Was poor when I first started working.

After university. Good god, you think that 10-15k is a decent amount of money until you realize just how much it costs. Students loans... make me want to cry. Pretty sure I was paying onto them till last year, and even then I never ended up running my own business (helped my father sometimes, but sadly my dream has yet to come true). Anyway, I ended up in an office job, but student loans really make it hard to get a morgage. 

Anyway, things are better now. Still have a job that is meh at best, but it pays the bills.

Not that extreme in comparison to some others I guess...but after college, I worked technical aide/internship jobs before starting my career. After my first position ended (temporary job), I was living off my own savings for a few months while looking for something new, which wasn't very impressive since I was only an intern before then.

I managed to get a new job a few months later...but didn't receive a paycheck for about a month after starting due to the company being disorganized as all hell. I think about a week or so before I finally got paid, I remember going into Target to buy random groceries and essentials, only for my debit card to be declined. It was the first time in my life that happened, and it was honestly embarrassing to later find out I was overdrawn on my account.

Never had an issue like that since...but I'm also long past that point in my career. Still, I'm careful to leave myself a safety net now...just in case.

Oddly enough when I did work around 2009-2010. My health was failing and I was quite literally dying and I can't go into specific details, I wasn't able to get help. I worked a dead end job and often had maybe $4-30 in my account on a good day. On the bad ones, I have was 30 bucks in the negative. 7 years later despite perm heart issues, I'm happier than ever. It may not be a lot of money but now have a steady source and can get by.

A great teacher of mine once told me that whatever you write in parentheses isn't important enough to be written at all. And if it is important, it shouldn't be in parentheses. Helped me a lot to clean up my writing style.

Was living at home and had virtually no monthly payments, but in my mid 20's I was essentially down to like $500. Let's just call it a post-college slump. Not in much better shape now if you factor in my graduate degree loans but at least I'm sort of nudging things in the right direction, fleshed out the resume a great deal with some job experience, and have accumulated a decent buffer of savings.

I didn't realize how broke I was until I left my hometown in Cleveland. I lived with 3 of my brothers and we supported each other. However, I understood just how expensive life could be by yourself when I graduated and got my first real job in Charlotte, NC. My expenses were way too high. My monthly check was eaten away by taxes and my condominium rent made sure I was broke at the end of every month. I was scavenging food at work. Whatever I could grab to eat from left overs. I couldn't even afford to buy furniture (Max, makingmusic, and trashleg could attest to how empty my house was in 2013-2014). Furthermore I was going through -what I now see in hindsight- as my first and only round of depression in life. Being away from my family and social circle in Cleveland really did a number on my mental health.

Eventually I met my now wife in the latter half of 2014 and we got engaged later that year. During our engagement period she was across states with her parents and I was fucking broke as ever. I couldn't pay rent anymore and I was sleeping at work for a couple of months which really helped save a little bit of money for once.

I started looking for a second side job and an affordable place to live in the meanwhile. One day I went into a seafood restaurant. It was a franchise I actually worked at a decade ago in Cleveland so I had experience. Any who the owner and I got to talking and asked me if I knew anyone who was looking for a place to live. (moments and coincidences like this are honestly what give people faith in god imho). Long story short we become good friends, I help him with his restaurant work and in exchange he gives me a reduction on the place he's renting out.

I now have a place to live and I'm no longer in the negative each paycheck. I get married 2015 and my wife gets pregnant and my anxiety kicks in because I want to ensure my child has a financially stable life coming up in the world. I realize my job just ain't going to cut to support a third member to the family.

After months of researching and searching I get an international job in Dubai (My second language came in handy for once in my life). My job here gives me and family health insurance (something I've never had in my adult life living in the states). They pay for my housing, and I get a tax free salary.

I'm saving money and I'm planning on buying a house in America this coming year.
I've come a far way from being homeless in Charlotte and in a way I'm kind of thankful for that terrible experience because it literally was a turning point in my life. A turn for the better.

Depends what you mean... I have a mortgage, currently I owe lots of money. :P

But that does't count. Er... before I got a job, when I first moved to where I am now, had £1000 left from savings. For some of you this is a lot but I'm not only tight but lived at home before then so 'poorest' is relative, as in I'm sure I had less at some point but... you know at home being fed by parents.

You're a lucky and blessed man. Some people have no option but to struggle and owe money. Unfortunately, everyone can't be at the top of the food chain.

Damn, what some of you guys went through makes me feel privileged.