7 Things To Do If You’re Barely Scraping By Financially (2024)

MAKE MONEY - MONEY GOALS

Last updated March 28, 2024 | By FinanceBuzz Editors

You’ve got just enough money in your bank account to last until Friday … but then Monday rolls around, and you’re in the same situation. Again.

Food. Bills. Rent. Gas. They dry up every bit of your take-home pay.

But it doesn’t have to be this hard. With a few smart moves, you could supplement your income — without doing much extra “work,” or even getting a side job!

Here’s what to do:

Stop overpaying when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

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Pay no interest until 2025

Imagine getting an introductory 15 months with 0% interest on a big purchase or balance transfer (APR then 17.24% - 28.24% Variable). Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with one of the industry-leading no-interest cards — the Discover it® Cash Back(Rates and fees).

Cardholders get a generous intro APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases — that means you can cover bills, large purchases, or whatever you need to charge and not pay interest until 2025!

If you want to kick high-interest credit card debt to the curb, this is one of the leading get-out-of-debt cards available. Transfer your high interest debt to this card with a 0% intro APR for 15 months on balance transfers. Your payments can go directly to paying down your balance without incurring a pile of additional charges. That could save you hundreds of dollars in interest!

The best part? The Discover it® Cash Back card is accepted by 99% of merchants, boasts an exceptional cash back rewards rate, and there's no annual fee.

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Ask this company to pay off your credit card debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief is designed specifically to help you get out of credit card debt faster, without having to make drastic life changes. With National Debt Relief, you could pay off your credit card debt (with potentially way less interest) in one simple monthly payment.2

How to get National Debt Relief to pay off your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can immediately assist you in paying off your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

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Get $50 off and 1 month free with this home warranty

True: You do NOT have to buy a new home in order to get a powerful home warranty. Here’s why …

Choice Home Warranty allows nearly any eligible homeowner to purchase a warranty through them and start protecting their home systems and appliances right away. Home warranties can protect things like your AC, electrical system, dishwasher, fridge, and more when using insurance isn’t an option.

This could easily save you $1,000s of dollars every year … for not much money at all. If you’ve ever had some sort of issue pop up at home, getting this warranty is almost a no-brainer. (It’s crazy how many people aren’t taking advantage of this.)

Choice Home Warranty has serviced over 1 million homes, and operates 24/7/365 — if something covered breaks down, just go online or call to get the process started.3 Even better … for a limited time, get $50 off and 1 month free when you sign up through FinanceBuzz.

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Unlock up to $1,070 value over the next year with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Discover it® Cash Back(Rates and fees)card has no annual fee, andDiscover will match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year. This generous welcome offer and the top-notch cash back rewards provides an estimated $1,070 value in the first year!

The excellent $1,070 first-year value is estimated through the FinanceBuzz Credit Card Rewards Valuation Model based on spending, the welcome bonus, and the annual fee. The actual value will be determined by how much and in which categories you spend, but this card makes racking up valuable rewards easy! Earn 5% cash back at different places each quarter up to the quarterly maximum when you activate, including gas stations, grocery stores, and restaurants. Plus, you'll earn 1% cash back on all other purchases automatically. The welcome offer combined with the up to 5% cash back reward rate could be worth up to 10% cash back!

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then APR 17.24% - 28.24% Variable. To top it all off, the Discover it® Cash Back is accepted by 99% of merchants, and there's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now for the Discover it® Cash Back.

Stop Overpaying When You Shop Online

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7 Things To Do If You’re Barely Scraping By Financially (2024)

FAQs

What to do when you're barely scraping by financially? ›

Although they may seem intimidating, they can have a significant impact on how much cash is flowing into—and out of—a budget.
  1. Negotiate a Higher Salary. ...
  2. Switch to a Higher-Paying Job. ...
  3. Get a Second Job. ...
  4. Discuss Having a Stay-at-Home Parent Go Back to Work. ...
  5. Move to a Cheaper Home. ...
  6. Take in Roommates. ...
  7. Relocate to a Cheaper Area.

