Below is a transcript of a story which originally aired on American Public Media’s Marketplace Money 

My bank account has never seen “disposable income” – I use everything I make, and then some.

I’m a college graduate. And I work. Still, I pay for meals with loose change. I calculate the price per ounce in the cereal aisle to ensure the best deal. Apparently, this makes me part of a new trend you have probably read about: being frugal. But there’s nothing new about it to me. I’ve been living in my own personal recession since before the real one started.

My financial life is, well, first I pay rent, and then my bills for the month. Health insurance is a luxury. I haven’t had insurance for almost two years. DayQuil is my doctor. I can’t afford to think about a more serious illness or a medical emergency or even paying for antibiotics out of pocket.