Right now, I'm a mom sitting in her work room, trying to avoid the man person and the three kids with omicron waiting for the barking coughs to subside and the scratchy screams of "more Sprite," and "He looked at my stuffy" from the quarantine room, attempting to drink my coffee while it's still hot. It's been a long hard, road for many of us, and with today's covid news, for me, that will mean cancelling eight appointments this week between four people that we'll have to reschedule for months down the road, it means an endless cycle of cleaning, and making food that nobody is going to eat because they don't feel well, their throat hurts, and nothing tastes good. If you are like me, and you don't have two nickels to rub together- much less pennies to pinch now that the child tax credit has ended and the price of everything has gone up, you're probably scrambling to make things work out so that you can breathe some. I'm a firm believer that you we have to live with the circumstances we're dealt with. I've been poor forever. I'm old poor and I've learned a thing or two that I think have sincerely helped me to get by in this time that, no doubt, has also left me in struggle, but possibly less so than some I know. So, here's some tips from the old poor that will hopefully help you out some.
1. Put It On Your Credit Card-
I know that this sounds like bad advise, and it possibly is. I'm offering poor people survivor advise here, not great advise that leads you to become the next millionaire. But generally, as long as you can stick to two basic rules then putting your bills on a credit card will actually help to build your credit and help keep your bank account in balance. If you're like me and you can't stand to wait for things to clear the bank because it takes so long due to holidays, weekends, end of the day, 700th transaction of the year, whatever, then putting all the monthly bills on a credit card and paying the balance when it's due is where it's at. Not only can you set them up to auto-renew each month without having to worry when it's going to pull from your account, but auto-pay features usually lower your bill by a few bucks. For instance- T-Mobile gives you a $5 rebate if you enroll in their autopay. The money in the bank is going to be whatever is in there because you're not waiting for bills to pull from the account. As long as you pay the balance of your credit card off each month, this will help to keep your bank account, your bills, and your credit in good standing.
2. Apply For All The Assistance-
Consider this, if our government hadn't chosen quarantines, lockdowns, and school closures would you be in the position that you're in now? Likely not. So, when your local, state, and federal governments has failed you multiple times over, why shouldn't they be responsible for helping you
and yours survive when you can't send your kids to school because they have to quarantine, or you can't work because your building is shut down again, or you did go to work and now you have covid (possibly again)? Apply for everything. Use whatever you can that will help you stay fed, housed, clothed, whatever you need. Now, let me preface by saying that not all assistance is easy to get on. Not all assistance is worth having, and it's definitely a fine, hard line to stay on, but if it helps you make ends meet and gets you by in the worst of times then it's worth it. Some of the most important assistance programs that I've found the most beneficial in my lifetime have been The Lifeline Program that offers internet or phone service to low-income households, SNAP Benefits, helping families to get food in their home and the National School Lunch Program that your child qualifies for if you are receiving SNAP benefits. Many other programs like housing assistance can be up to a ten year long wait.
3. Utilize Your Library-
Many libraries have programs like Arts for All that allow you to use their yearly passes to things like local art museums, zoos, and whatever else your city has to offer. Just because you're poor doesn't mean that you can't still be entertained. Don't forget the library has many expanded services, too, unlike when we were kids. They usually have DVD or audiobook rentals if Netflix is out of the budget right now. You can rent computer use at the library as well as some offer laptop rentals through their tech departments. This is great if you're a student. Speaking of being a student- ask your librarian about textbook rentals. This is the cheapest option for those books you're not going to likely want to keep anyway. Some of th0se books cost hundreds of dollars!
Ask about other services your library offers. Each spring, many Oregon libraries hold a seed swap. This is great if you have interest in growing your own fruits or veggies- which you absolutely should consider! a single plant is often enough to produce enough of a single vegetable for a family for a while. This will help with the continuing rise of food costs- my grocery bill went up $100 in one week for the same staple groceries- and it helps the environment by inviting bees and helps cleanse the air. You can even grow vegetables in containers on the porch if all you have is apartment patio space. Some also have tool libraries, or professional services like resume writing help, and can help you get linked up with any kind of paperwork that you may need like FAFSA paperwork, IRS paperwork, etc. Copy machine copies are also inexpensive at the library. If you need to print several things and you don't have a printer, or want to use your costly ink, printing at the library is an affordable option.
