[NorthMountain]

those of us who have had occasions when we paid the rent and had a whole 74 cents left

Been there.

Done that.

Don't ever want to be there again.

Perhaps that underlies my habit of careful scrutiny.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Yep. Have no desire to go through that again.

But at the time I was proud of myself. I fed, clothed and housed myself all on a ridiculously tiny salary without dipping into my emergency reserve. I was a full adult!