"What do insanely poor people buy that ordinary people know nothing about?"

[inanna]

15. I was seventeen when I left home

and very poor. Not really mature enough at that point to be on my own, but circumstances being what they were... I had no other option. It was sink or swim and so I grew up a LOT in a very short period of time.

I really learned how to stretch a dollar, and that knowledge has served me well - even once things improved.

Those cheap frozen meat pies? They were a gourmet feast for me. My Grandma used to buy me scores of them when they were on sale. I still love 'em. Learned to stock up on tuna when it was on sale. Same with peanut butter and eggs. Learned there were a lot of things I didn't need - even though I may have wanted them. Example: fabric softener is nice, but certainly not a priority when broke.

I had a little calico cat at the time: I quickly learned to put the cat before myself - a major switch from what I'd been like before (me selfish me). So kitty always had food - even if the rest of the cupboards were in a very sorry state.

I have never forgotten those lean days. Don't suppose I ever will.