Computers & skills is enough for me. Can we also assume that we don't have any connections - business, linkedin, family, friends, otherwise? Like, start over from scratch.
I would probably start out by freelancing to earn some more money and get my name out there. At the same time, I would build up a personal webpage to build a brand. Most likely my own name or some other recognizable brand name. So Hosting & Domain fees, plus whatever I value my time, plus living expenses is my ongoing costs. I'd probably spend $20-$50 a night on a hotel room, internet & food. The US is expensive, and I can't buy a plane ticket for that to a cheaper area like Thailand - so maybe I'd think about relocating to Mexico where it's cheaper. I'd then think, yes it's cheaper there - but in the US there are more opportunities.
So where am I at? $5 for tests to qualify/stand out on Odesk/Guru/Freelancer/etc ($15 in total?). Domain = $5 (if I used a good coupon). Hosting for 6 months @ $10 a month. $80 spent, plus say $45 a day in living expenses. After two days, I'm $170 down and not much to show for it, so might as well start up and market a few fiverr gigs as well. Hopefully I'd land a few jobs at maybe $5/hour. Not minimum wage here, but at least it's money IN and not OUT.
The object is of course not to make a bunch of money, but to get my name and brand out there. I'd be willing to do work that is below my "pay grade". The 'goodwill' of the brand is invaluable at this point, so it's something to focus on building. I would create a twitter, facebook, and google+ page as well. Maybe a youtube to document everything. Through all my social media and activity on sites, I'd hope to get some brand recognition and chances at higher paying work.
I would also probably look into temp agencies, to get a steady stream of income coming in. Yes, it's not time focusing on my IM business, but at least I have a roof over my head and food on the table. My primary concerns at this point. Let's say after day 2: $500 in total, minus first two days of expenses at $170 gives me $330 left. Day 3 (lucky day scouring and applying to everything under the sun) brings me in two jobs at $20 a piece which in total take up 12 hours to accomplish, plus writing a blog post and making/editing a video. With living expenses at $45 a day, so I'm out $5 in total or down to $325.
It's a start.
Still more money out than in, but much much less.
Next day, a set back. I had 2 interviews for data entry work. Pays $8/hour, but they were either looking for someone with faster typing speed, or someone of another ethnicity. Money out for train, food, shelter, and time. I'm out $55 today, with nothing to show for it. Brings me down to a total of $270. Shit. I go to bed that night with more resolve to focus on IM more than ever. I'll probably make a BST or Freelancer for hire, because I found this awesome community of global internet marketers. I have the skills, but never heard of them before....
I'm tired and it's late. If anyone is interested in more of this story, let me know.
Though back then it wasn't because I'd 'lost everything', just that I'd never had anything 