4. Remember- It's Free to Go Outside
Yeah, I said it. If you want a vacation- go camping. Need to get away, go for a hike. The outdoors is free. As a new poor person, you'll soon learn that the best things in life ARE actually free. Nobody can take away the sunset from a mountain top from you, nothing beats the freeing feeling of sleeping under the stars. Go on an adventure. If you don't think that you're ready to start climbing mountains and sleeping in the wilderness, then maybe start small and spend the day at the river. Go for a lazy float with some music, Go lay on a smooth rock and get some sun like a lizard. Throw a stick for your dog. Sometimes getting back to nature and getting in tune with ourselves is exactly what our soul needs, even if we have to get there begrudgingly. Also, while you're outside, scream. Scream really damn loud, it will make you feel infinitely better to get all of your frustrations out if you just reach down to the soles of your feet and really let it all out.
5. Don't Take Advise From Non-Poor People About How To Live This Life-
I say this with the sincerest truth, don't listen to people that haven't or are not poor tell you how to live when you have nothing. They obviously don't know that being poor adds tax. The money isn't there to begin with, or to borrow from, and since everyone else we know is also likely poor too, there is nobody to borrow from. Don't take advise from the not-poor on how to live, you can't personal finance yourself out of inflation or having nothing to begin with.
*Fun Fact* This is often how a republican is made. They often believe that if they're poor it's because they didn't work hard enough, enough jobs, hours, whatever as someone that's rich instead of looking at all the things that a rich person already had before they got richer. The belief that you can just save more, or rob Peter to pay Paul and Phil, will make you rich because you have more. No. Look at most of the republican states in America- they're the poorest in the nation, so; consider this to be sound advice.
6. Stagger Appointments-
Having to reschedule all the appointments because someone was covid exposed, or because someone's allergies might be Covid, or because you need a mental health day is annoying at best. If you have copays, it gets costly when you don't have that Child Tax Credit to help cushion the cost of glasses, braces, or whatever else you or your kid needs now. I have three boys. They are rough kids that take no shame or qualms with seeing their own blood, needing stitches, bone settings, or concussion therapy. The co-pays add up when you have multiple appointments. Staggering them is helpful in helping to stretch the budget some. Also, ask for any kind of financial assistance your doctor's office may offer. Some insurance companies will waive a co-pay fee if you've had so many of them as a curtesy. It never hurts to ask.
7. Bartering Is Your Best Friend-
Never discount what your time and skills are worth. Do you have a hobby that would be helpful to someone? Do you have a professional skill like being a public notary, attorney, or massage therapist? Do you need something that someone in your community or circle of people could offer you so that you get your needs met? Put it out there that you're willing to babysit someone's kids, run a meal to someone, sew on a kid's scout patches, professional housecleaning- whatever you do in exchange for something that you need. Before money was a common place item, this is how the world was ran. Helping each other is an effective means of making sure people's basic needs get met. Be a part of the solution. Often times we don't realize that we have valuable skills and things we can offer to others just by lending them our time.
8. Get To Know Your Neighbors- Be Friends-
I don't know about you, but where I live, in the "affluent ghetto" as it is often referred to- just a piece past "Felony Flatts" where everyone there has a prison record or is on the sex offender registry, and right before the homeless encampment, your neighbors are the best defense and security that you could have. I know you're probably thinking I'm crazy for including getting to know your neighbors in budgeting tips but I can tell you that my neighbors have helped me keep my security budget in check when they're chasing kids away from windows. They've helped keep my car insurance low when they are chasing people away from peeking in car windows. They've helped me immeasurably by passing on hand-me-down furniture, clothing, and toys to my kids that I couldn't afford. We've shared Costco bulk items that would have gone bad had we relied on our own kids to eat it all. And you know what the best security there possibly is for a neighborhood of any kind? Community. Those willing to sit out front and shoot the shit with each other, won't generally shoot the shit out of each other.
I'm sure that there are many more things that could be added to this list of advice from the old poor. I'll add more when I think of them. Please leave your tips, too.
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