answer:I went through a tough time in the early 80s. I had my child and no financial support whatsoever. I think he was 2 at the time and I was recently divorced and very young. Their was no welfare support, including food or anything in the country I was living in. I learned to stretch a potato, I learned how to make excellent soup that was cheap and nutritious. I learned to play with my kid instead of rely on TV or cartoons and I also walked a lot since I had no car. I worked all day, from early (7 am till around 6 pm). I had no formal skills at that point. I worked as a secretary to a financial director in a large pharmaceutical company and he was a complete turd. The bulk of my money I earned went on rent, electricity and my sons creche. So there was little left over for luxuries like a food budget or clothes soap etc., His father at that point had abandoned him and had gone to live in another country. The hard part was making sure we had toilet paper, soap and washing powder, food to eat, the rest was tough but manageable. The other hard part was that my son was severely ADHD and I could not get advice or help on how to manage him. I think he also felt abandoned not only by his dad but by me too, since I worked all day. I’ve had tough times all my life periodically, I’d say this goes down as one of the toughest! Oh and no there was no financial or other support from friends and family.