HolyMoly! I haven't been on here much, lately. Seems like a lot has happened. Our wal-mart is keeping its fabric for 5 years, until they remodel again. I don't even know if I'm happy about that anymore bc they don't care about the customers anymore.
Debbie: I hope you and DH are doing fine. You are in my thoughts.
I don't even know where to start on the subject of being poor. Things have actually improved for us over the past few years. (THANK GOODNESS!) BUT...it isn't about what kind of car we drive or how old it is...I mean...sometimes the old ones are the best! :D
I remember buying everything generic/cheaper so I'd have enough money left over to get an extra thing I needed. I still have to do that sometimes.
I remember when my DH worked AT LEAST 40 hours a week, and his paycheck was 167.23 each week after taxes! Those were rough times. I drove an 83 chevy truck after I had quit my job and sold my 85 Ford Escort! I didn't need a vehicle so much after I had no job! Thankfully gas wasn't priced so high then, but I only went out once or twice a week to my Mom's...mostly I'd ride out in the morning with DH, and he'd pick me up that evening. I did laundry at my Mom's bc we didn't have a washer/dryer! We had well water at the time that was really nasty orange with tons of iron, so just as well. We didn't even have a house phone! He had a bag phone (way back in the day), that we paid about $20/month for...we got an adapter that converted the cigarette lighter plug into electric and put an antenna on top of the trailer....as long as we watched our minutes, we were fine. We were under contract and couldn't afford a house phone and the cell.
We ate food mostly canned from our garden and deer meat that I canned. DH's Dad gave us eggs from his chickens.
I've been dirt poor. I was raised poor. I know how to make it, though, and I wouldn't trade that raising for anything. BUT...I also know that things can get better.
So, hang in there!