| jacksmom |
Meth User? How do you
afford a computer / cell phone?
From reading posts on
people's stories, and seeing how down and out some of you have
become...lost almost everything, no money, can't pay bills and
cars and such repossessed...
How is it you have a computer and internet service? Do a lot of
folks use a friend's or go to a library or an internet cafe'?
This is NO WAY to be judging, I promise. I think it's GREAT you
are able to access a computer! I've just always wondered when I
read how someone has pretty much lost their lives so to speak
of, but are able to be here...on a computer...which is an
expensive piece of equipment.
But what I've also noticed is how many of you are so well
written and seem very intelligent!
I know...I think of strange things, don't I? |
| Replies... |
Naiev
Newlywed |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
I'm at work - I have very
little left - sold my computer last year to make rent.
Quote:
on a computer...which is an expensive
piece of equipment.
Not really. Just bought a computer for
$100. Ordered extra memory stick for $13.00 so I can have it
upgraded to XP for free.
Will I ever be able to afford internet service? Probably not
until next year! |
| jacksmom |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
Did you buy it used?
We did buy Jacklyn a computer system for about $499 new at
Wal-Mart, but we had to spend a few bucks on memory so she could
use her school programs. |
Naiev
Newlywed |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
Yes used - my old company
is upgrading all their computers so they sold all of their
inventory.
Very outdated - that's why I'm getting it upgraded to XP and had
to buy a memory stick to support it.
Includes 17" monitor - it's nothing fancy, but is a Dell and was
well worth the $100 bucks. |
| jacksmom |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
My husband's work sells
all their laptops when they upgrade. Mike bought his first one
for $100 in fact. Now since he's in management he has a new
Dell, and they pay for our DSL and wireless connection. BUT he
also works lots of hours at home when he's OFF of work . Sucks,
but it pays the bills!
They lease their regular computers, so no selling those.
Also, a good way to find a cheap computer is to get them from
schools when they're upgrading, but a lot of schools use MACS |
forget
suzette |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
when I quit for 6
years.......I was doing good financially. I sent my dad a new
dell, back in 2002. ...so it would be easy to be in touch with
my folks while I was in Vegas...
.....I lost my own puter...that I got for me. when I came
home...
.......I was glued to it, and he just gave it to me to get me
out of there.
LOL! |
| vctry7 |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
We never had a computer
when we were using. The more money we had = the more dope we
could get. $100 will buy a gram, who cares about a computer -
that was our thinking.
We are "rural tweakers". No one we knew had a computer. If they
had started with one, they would've pawned it, traded it, or
destroyed in a fight. I didn't even know that meth recipes were
on the internet until after I had quit using and used a library
computer. Not that I would trust any of those recipes, anyway.
Also, we just got DSL out here two years ago, dial-up about 5
years ago. Before that it wouldn't have done any good anyway. |
Tender
heartsKS |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
Quote:
Yes used - my old company is
upgrading all their computers so they sold all of their
inventory.
Very outdated - that's why I'm getting it upgraded to XP and
had to buy a memory stick to support it.
Includes 17" monitor - it's nothing fancy, but is a Dell and
was well worth the $100 bucks.
That's how I started out too, Leslie! I
was working as a computer programmer/analyst, and they let me
use an old outdated laptop to bring home. When it crapped out, I
asked about one of the old pc's they were just going to toss,
they literally gave it to me. Cost me $40 to replace the fans in
it, and it was okay for me for 3 years until I was able to buy
my own new pc |
mary
mary1 |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
I often thought about
that same thing - only with cell phone service. Who is paying
for it if you have nothing? |
| lilsis |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
My sister mooches off
society for everything then uses her check to pay her cell
phone.... that is a priority, needs her connections so basically
we all provide for her what we do and she can use and abuse and
enjoy her cell phone. |
| Sfj |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
I never lost all of my
"cash and prizes." Never even came close. In almost all
situations, a couple hundred dollars worth of meth is plenty to
last a week or so. If a person makes considerably more than
that, money isn't a real issue. Morality is a much more serious
situation.
I own Real Estate in San Francisco. My wife and two adult sons
are also working. Having more money than common sense was a
serious problem for me.
Slowly but surely, after five years of working as hard as I
possibly can at recovery, I'm getting a little more common
sense, but my money supply is also slipping away into the
sunset. |
| vctry7 |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
We never had a cell
phone. Well, we did for a couple of months. It was destroyed in
a fit of rage. We couldn't afford another one, so the service
was cancelled.
My SIL keeps a cell phone because of her mom. She says it is the
only way to know if she is dead or alive. SIL ran the bill up
last month to $660. Mom can't pay so now they both lose their
cell phone service. Mom needs a phone out here in the boonies
just for emergencies, but her daughter could care less. |
| lilsis |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
I can only imagine what it takes
a few years to lose takes about ten to rebuild but I applaud
anyone who is doing that. Rebuilding your life after this
hurricane called meth.
My sister gets a little over 500 a month for doing nothing...
pays no bills other than her cell phone cricket 40 bucks a month
no matter what. But that is another issue, however funny isn't
how she is always broke a week after the check arrives?
Anyway again I commend anyone who is rebuilding and wish you all
the success of life.
as for computers I was thinking some people probably use friends
and families and the library usually has free usage. We used to
have an old co worker of hubby's email us all the time for food
and money that was where she was.... hope she finally got the
help she needed too.
