To the question about "How did you survive for the penny?".
I am from Krasnodar. My father retired from the army as a captain in the 96th, and for several years we were literally starving. He smelled like a curse, but the money didn’t go. At my graduation, I remember, my mom accumulated some truths and lies in 400 rubles to sew the dress... In the first course (budget, of course) she wrote articles in the city newspapers for a fee in 150. At the same time in Msk in the same edition, on the same position a person got 4-5 times more (I talk about what was 6 years ago). Now in Krare, a journalist gets a twentieth. How did she live? With single-group stadiums in a cheap apartment, for three one sausage and a pair of shoes with a "push" (city market). I admit, I had to use a male interest: one will invite a cavalier to visit, the other - and always asked to buy "this and that". We honestly cooked them dinner, and for the rest of a couple of days (no sexual "services"!). So they survived. Now, working in Moscow already in a managerial position, I can not get rid of the old habit of buying only one pair of shoes, which I melt in sweaters, and I struggle to force myself to buy a dress (when I look at the price lists my heart dies - expensive!!! And then I remember that I can afford it at all...) from so and so lived