So, You’re New to Poverty (or It’s Been a While)?

Here’s Your Survival Guide

Photo by Ussama Azam on Unsplash

Welcome to the grind. The hustle. The never-ending math problem of stretching every dollar. Whether you're navigating poverty for the first time or just getting reacquainted, here are some real-world strategies to help you survive—and maybe even build a little stability.

1. Shopping Smart: Making Every Dollar Count

• Price Per Ounce: Learn to check the unit price on shelf tags—bigger sizes aren’t always cheaper.

• Sales & Coupons: Match sales with digital or paper coupons. Stores often have apps with discounts. I know, I know, they take time to deal with & you’re self conscious about holding up the line. Baby steps.

• Loss Leaders: Stores discount certain items to get you in the door. Stick to those and avoid impulse buys. But don’t drive so far out of your way that the savings are a draw.

• Buying in Bulk: Team up with others to split bulk purchases. Neighbors, family, co-workers, friends. Or maybe you donate the extra to a local shelter. Not a nameless brand name, but the actual org doing the work for your community.

• Explore Bulk Bins: Buying just what you need from bulk bins can be cheaper than pre-packaged items. They’re also great for product testing. Buy a small amount, compare it to what you’re used to. Get JUST enough product for your next usage when times are tight.

• Pay Attention to Cycles: Commonly bought items go on sale in predictable cycles—stock up ahead of time.

2. Stretching Food Further

• Rice & Beans: They bulk up leftovers and stretch meals further.

• Growing Your Own: Buy seeds with EBT. Prioritize native plants for low-maintenance gardening.

• Leftovers Strategy: Cook once, eat twice (or more). Freeze portions for later.

• Food Banks: Check local pantries. Some require proof of need, others don’t.

• Community Meals: Find free meal programs at churches, shelters, or mutual aid groups.

3. Budgeting: Thinking in Meal Costs

• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits average $210/month per person. That’s $7/day, which means fast food is a luxury.

• Instead of daily spending, think in terms of cost per meal and how to make ingredients stretch. You’ll fall into a pattern of buying the least perishables once a month & then visiting the store based on your milk & produce needs.

• Plan for 1-2 meals a day instead of 3, supplementing with snacks. Will anyone else recommend this? No, because it’s not optimum, it’s not enough to thrive. But survival means that’s the short term goal, make it through each day, each pay period, each week.

4. Energy & Utility Savings

• Curtain Trick: Hang curtains in doorways to trap heat/cool air. Use shower rods to keep them sturdy.

• Turn Down Water Heater: Lowering it saves money without affecting daily use.

• Unplug Appliances: Devices drain energy even when off. That extra freezer in the garage you never use? Unplug it, prop the door open & save $ when it’s not in use.

• DIY Repairs: Look up online tutorials before paying for fixes.

5. Making & Saving Money

• Selling Stuff: Use Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or even Etsy if you can craft. Yard sales, vendor fairs, flea markets, etc

• Carpools: Save gas by coordinating rides for work or school.

• Side Hustles: Babysitting, tutoring, dog walking, freelancing—whatever you can do.

• Passive Giving: Share your rewards card number with a friend so one person collects all the points.

6. Recycling & Repurposing

• Reusing Containers: Glass jars aren’t just for storage; they make great bulk food containers. Those big metal coffee cans are great cannisters too.

• Clothing Swaps: Essential for back-to-school shopping on a budget.

• DIY & Bartering: Mend clothes, bake from scratch, trade skills with others.

7. Community & Mutual Aid

• Form Community Pods: Pool resources for bulk buying, childcare, and transportation.

• Be the “Extra” Family: If you can afford it, grab extra school supplies or food bank staples to share.

• School Support: Save BoxTops (or check online for the new digital system) to passively help local schools.

• Donate Cans/Bottles: Some organizations collect them for funding.

8. Avoid Common Traps

• Payday Loans & Pawn Shops: They might seem helpful but trap you in debt.

• Subscription Creep: Review automatic payments and cancel non-essentials.

• Impulse Spending: If it’s not on your list, question if you really need it.

Final Thought:

Poverty isn’t a personal failing. The system is designed to keep people struggling. But we survive by supporting each other. Save what you can, help where you can, and build the kind of community that makes it easier for all of us to get through.

Today’s Assignment: It can take practice to get as comfortable asking for help as you are willing to give it. We all need to flex those muscles. Because the more help we get, the more help we can give & a rising tide lifts all boats, y’all.

What do you need help with?

~AK