Last week, I sent a jarring message to any college student who has ever referred to his or herself as "broke." To read the full extent of my message, click here.

Finished reading it? Excellent. I hope you've had time to reflect on your thoughts and are ready to hear about mine.

All four of my grandparents grew up during the Great Depression, and all four were at some level of poverty. The richest of my grandparents lived a life which could easily be seen by today's families as mediocre. The poorest had ketchup or mayonnaise sandwiches for supper many nights (which are far less filling than any ramen noodles or Easy Mac) and shared a bed with her siblings (and you thought it was tough sharing a room!)

Despite all this, she would have been considered to have a pretty good life--far from wealthy, but nowhere near as poor as others--since she had a house, a full stomach, and a bed to sleep on. Millions of other families lived in "Hoovervilles" (makeshift community shacks named for the president at the time,) with no food, water, or even shelter from harsh weather.

Basic items such as fruit and coffee that we use freely today were considered luxuries that were only for the wealthiest of the wealthy.

If you wanted a new dress, you cut up a chicken feed sack and sewed the fabrics together. And don't even think about makeup; a tube of lipstick back then was as expensive as a Louis Vuitton handbag today!

"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."

My grandparents' families lived by this motto, and it was passed down to my parents and then to me. The saying is about nothing going to waste, as wasted items equaled wasted money.

Since money was not easily obtainable back then, every penny went to necessities only. I have lived in a family where this has been the case almost my entire life. While my parents were far from impoverished, they spent about ten times what the average family spends on medicine and medical bills. Therefore, every spare cent we had went to doctors' appointments and pharmacy bills.

Once I graduated high school, I found myself in another predicament; unemployment.

I went out for several job interviews but got rejected at every turn. I quickly realized why this was the case; people with mental disabilities are considered to be incapable of doing any jobs that do not involve computer software. As an individual who struggles with social interaction, this made looking for jobs even harder...sometimes nearly impossible.

Lack of employment meant lack of money for me, so I live in a situation where the saying above means more than ever. I don't receive a paycheck week to week, so the only money I make is whatever coins I find on the sidewalk and in vending machines.

My parents pay for me to attend school, but I refuse to ask them for money to pay for anything but the bare necessities. More than half of the clothes I have at school (excluding socks and underwear,) were either given away at events, handed down to me from other people, or found discarded around campus (seriously people?) I can't afford to go out to eat with friends, buy things for my dorm room, or treat myself to any luxury services.

If I can't get it for free around campus or have someone give me an old version, I don't get it.

Still, I consider myself to be well off since I go to bed with a full stomach and with a roof over my head. Even though I have to grovel for cash, I don't have to stand out on the street corner to feed and clothe myself. I have access to working toilets, showers, sinks, and a place to stay that is warm, clean and safe. I know for a fact many people are not as lucky in this way, and for that reason, I will do whatever I can to help them.

So in conclusion, I hope after reading my story that you've taken a little more time to reflect on your own financial situation.

Do you still think you're broke?

Or are you just a spendthrift?

Is your current handbag full of tears and stains or do you just want the one that supposedly looks nicer?

Does every cup of coffee you drink have to be from a drive-thru or could you make yourself a pot at home?

Do you really not have time to cook or are you too lazy to just do it?

Could you go without at least one of your makeup products without calamity or would that cost you a career?

Are you broke due to circumstance or reckless spending?

I'll let you answer those questions yourselves.