'I was so poor I lived on gas station free food samples - this is how I saved $44k'

A woman so impoverished she survived on free food samples from a local petrol station and relied solely on candlelight has revealed the three strategies she employed to transform her finances and save $44,000 in three-and-a-half years. Reyjka Elle, 32, was raised in poverty and encountered even more challenging circumstances when she began supporting herself at 18 while residing in Florida, Georgia, US.

For the subsequent six years she budgeted to extremes - flogging all of her furniture as well as cutting off her electricity and living by candlelight. She landed a position as a therapist assistant through "pure luck" and has since met her husband, graduated with a degree in psychology and is working as a content creator and writer earning $4,000 per month.

Despite achieving financial stability now, Reyjka says her previous years in poverty "still affect" her, and she "feels guilt" when she buys things.

She says saving is "multi-faceted" and the three things she does to help her budget are keeping a track of her income and expenses, investing in high yield accounts and working from home to avoid having to live in city centres in favour of quieter neighbourhoods with lower rent.

Through investing her money, as well as side hustles, Reyjka and her husband have been able to save $45,300. Reyjka, a content creator, now living in Mandel, Norway, said: "Growing up in poverty I always had a budget mindset.

"It really kicked in once I was on my own and had to provide for myself. I had to think strategically in every aspect. In the USA you get paid roughly $50 to donate blood.

"I was having to donate blood constantly just to get a meal or two. I almost joined the military for a place to sleep and earn money - I didn't have an apartment at the time.

"Once I had 50 cents left in my account and did not get paid for another week. I had to live on free food samples at the gas station. Now things are so much better.

"My husband and I started investing, and that's where our money started to multiply. To this day it definitely still affects me. I'm afraid to spend on things."

Reyjka was 18 when she started sleeping on mates' sofas as she couldn't afford her own flat - even living in her motor for a brief stint. After landing a position at Target aged 23 she began renting a room in a shared house with friends in Florida, Georgia.

She revealed: "I was working but with my co-workers when there was a pizza party I would have to eat the leftovers because I didn't have food at home. My electricity was turned off all the time so I would have to use candles.

"I would buy clothes and keep the tags on them and wear them, and return them because I couldn't afford to keep them. This was like from aged 18 to 26 - that entire time period where I was doing these crazy things to save money and get things for free."

At 26, Reyjka secured a better-paid role as a therapist assistant, connecting with the hiring manager who offered her "a chance". She met her husband in 2019 and, with his support, was able to further her education.

She graduated with a degree in psychology from an online university in 2021. Reyjka revealed: "We moved to Norway two years ago. We have a child - aged three - now. It was the best decision."

Despite her improved circumstances, Reyjka continues to budget and manage her finances carefully. She confessed: "I have guilt when I buy things. I don't do anything in terms of cosmetic application like hair, nails or make-up. To me I think it looks beautiful but to me it feels like wasted money.

"Going out to eat is not a thing more than once or twice a year max. I always think 'I can cook it at home'. I still use coupons even if I have enough money in my account, I use coupons to get the best price."

Every payday, Reyjka creates a detailed spreadsheet of her income and expenses. She disclosed: "Our monthly income on average is $7,000 to $7,500 before taxes.

"We pay our bills first and allow ourselves to have $400 to $500 of 'fun' money - like eating out or taking a trip. The rest immediately goes into savings. Before my monthly income was less than $1,000 per month.

"I just wanted people to know that if you're born into a hard situation like me, and it can take years to get out of, but you can resolve this. You don't have to feel less than because you're struggling with money. There's no shame in it."