How do low income people survive?

[eggalegga]

Make sure everyone in the household is conserving. Turn off lights when not in use, turn down the thermostat in the winter and wear warmer clothes and use blankets, turn off the A/C and open windows when it's coolest to let the cool air in, do laundry at night when it's hot outside, close blinds/drapes during the day in the summer when it's sunny, only wash clothes when you have a full load, hang up clothes to dry rather than use a dryer, etc.

A friend of mine said that she remembers her mother sewing a lot of her clothes when she was a kid because her mom was a single mom and needed to find a cheaper way to clothe her kids.

I am a coupon clipper and user, I buy things when they're on sale and stock up, I have dimmer switches throughout my house and I truly believe they've helped me keep my electric bill low. My programmable thermostat also helps with managing costs.

[musicwriter]

it definitely can be a struggle, since i am not working right now, we are stuggling a bit. When i was working, we were doing well for making around $30,000 / year ( each of us approxamately made $15,000 respectively, but each year one made more, one made less, but still enough to average out) We aren't living high on the hog, but we were living well enough to pay back the loan we had to take out to get our house into a livable condition, have sattelite TV, cell phones, and of course internet.
It's all a matter of being frugal, my wife lives on freecycle (yahoo groups), craigslist, thrift stores for most things. We were able to afford better vehicles after my Mom passed away, and left me the house she bought near us, the proceeds from that bought our better vehicles, and paid off some bills, and we got a couple spoils out of it.
Once i get working again, we will be OK, but i am having a hard time with getting employed again with so much BS, and red tape to deal with from employers nowadays.

Also like eggalegga was saying, i am the one who goes around the house, and turns off things in rooms not being occupied. Every little bit helps

[GypsySoul22]

If I go around shutting off lights and lowering the heat my husband gets angry.
He's working, I am looking again for a job.
He calls me the light police. I tell him that at least I care about saving money. His reply is 'get a job.'

[musicwriter]

Originally Posted by GypsySoul22

If I go around shutting off lights and lowering the heat my husband gets angry.
He's working, I am looking again for a job.
He calls me the light police. I tell him that at least I care about saving money. His reply is 'get a job.'

that's not fair. He should applaud you for trying to save a few pennies, or dollars. While i admit i am not perfect, i am trying at least.
anything i can do to clean the house, and save some money my wife is happy with.
I also can feel your pain. I have been looking for a couple months, and haven't had much luck. The job market is tough right now.
What pisses me off more than anything is people who want to work can't get hired, and those who don't, and only want to collect a 'free' check do

[ihatetucson]

CARS ARE KILLERS!!!!!! Too much money to get gas for it, and too much money to maintain the clunker. I recently had to give up my car because I was unemployed and will be for probably months. The only thing that is a financial killer is YOUR CAR! not your cable or food.

[Jesse69]

Well, if you can't afford a car while unemployed just keep it sidelined / unisured / unused until you get a job then reinsure it. Most people need a car for a job.

[ihatetucson]

Eh, depends on which city or town you live in. I am grateful that I have public transportation in my town. Plus, in Arizona if my registration expires and my Insurance expires, my license will be revoked. Not only that, I am 22 and my auto insurance is $300 a month, when I get a job, I wouldn't be able to afford that bill no mater what I give up (until I am 25).

[TKramar]

Originally Posted by ihatetucson

Eh, depends on which city or town you live in. I am grateful that I have public transportation in my town. Plus, in Arizona if my registration expires and my Insurance expires, my license will be revoked. Not only that, I am 22 and my auto insurance is $300 a month, when I get a job, I wouldn't be able to afford that bill no mater what I give up (until I am 25).

I live six blocks from my job. Even if I lived 20 blocks away, I could WALK it, no problem. I have walked as much as five miles back and forth every workday.

[musicwriter]

If i had a job in town i could do that, but if i get a job out of town, i would need my vehicle. I am not riding my bicycle 35 or more miles one way to work every day. I'll be exhausted before i even get to work.