I hope I am not out of line I am new here and just meeting
everyone. |
music
girl99 |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
Interesting timing on this
topic.
My addict called and asked me today what he might be able to
sell his computer for.
I checked and found out that if he could find a buyer, maybe
$100. At the pawn shop, about $50.
I told him that if $50 would make a difference in his life
between now and Thursday (payday) then that's what he should do.
$50 is usually a half a gram in our area. |
| Penel0pe |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
I got my first computer from a
pawn shop. Another tweeker showed me how to get online with my
286 PC ... and I remember my first 14.4 speed modem - given to
me by another tweeker.
I built my 486 from parts that I cannibalized from other broken
computers. We used to cruise around Silicon Valley and get the
old computers they left on the loading docks to be hauled away
(Yes, we stole them) and built on our existing computers.
Back then, "Internet Service" meant you called a local BBS with
your modem (that you had to configure yourself - I always used a
program called "Q-Modem..") and you found a BBS that offered
telnet service if you wanted to talk to someone outside your own
area code for free.
I sold that 486 to move to this county - and the computer I am
using today is the computer that I helped my Mother in Law
choose about 8 years ago - when the Pentium II was state of the
art, and a 56 k modem was as fast as you could go (No DSL in
those days!)
To this day, I have to "Tweek" this poor old computer to keep it
working, and I hope to have a NEW computer soon - this one's
going to die soon, I just know it.
But, to answer your question - when I was out there using,
tweeking was how I learned how to use, build, and program a
computer - I knew DOS like a second language, and had Windows
3.0 eventually - back when you had to type in "Win" to start
windows...
My first hard drive was a 40 megabyte drive - LOL!!! |
sickids
gurl |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
For me keeping my "things" was
never an issue. I usually get about $8,000.00 at income tax time
so this last year I got rid of my old one by giving it to my
little brother. And went to refurb depot and got a refurbished
computer for about $700.00 at 60% off.
I never pawned anything to get my dope, but I did my fair share
of manipulation and used many people to get what I wanted so
that I could keep my things. I was sick now that I think about
it!
I can't believe after only 9 days I am starting to see these
things. You also have to remember that all of us come from
different walks of life and so for some of us money was never an
issue.
And about internet service when I was tweakin I would be on my
computer for days and never leave it! It was part of what I did
when I was tweakin so I had to be connected.
Also my husband and I would suffer without dope if all the bills
weren't paid we have little ones to look after so if there was
no money after bills and food then we would suffer for a week if
we had to. If it was too much to handle for us then we'd get a
front.
We lost more mentally and emotionally then anything else. Worst
thing that we "lost" was our connection to each other and our
children.
Which we are working to re-establish now! |
| lilsis |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
sickidsgurl. Cheers to you for
providing food. My niece suffered a lot over the years because
her parents put their drugs ahead of her of course we enabled
them to do so by providing whatever we could for her safety.
There was a time they took her from us after we changed the
locks and tried tough love, those were the darkest years of her
life if you ask her. Wishes you have the strength to make it 9
more days then another and another. and hoping you regain all
that you lost. |
Jamie
J1979 |
Re: Meth User? How do
you afford a computer / cell phone?
As you all know I currently live
with my mother. I haven't worked since I've been pregnant but I
get a very small check from the state which I use to pay rent,
gas, and stuff for the baby. I plan on returning to work once my
son is 3 months old. My mother pays the bills here which I'm
very thankful for. She doesn't mind right now because I've
always been self supporting since I was 18, this is the lowest
point I've ever been financially. The little bit of money I give
her in rent is more for my piece of mind, to feel like I'm
contributing something at least instead of mooching completely.
She also helps me when it comes to my car payment, clothes,
personal products. She is comfortable helping me because I'm
helping myself. I'm in outpatient treatment, I went back to
school to get my GED over the summer. I only have the math
portion of the test to take them I'm done. I've joined a support
group, I get acupuncture, I'm staying clean.
When I worked I made decent money, about $6-8,000 a month. Of
course during my last run I spent all of the money I had saved
and I ended up loosing my apartment. I ended up doing things I
never thought I would do. I hit rock bottom hard. I learned a
lot over the last 9 months. I've learned how to survive on very
little money and with the help of my Mom. I've learned what is
really important and what's a necessity and what's not. I've
learned to budget and how to shop better. I feel that when I
return to work I will make much better use of my money. I will
get out of debt and pay off back taxes. I'm only about $5,000 in
debt, so it's not that much. It won't take long to pay off at
all. I also owe some money to the IRS but I can reach a
settlement with them to pay less than what I owe. I did mess up
when I filed taxes that year, I was young and didn't know what I
was doing.
So what I lost due to drugs is less financial more mentally and
emotionally. Sure I ended up living with my Mom and in a small
amount of debt but those things can be taken care of in a small
amount of time. Dealing with the mental and emotion wreckage of
my past will take years to overcome. I'm happy today. I'm
looking forward to having my son and continuing to move on with
my life. I'm proud of myself for staying clean and learning from
my mistakes. I'm also proud of myself to always trying to better
myself. Right now there is no place to go but up. I look forward
to what the future brings because even though there will be
tough times nothing was as tough or as horrible as the hell I
went through being totally strung out on heroin and speed. I
feel lucky to be alive today. Take care everyone. |
