Most of my stipend goes into public transportation so I can get around the city. There’s not much left to make purchases with at the end of the day, but there’s a freedom in that.

I’m on my mother’s health insurance, but that doesn’t work well because I live in a different state, so I usually go to free clinics. I recently had to go to a regular clinic for a strep test and paid $120. That took me about five months to pay off.

The first few months of being away from purchasing things were just pure joy. It was easier then because I still had things from my purchasing days that I could get more use out of. It did get harder, and yet, another wave of creativity came with that; that spark of necessity.

I teach a catechism class at our local parish that doesn’t have a lot of resources. There are whiteboards and markers that I use in class, but no erasers, and I didn’t have the extra money to go buy one.

I had a pile of clothes in my room that were torn up beyond repair, but I wanted to find a way to use them. One day I thought, “I’m going to use my old underwear to wipe off the whiteboard every week.” It works great, and nobody else has to touch it.

My fiancée has been a champ and supports me emotionally. She’s in medical school right now. We have learned to do different fun things together, like playing the piano. We both love to talk endlessly, so a lot of our time is inexpensively spent in conversation. She has also been really open and gracious if we do want to go out and eat together and disproportionately picks up the bill.