (I haven't caved yet though...)
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wildhorses Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 08:17 PM
Response to Original message
15. when one week you buy peanut butter and
the next week you buy jelly.
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angrycarpenter Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 08:35 PM
Response to Original message
16. for a carpenter
figuring out which tool you need the least to pawn for gas money.
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hyphenate Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 08:38 PM
Response to Original message
17. Subsist for months at a time
on either Ramen noodles or Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. (I've done both--the Mac&Cheese is a better option)
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TommyO Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:40 PM
Response to Reply #17
30. it's definitely tastier, if you can swing the milk and butter/margarine!
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hfojvt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:14 PM
Response to Reply #30
65. for that, I just use about a teaspoon of crisco
it's the same as margarine, without the butter flavor. If you need the butter flavor, then butter flavored crisco. I think the box instructions call for way too much margarine, but that's just my preference. YMMV
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Bennyboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 08:39 PM
Response to Original message
18. You consider selling your collectibles.....
So far I have resisted however....
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 08:53 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. Have you considered selling your avatar?
How much money is in that these days?
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Bennyboy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:50 PM
Response to Reply #19
31. Just leaves now, gotta wait till october....
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XNASA Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 08:59 PM
Response to Original message
20. When I have to decide between Old Rip Van Winkle.......
and Jim Beam Black.

It's not easy. Lemme tell ya.
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:03 PM
Response to Reply #20
21. Cry me a river
And you can't even afford a star!!! The horror of your state of poverty knows no bounds. ;-)
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XNASA Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:08 PM
Response to Reply #21
23. Just for that!.....
I'm gonna go and pour myself a drink.
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RetroLounge Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:03 PM
Response to Original message
22. When you sell your furniture to live...
RL
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Arugula Latte Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:10 PM
Response to Original message
24. You have to decide whose hours to cut back --
the driver, the gardener, the maid, the cook, the personal trainer, the stable boy, the pool boy, the butler, or the masseuse...Decisions, decisions.

;)
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:46 AM
Response to Reply #24
33. I know
But then I realized the stable boy would have to go. He sure is cute, but we don't have horses.
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Lars39 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:31 PM
Response to Original message
25. I'm living with my 80 yo father temporarily.
I love to cook and was dragging food in almost daily to feed the freezer. This upset him. He thought this was wasteful because he didn't think he would be able to eat it all before it went bad and the money tied up in the food might be needed for something else.
No telling how often he went hungry or watched his parents go hungry while he was growing up. :(
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Skittles Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:39 PM
Response to Reply #25
29. OMG Lars
sans glasses I read geezer instead of freezer - I thought, sheesh, Lars is a bit cold :7
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Lars39 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 02:22 PM
Response to Reply #29
55. LOL
:rofl: Glad you went back to check the spelling. :D
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TommyO Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:34 PM
Response to Original message
26. You make use of those things in the pantry that have sat for ages!
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baldguy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sun Aug-19-07 09:38 PM
Response to Original message
28. When you get your hands on a dollar again,
You hang on to it till that old eagle grins.

'Cause no, no, nobody knows you
When you're down and out.
In your pocket, not one penny,
And as for friends, you don't have any.
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Lyric Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:50 AM
Response to Original message
34. When you cook a relatively healthy dinner
for your 7 year old kid...and *you* get to eat whatever's left on his plate when he's done, along with a bowl of ramen noodles.