What to do if you completely run out of money? ›

6 Things to Do When You Run Out of Money
  1. #1: Prioritize Your Spending. ...
  2. #2: Pay your most important bills and let the ones you can do without go. ...
  3. #3: Cut down on your spending.
  4. #4: Consider government benefits. ...
  5. #5: Make some extra money. ...
  6. #6 Avoid borrowing. ...
  7. Conclusion.
Aug 23, 2022

How to turn your life around financially? ›

39 Ways to Improve Your Personal Finances
  1. Get your overspending under control. ...
  2. Create a new budget. ...
  3. Find a budgeting app you like. ...
  4. Make a will. ...
  5. Protect your savings from inflation. ...
  6. Prepare for rising interest rates. ...
  7. Prepare now for your next major life event. ...
  8. Boost your retirement savings.

How to make $5000 fast? ›

18 Best Ways To Make $5,000 Fast
  1. Sell Stuff You Own.
  2. Online Freelancing.
  3. Food Delivery Gigs.
  4. Complete Odd Jobs For Cash.
  5. Start An Online Business.
  6. Borrow The Money.
  7. Rent Out Assets For Cash.
  8. Flip Stuff For Money.
May 1, 2024

How to make 10 dollars fast? ›

What jobs pay $10 daily or instantly? Popular jobs and gigs that pay daily or instantly include mobile apps for ridesharing (Uber, Lyft), delivery services (DoorDash, Instacart, Amazon Flex), courier services (Uber Flash, Roadie), task services (Handy, Takl, TaskRabbit) and freelance work (Fiverr, Upwork).

How can I spend money without going broke? ›

7 money management tips to ensure you'll never be broke
  1. Put it away for a rainy day. Start by putting a portion of your money aside as savings. ...
  2. Awareness is key. ...
  3. Come up with a budget … and stick to it! ...
  4. Fight the urge to splurge. ...
  5. Stay clear of the danger zone. ...
  6. Cheap thrills. ...
  7. Reward yourself.
Sep 30, 2019

What to do when you run out of money for the month? ›

I need money now. Where can I borrow from fast?
  1. Emergency credit. We do not recommend payday loans or other forms of high-cost credit. ...
  2. Credit unions. Credit unions are local, member-owned alternatives to banks. ...
  3. Grants. ...
  4. Trust funds. ...
  5. Help from your local council. ...
  6. Track down money you have missed out on.

What happens to the elderly that have no money? ›

Seniors who reside in an assisted living facility and run out of funds will be evicted. Elderly individuals who are unable to turn to family for financial support and have no money can become a ward of the state. This may be the case if the senior develops a health emergency and is no longer able to live alone.

Can I live without cash? ›

Because living cash-free is a huge commitment, you will want to make sure that your essential needs can still be met without money. For example, if you or a family member tend to require frequent medical care or prescription medications, living without money may not be a good option for you.

Where to start when you are broke? ›

Surviving on a tight budget during an emergency

Using a notebook or budgeting app to track your expenses, look for spending patterns to see your full financial picture and find ways cut back. Subscriptions for a gym membership, Hulu, Netflix, and Spotify can be a good place to start tightening your budget.

Is it normal to struggle financially? ›

For many Americans, financial concerns are ever present, especially given the uncertainties of today's economy. While worrying doesn't solve much, having a plan to manage financial challenges can help ease some of the stress.

Why am I struggling so bad financially? ›

It may be that you have too much credit card debt, not enough income, or you overspend on unnecessary purchases when you feel stressed or anxious. Or perhaps, it's a combination of problems. Make a separate plan for each one.

How do you overcome financial shame? ›

How to overcome money shame
  1. Share how you feel about money. It isn't always easy to talk about money. ...
  2. Understand your money triggers. Think about what's behind your money shame. ...
  3. Focus on ways to move forward. As you explore what you're feeling, think about how you can change the narrative.
Jun 6, 2023

Why am I always broke financially? ›

If you have credit card debt or other high interest debt, this can make you feel like you are broke because you are sending so much of your money to creditors. You're paying interest, of course, but your current income is also going toward past purchases so you don't have as much to spend today.

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