There was a time when money was very short, and I was living in my car, I met another who was living in her car (a Mercedes) she had lost her long time live in boyfriend to cancer and after being together for 20 years, he passed, his family literally kicked her out onto the streets only giving her the car, which wasn't worth much it was older. Anywho we hit MickeyD's every morning and for 2.17 got all you could drink coffee and a sausage biscuit. One day I was down to my last 2.00 and change and knowing after breakfast I would have about .35 cents left, my new found friend asked for my last bits of change so she could by cigarettes, and I said no, I was planing to buy a potato for dinner, with that little bit. I still feel bad about that moment but to me cigs where not essential (says the non smoker). She later checked herself into the mental hospital stating she was going to end herself, which was a lie because somebody told her to do it so she could get into the system. I took her dog from the police station because it was a Sunday and kept him for 3 months on my bare bottom budget. I finally found him a home....she was in the mental hospital for almost a year! went they let her out, she was set up with an apartment, free utilities and almost 600.00 a month plus food stamps! and she called me wanting her dog back, drunk as ever. anyhow Sometimes you do what you have got to do. A local butcher that I was getting bones from for my dogs would toss in some chop meat for me, he would say their a little something in there for you, to make sure I didn't give it to the dogs, but when I fished I always brought him something and we talked about fishing and how he wished he had time to fish (he had 6 kids) so I would tell him where I go what and sometimes he would share a honey hole he remembered... I really loved it, I was free! I budgeted my mere 660.00 a month to cover car insurance and cell phone, my only two important expenses. and always put 50.00 a side for emergencies. In truth I was afraid of needing a new car and not having any money.
I just realized that I could get the same deal at Mickey D's as I did 20 years ago....crazy. But if your really broke I think urban living or real bush living is the only was to go. In the city nothing is very far. and if you know how to hunt and fish, and build a fire, food is usually not an issue.....