I went through a rotten break-up in my early 20's, and I remember one time only have $93 after the bills for the whollleee month! To answer your question, I kept from getting discouraged by reminding myself that things would get better if I just kept at it. I told my friends that I couldn't go out unless we did things I could afford... they respected that and didn't push at all. I was lucky though, I guess, I was working full time and going to school all night, so my "entertainment" was studying all the time. I remember one afternoon, I went down to the pool at my apartment (it was Texas-- every complex had pools and rent was dirt cheap or I'd have been homeless!
) I remember floating in the pool, looking up at the puffy clouds in the blue sky and thinking what a beautiful day it was, and that if the world could still look like that even though things were so horrible, then there was still hope.
I agree with all the PPs... use this as a chance to get creative. There are soooo many free/cheap things in the world that are so fun if you have the right frame of heart... puff some dandelions (don't feel guilty about spreading weeds, they're actually very nutritious and people like me pick them and eat them!) Take a walk, listen to the birds, find your local library and seek out whatever in this life makes you passionate...
As for food, one thing I didn't see mentioned was "chicken soup"... I save the bones and wingtips from every chicken I cook, and the giblets before cooking, and keep them in a baggie in the freezer; in another bag, the tops and bottoms and skins of the onions I chop. When I get in the mood or the bags get full, throw all that in a pot (ok, not the bags), cover with water, set on low, and forget it for a long time. Then strain out everything, pick any meat off the bones and return to the pot, throw in a handful of mixed vegetable, simmer until the veggies are soft, season with salt, garlic, sage (and thyme and rosemary, too, if you want) or just salt and "poultry seasoning" (that's what it says, and it's the same blend)... Add whatever noodles you have around (I like to use the leftover lasagna noodles left in the bottom of the box, but anything will work. If you want it to look more like Campbells, use spagetti/ more homestyle, use egg noodles) If you cook your pasta and store it without sauce, you can even throw those noodles in... Anyway, I secretly call this "garbage soup" because it's made of stuff the average American would throw away... but my whole family lovveesss it, and is constantly nagging me to make it... even in the summer!
Congrats!
There was a hiccup in my paycheck in April... they sort of forgot to pay me for a month and a half. I had enough in savings to cover daycare and gas and such, but we cut back hard on everything else. I think it was really good for the kids, I do. We had plenty in the pantry and freezer, but I think if I'd gone one more missed check, things would have gotten pretty bad. The funny part is, when all my backpay finally came through, everyone was asking me what I was going to go buy!?!?! Yeah... no! That money went back onto savings for the next time!
If you are careful and don't let the consumer message of "buybuybuy" leach your happiness, you can be very happy with "enough." Slowly, over time, you'll build up savings... even now, with everything paid, you have $100, so you see there's "enough"... just a matter of finding ways to make it *FEEL* like "enough."
Funny story... long ago, when we were living paycheck to paycheck (and that's putting it generously...) I need to trim the grocery bill one week, so when I was making the bi-weekly menu, it was very hamburger/chicken/pasta based... used a lot of leftover recycling, that sort of thing. I felt a bit down about it... my husband looked at the menu and was THRILLED... all the "cheap" things were among his favorites, but I tried (and still try) to avoid them because they are not so healthy... He actually said "this is the best menu you've ever made!" So see, totally in the stomach of the beholder!
So what do you LIKE to eat, and LIKE to do. I'm guessing pasta is not a favorite?
Let's see with $100 I am guessing that is for gas for the car too? You could make casseroles with rice. I used 4 boneless chicken breasts to feed 4 of us, a can of cream of celery soup mixed with 3/4 can of water, some broccoli and the rice. I sauteed the chicken first in a little olive oil then cut it up into chunks then baked all the ingredients for 20 minutes. The kids loved it too. 
I've said it's kinda like going through the eye of a needle financially. We can see the other side in a few weeks, but for right now, it's tough.
). Good luck...hopefully, this is just a temporary thing.
