I flirted with poverty a few times, but by being willing to be 'underemployed', I always got by. My father always had a job, even in the depression, and though I never understood that potato soup was NOT just 'good', but something to get by till payday, we managed.

The closest I have come to 'scary' was 10 years ago, when I wasn't working, my wife was ill with heart trouble, and we were too young for Social Security....we literally 'got by with a little help from our friends' (mostly the folk community!)who filled in certain gaps and made allowances until we got a toehold again....

Now it's just being VERY careful and understanding that eating out is a rare treat. ...and hoping nothing serious breaks!