Poor Man's Finances

I may blog for awhile to explore financial management for poor people. I've read a lot of financial columns, books, and blogs that all seem to be directed toward people making 60K plus a year. That includes a lot of people, especially if the wife works, but a nurse, schoolteacher, social worker, and many a skilled worker live way below 40K. So how do you manage at what feels like poverty level? Matter of fact, how do you manage if you're living at poverty level. Are there any skills that would make survival a bit easier?
In a church I once pastored, we started a benevolence committee. A rather liberal, tender-hearted lady chaired the committee. She began by giving anyone almost any amount of help. She felt sorry for them. Then she began seeing them in the grocery line paying for cigarettes. It infuriated her. If she were having to ask others for help, she certainly wouldn't spend $20 on a carton of cigarettes.
I pointed out to her that many people were poor precisely because they didn't know how to manage money. I recently talked to a man who had blown his whole paycheck in the emergency room. I explained to him that they would bill him, and he could pay it off $10 a month if he had to.
So let's see if we can find some practices that will make what little money we have seem to go further.

I'm happy with the race for nominations in both parties. Too many times we've seen one candidate from each party quickly endorsed. This year we at least have the illusion of multiple choices.

Of course, we'd all like a much shorter process, perhaps starting in June with a national primary in August. In four months we could have a president and save lots of money and political rhetoric.