How to Live on $0 a Day: Financial Doldrums Got You Down? Look on the Bright Side

I know it's hard to believe this right now, but for everything dear to you that you've lost or cut back on during these times of economic strife, there IS a silver lining.

I'm listing some of the painful losses I've endured and the good that came from them. I hope it helps you get through your own personal financial struggles and gives you the tools necessary to make the most of your suffering.

Pre-stirred yogurt
This was one of the first costly luxuries I gave up when I realized the gravity of my financial situation. Yes, it's exhausting having to actually stir the yogurt flavoring in with the yogurt, but after several months, I noticed my arms and pecs strengthening. It's a great way to combine breakfast and exercise. Turns out I never really needed that gym membership and personal trainer in the first place.

Job
You may have lost your vocation and income, but look at all the extra time you've got on your hands. This is your opportunity to fulfill your lifelong dream. As long as that dream doesn't involve making money. You'll also make lots of new friends on the unemployment line.

Credit cards
You'll get used to not being able to buy whatever you want on a whim, I promise. Once you emerge from the fog of your shopping frenzy you'll realize that maybe you really don't "have to have" that core biopsy, or blood pressure medicine after all.

The cleaning lady
Letting my cleaning lady go was the hardest thing I had to do. But now that it's done, it's a relief not having to wake up early every Wednesday morning to clean up before she gets here. But the real up side is when I told my cleaning lady I could no longer afford her, she offered me a job doing her laundry (she doesn't do laundry). Sometimes she even gives me her hand me downs.

Health care
I've got to tell that you the years of not having health care have been the most blissful of my adult life. Granted, there will still be nights you'll awaken in a cold sweat because you haven't had a mammogram in six years and you're sure it's probably already too late. On the other hand, NOT having health care can make what little time you have left much less unpleasant. You'll save thousands of dollars a year in unnecessary tests, not to mention the time saved in waiting rooms and emergency rooms dealing with the botched procedure. And face it, the stress of waiting for test results and and pleading with your insurance company to make good on their promise to cover you can take years off your life (it can also take years). Yes, you'll miss your anti-depressants, but it's quite probable that the health care system is what made you need them in the first place.

Electricity.
Sure it's annoying not being able to see after sundown. But there are definite pluses. My night vision has improved, which will come in handy when revolutionaries take down the power grid and looting ensues.

Food
Food is a wonderful thing, and I really miss it. On the other hand, the last time I've been this svelte was after a really bad case of dysentery. I can't tell you how many people have commented on how great I look. It's amazing how the garbage bag that looked so hideous on me when I was a size 10, looks like Dolce and Gabbana now that I'm down to a size 4.

Vision (glasses)
When I realized my vision was getting worse and I couldn't afford glasses, I was a little depressed. But now that I've had time to adjust, I'm enjoying seeing the world (and myself) in soft focus. My wrinkles are gone, my skin is flawless -- I've never looked this good! Another plus, seeing everything blurred, gives me the feeling of being drunk or stoned without spending a cent on intoxicants. I still get a cheap thrill when a cop pulls me over for DWUI, only to discover I'm totally sober! And ever since my eyes started going bad, the cops that pull me over have been much cuter too.

Phone service
Do you realize how much stress and heartache your phone has brought you? Good riddance, I say. You may worry that you'll miss calls offering you jobs or other lucrative opportunities that might dig you out of this financial pit you're in, but in truth, 9 out of 10 calls are from phone banks in Asia demanding payment or else. Without phone service, you may not even miss not having your anti-anxiety medication.

Teeth
See food.

Your home
Once you let go of your house, the burden of monthly payments and maintenance will be lifted. You also get to spend more time outdoors.

Hope
I was one of those people who clung to the hope that my vote counts, that my elected representative will represent me, that a politician will keep his or her campaign promises (or any promise), that hard work and dedication are rewarded, that he will call tomorrow, that the check is in the mail, that the AT&T repair guy will get here between 9am and noon as promised.... You can imagine the constant disappointment.

Now that I've given up hope I'm much less agitated, bitter and disillusioned (which we all know, can age you). Time that I would have spent having my heart broken, plotting revenge, and sticking pins into voodoo dolls I now use on my arts and crafts projects. By the way, would anyone like to buy a macrame belt?

Comments

[thinker67]

I liked your article. We can all find a jewel or two in your humor that could make our lives better. One of the best lessons about life I personally learned was a few years back. An ex got vindictive and in one night, with a moving truck and some friends, emptied the entire contents of my 4 bedroom house. I went through much anger, stress and a useless legal battle to try to retrieve my property. However, a wonderful thing happened.

Within two months, the only thing I actually missed was a photo album. I learned "You don't own your possessions, your possessions own you." I am much less materialistic now. I find some things to be convenient or useful, but the less you care about "stuff" the more time and money you will have to actually DO things. Try doing things for yourself or others, have an adventure, learn something, create some art, or follow a dream. Those experiences you will carry with you forever. Once that attitude changes in you, then you are truly free.