Been there an awful lot lately. :(
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 09:52 AM
Response to Reply #34
44. When school starts
will you be able to get him into the breakfast/lunch program? That would help.
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DJ MEW Donating Member (432 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:59 AM
Response to Original message
38. You wish'd you worked at fast food every day
for the free food you get on break.
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Bassic Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 09:07 AM
Response to Original message
39. Yeah, I've been there.
In fact, I stall am.
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 09:51 AM
Response to Reply #39
43. It's really not that bad
We're just trying not to tap into other funds.
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FloridaJudy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 09:26 AM
Response to Original message
40. You have to sell your blood to buy TP and pet food
Believe me, I've been there! I can subsist on Ramen noodles, but the dog and the cat can't.
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raccoon Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 09:34 AM
Response to Original message
41. I get mine at Dollar General. nt
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annonymous Donating Member (850 posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 10:22 AM
Response to Original message
45. When you look for stuff to sell at the flea market.
Been there done that.
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DarkTirade Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 10:26 AM
Response to Original message
46. You're sitting in my chair and wearing my clothes. :)
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Hugin Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 10:28 AM
Response to Original message
47. You've uttered the phrase: "Do you -really need- that antibiotic?"
Since suddenly finding myself on a fixed income which is also a political football... It has
run through mind mind a few times.
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:04 PM
Response to Reply #47
62. Thankfully we have insurance
We would be homeless by now without it and that's not an exaggeration. Between premiums, co-pays and drug costs (and I do mail order for most), we've spent so much this year that I think we'll meet the threshhold to deduct some of it.

But, what the heck, I don't really need to breathe and how much could a stroke really hurt anyway?
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guitar man Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 10:30 AM
Response to Original message
48. When you use vacation days
because you can't afford gas to get to work :(

I've burned a few days this year already for just that reason....
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BelleCarolinaPeridot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 01:13 PM
Response to Reply #48
51. Trust me , a lot of the people where I work do that.
And I have done it myself.
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bamacrat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 10:30 AM
Response to Original message
49. When you pay for everything in change. n/t
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zanne Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Aug-21-07 08:01 AM
Response to Reply #49
69. When your "bank" is a can full of pennies. nt
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skygazer Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 10:39 AM
Response to Original message
50. You can't feed your kids breakfast
And they have to hold out until they get the free lunch at school. Which you're grateful for because you don't know what you're going to give them for dinner.

Been there.
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BelleCarolinaPeridot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 01:15 PM
Response to Original message
52. Reading this thread lets me know that I am doing ok.
Seriously the past couple of months I have been through everything that you guys posted. :hug:
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Commie Pinko Dirtbag Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 02:04 PM
Response to Original message
53. You force yourself to wake up half an hour earlier so you can take a commute that's 70¢ cheaper. -nt
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kwassa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 02:19 PM
Response to Original message
54. You know money is tight when you can't even pay attention.
:nopity:
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Phillycat Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 02:23 PM
Response to Reply #54
56. I'm so broke, I can't even give you the time.
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LaraMN Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 02:23 PM
Response to Original message
57. You fashion tampons from your wedding linens.
YOU. Not ME!

:rofl:
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:00 PM
Response to Reply #57
61. That's just sooo wrong I lack words.
Anyway, no wedding linens and no worries in the other department anymore either.
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texas1928 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 02:25 PM
Response to Original message
58. You are rolling pennies to get gas.
Edited on Mon Aug-20-07 02:27 PM by texas1928
Been there, pray I am never there again.


I once took a week of vacation and worked the whole week as well, just so I could make rent.
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zabet Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 04:00 PM
Response to Original message
59. Money ain't tight until...
you have to pick up the possum you ran over to have a
meal with meat in it for a change.
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ileus Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 04:06 PM
Response to Original message
60. You end up with Steel rims, instead of Alloy rims on your new SUV
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The Velveteen Ocelot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:07 PM
Response to Original message
63. You start stealing toilet paper, one roll at a time, from work.
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hfojvt Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:29 PM
Response to Reply #63
66. now that's just dishonest
when my water was shut off, I used the bathroom at the library which is only a block away. Free toilet paper, and free water, without theft.
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prolesunited Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:50 PM
Response to Reply #63
67. I would advise against that
If you got caught, you would likely get fired. Theft is theft. I wouldn't risk my job for toilet paper.
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The Velveteen Ocelot Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Mon Aug-20-07 08:57 PM
Response to Reply #67
68. This was many, many years ago.
An act of utter desperation. Other stuff going on at the same time.
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