I don't have to wonder what I would do Im there and have been for years. I live on SSDI and before that on welfare and working the money off at job sites they sent me to.

How do I manage? very carefully. I don't get everything I want and that sometimes irritates me but when you have $603.00 to pay for rent , phone, electric, cable, household, cat food and cat litter. sometimes that means I have to do with out cable some months of the year, and it helps that my cat also uses the toilet besides a litter pan because I don't have to buy so much litter,. Especially now that I only get $50.00 in food stanps a month so now I have to use some of my cash towards food. Some months like in the winter when the electric is higher I use one of the local food shelves. I also sign up for the seasonal food baskets. My clothing usually comes from st vincent du paul or good will stores or sales from the local department stores. I also make full use of things for example when my towels are developing holes I pull out the scizzors and thread and cut them down into wash cloths and dish towels. so instead of full sets all I have to buy is the bath towels and those I can get on sale through out the year. This past year my credit was finally all settled from having someone steal my identity back in 2000 so I was able to get a couple credit cards which has made things a little bit easier. Instead of driving places and paying an arm and a leg for gas, insurance and so on I use the city bus system that cost me about $10.00 a month or $17.00 for a monthly bus pass if Im going to be riding the bus alot. otherwise I bike it or walk. I pretty much have learned how to live on a small budget and still have the necessities and an occasional splurge.

I believe it gets easier. hang in there.