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks, thinker. stuff is addictive. It took me years to kick the habit and every now and then, I still have to fight off those urges...like, if I don't get those Christian Leboutin shoes now, my life will veer into tragic disaster.
Come to think of it, my life IS a tragic disaster. Maybe I really do need those shoes.

[Micki Pacific]

Love the article! My business and marraige were lost in the 9/11 aftermath, I had already learned many of the lessons you shared.
My mantra? "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose!"
And that sense of spiritual superiority? It just gets stronger each year. We have
the gift of grieveng the loss of these things now, so our deathbeds will be ..well..more fun, honestly.

Having crossed over the threshold of what many others people around us are terrified of approaching, we can reassure them that you don't actually have to buy a drink at the four and five star hotel happy hours to get a plate for the buffet. And if a drink is required, just pick one up off of a table as you pass by.
Hanging out at new age festivals is a great way to network with other freegans.

As an "old timer" at this, I have three words of advice for any newcomers - Straw Bale Construction.

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks MIcki, great advice. Although I'm not so sure about the fun deathbed thing.

[mariah793]

Thanks. I really enjoyed the article.

There are alot of previously upper-middle class people who are really in dire straits but who are afraid to get food stamps. More of us are eating together now and laughing about it. Soup is big.

I have found that a gym membership has benefits beyond the treadmill and pool. Mine has TV, free coffee, reading material, and I shower there and then get warm in the sauna.

[FloridaMich]

one thing i don't understand about food stamps....if you're out of a job in florida you're up the creek. in order to get food stamps here you have to work at least 20 hours a week. kind of a catch-22 wouldn't you say?

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

Thanks, Mariah. You make your gym sound so good I've got to ask what the membership fee is. I'm thinking if they've got comfortable massage tables, I might just move in.

[jdevans]

The Poverty Diet really works! I've lost 15 pounds now that I can no longer afford Starbucks.

I can't afford to go to movies anymore, so ended up going for a walk at a forest preserve in the Chicago suburbs with a couple unemployed friends and we saw a bald eagle. Much more memorable than some movie I won't be able to remember after I get out of the theater.

Paraphrasing those Dos Equis "most interesting man in the world" commercials, I don't shop, but when I do I shop at Goodwill. Its green, its recycling and you can tell its the popular place to be because the parking lot's always crowded.

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

That's pretty cool that you saw a bald eagle. I fear if I saw one right now I'd be torn between admiring its beauty and grandeur, and checking epicurious.com to see if they have any tasty eagle recipes.

[noweknow]

I will eat it first and ask question later.

[pbnguru]

OK hahahahaha - I'm laughing. Do you know I found a Tiffany vase at Goodwill the other day? I'm serious. It just had one big chip in the base - so I just turn that side to the wall.

The 100% lead crystal makes the Curly Dock and Canada Thistle look positively diaphanous!

I put a couple of drops of lemon juice in the water too -

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

Oooo, the vase sounds lovely. But the chipped base concerns me. What if I don't have a wall to turn the flawed side towards?

[unitron]

That holiday upon which conservatives are convinced a war is being waged is coming up.

Put a small holly wreath around the base.

[pbnguru]

Honey - I don't think you big concern these days are chips in the crystal. Personally, I'm more concerned about chips in the foundation - or is it the chocalate chip cookies I scarf at various realtors open houses....either one really, take your pick.

[unitron]

I was about to suggest tha you try for a job writing for The Onion, but a quick use of "The Google" showed me that there really is such a thing as pre-stirred yogurt.

And there I was still adjusting to the idea of paying as much for a bottle of water as for a bottle of name-brand soda.

Oh well, off to my grocer's freezer section to see if it's to late to use pre-buttered toast as a punch line.

[mnich13]

That would probably be Texas Toast you're looking for. It does come pre-buttered, but not pre-toasted.

[unitron]

Just so they don't start offering food that's pre-digested. : - )

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

Wait...you mean I can't get a job writing for The Onion because pre-stirred yogurt exists? Bummer. do you know how hard it is to make up a product that doesn't exist in this day and age? Hell, they've got baconaise. And segueways to take us to the gym. And yes, pre-buttered toast (texas toast, as Mnich13 pointed out--I think Texas is a forerunner in such things).

[josephXY]

One thing you did not mention: TV and media consumption. That brought some
serious problem with them. Look at what the financial experts said at the height
of the media frenzy in 06 / 07, a real surprise in hindsight. And you are lucky when
still having a home, a roof over your head. Many have lost their homes due to that expert advise:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I0QN-FYkpw

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

Fortunately for me, I was already broke in 06/07, so I didn't fall victim to those "experts" terrible advice. But losing my cable connection was definitely a blessing in disguise for different reasons. Once I stopped watching the 24 hour news stations, my mood improved considerably and I was able to cut back on the Prozac I was stealing from my mother's medicine cabinet. It's been great for the whole family!

[ResoluteBob]

Hope? Hard to have much of that when our 'elected officials' are taking us for granted, or worse--like a Freshman girl taken to the Senior Prom!
I'll give you two tiny glimmers of hope in the Political arena. First, Chris Daggett has a really good chance of becoming Governor of New Jersey....as an Independent. Vote for him!
A second glimmer would be Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur from Ohio. She genuinely seems to care about things beyond her re-election. Support her efforts!

P.S.--"What do you think about that Train derailment that wiped out most of the K-Street lobbyists?"
"Why....maybe there is a God after all!"

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

Okay, fine. Hope all you want. But if you throw away your ramen money on campaign contributions and they leave you heartbroken and hungry, don't say I didn't warn you.

[ResoluteBob]

Campaign contributions? Bahahahahahaha!
(that was an imitation of Pat Morita's laugh from "Happy Days", if you couldn't tell)
Oh no....my contribution was to mention those people here.
And by the way...ramen noodles are yucchy. Too much sodium and carbohydryate. But I digress.....

[timezone]

For those who thought of having a more Zen life style, but weren't sure where to start, less money certainly makes it easier. No high-priced gurus, counselors, retreats. Less can be more, but there's a big difference in doing it on purpose or because of the economy.

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

See, there's another bright side! I definitely became more spiritual now that I'm broke. And being spiritual, I no longer focus on the fact that the economy forced my newfound depth upon me. I've moved on to feeling morally superior to anyone who has money and material possessions.

[timezone]

:-) well said, Lesley.

[dandypuddin]

Have you lost weight? Why yes, thanks for noticing. What diet are you on? The Poverty diet.

[swingerofbirches]

I live for $0 a day .................

(wait for it)

..........­..........­..... at my parents' house!

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

Ahhh, swinger, living with your parents is never free. It's kind of like a balloon mortgage... you'll be paying for it down the line in therapy bills.

[Justin Williams]

hit the nail on the head with that one...

[FoxIslander]

My 25 year old has moved back in with his mom and I...my 22 year old graduates from college in december and is heading to china to find work...it's me that needs the therapy.

[deli lama]

"I drink my coffee black - Folger's Crystals with a few drops of lemon juice - try it you'll like it."

- i find this impossible to believe, therefore, i will try it.

[XCITIZEN]

You'll like it - a cup of strong black coffee with a few drops of lemon juice is awesome!

[XCITIZEN]

A 12 oz. jar of Folger's Crystals makes 180 cups of coffee!

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

Yeah...I was gonna mention this. It's sounds pretty hideous, and like deli lama, I feel I must try it. Does it have to be Folger's? The hotel buffet where I usually steal my breakfast only serves Nescafe.

[John Sanzone]

Kudos. It is great to read this and put a little perspective on things. It's during these times that one wishes there really were entrepreneurial ventures that could take one from $0 to...anything. So we Americans are caught between attacking policy (engaging in politics, for better or for worse), and introverting, relying on ourselves, survival in some cases...

[JZAONE]

I know that email from the Nigerian prince is in my inbox somewhere...

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

Me too. Now that Ed Mcmahon is dead, that Nigerian prince is my only hope.

[XCITIZEN]

My beautiful iMac G4, with it's amazing swivel screen, manufactured in 2002, was purchased second hand via craigslist in 2007 for $350. It has never given me a single moment of trouble.

My internet connection, which I acquired in 2006, is completely free. I use dialup, yes, I actually have an internal modem...and while it's not lightning fast, it has never cost me cent.

The majority of my clothing was purchased at thrift shops.

I buy nearly everything on sale at the drugstore and grocery store. I eat primarily vegetarian, but that's my choice.

I bank at a local credit union, pay no fees for using my checking and savings account.

I watch old VHS tapes I find for $1 at thrift shops - most recently Woody Allen's "Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Sex..." and an amazing concert by Elvis Presley in Honolulu circa 1970-something.

I rent DVDs from the library and watch them on my computer.

I don't own a cell phone. Nor an iPod, nor a Blackberry.

I don't own a TV. I suffered no grief when TV went digital. I get my news from the Internet.

I drink my coffee black - Folger's Crystals with a few drops of lemon juice - try it you'll like it.

I have never, never ever owned a car.

I do my dishes by hand.

I don't make a six figure income. I live in the middle of a metropolitan area, and life is just fine.

[PMouse]

Are you me??

[Lesley Stern - Huffpost Blogger]

That's positively unAmerican!

[cucumber]

how do you get your dial up for free?

[L0ve PEace]

Check out
http://www.netzero.net/start/landing.do?page=www/free/index

[XCITIZEN]

I would google around for free dial-up internet. It all depends on where you are, but it's out there.

[noweknow]

I live in wide open space. I'm not homeless. God is the landlord.
I earn $0 and I spend $0. No establishments have power over me.
I'm my own boss.

[L0ve PEace]

Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ~ Mat 6:26

[ruthinking]

it's lillies of the field.