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

MAKE MONEY - MONEY GOALS

Last updated Feb. 26, 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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Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!1

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Pay no interest on balance transfers until September 2025

Imagine getting 18 months with 0% intro APR on a balance transfer. Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with this industry-leading card - the Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees).

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 on balance transfers for 18 months. After the intro period for balance transfers, the APR is 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable). 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!

It doesn't stop with balance transfers though. Cardholders can also earn double cash back — 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases; plus, for a limited time, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked on the Citi Travel℠ portal through 12/31/24. The best part - you can redeem your cash back as direct deposit, a statement credit, or even a mailed check! You can turn your everyday purchases into cash back and make a dent in your debt, regular bills, or save for the future.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply here for the Citi Double Cash® Card(Rates and fees)

Earn cash back on everyday purchases with this rare account

Want to earn cash back on your everyday purchases without using a credit card? With the Discover®️ Cashback Debit Checking account (member FDIC), you can earn 1% cash back on up to $3,000 in debit card purchases each month!2

With no credit check to apply and no monthly fees to worry about, you can earn nearly passive income on purchases you’re making anyway — up to an extra $360 a year!

This rare checking account has other great perks too, like access to your paycheck up to 2 days early with Early Pay, no minimum deposit or monthly balance requirements, over 60K fee-free ATMs, and the ability to add cash to your account at Walmart stores nationwide.

Don’t leave money on the table — it only takes minutes to apply and it won’t impact your credit score.

Apply for a Discover Cashback Checking account today

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.

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.

Try it

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.

Get $50 off and 1 month free here

Earn $200 cash rewards bonus with this incredible card

There's a credit card that's making waves with its amazing bonus and benefits. The Wells Fargo Active Cash® Card(Rates and fees) has no annual fee and you can earn $200 after spending $500 in purchases in the first 3 months.

The Active Cash Card puts cash rewards back into your wallet. Cardholders can earn unlimited 2% cash rewards on purchases — easy! That's one of the best cash rewards options available.

This card also offers an intro APR of 0% for 15 months from account opening on purchases and qualifying balance transfers (then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable). Which is great for someone who wants a break from high interest rates, while still earning rewards.

The best part? There's no annual fee.

Click here to apply now.

Stop Overpaying When You Shop Online

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6 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're struggling financially? ›

Facing financial hardship
  1. Food assistance. ...
  2. Unemployment benefits. ...
  3. Welfare benefits or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) ...
  4. Emergency housing assistance. ...
  5. Rental assistance. ...
  6. Help with utility bills. ...
  7. Government home repair assistance programs.

What to do when you're running 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.

What to do when asset rich but cash poor? ›

Refinancing: The Golden Key

Refinancing can be your golden key, enabling you to tap into the value of your assets without selling them. It allows you to restructure your mortgage or loan terms to access equity or better suit your financial situation.

What percent of Americans are struggling financially? ›

As of this month, 36 percent of Americans reported having difficulty paying their usual household expenses, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. That figure is quite high, but it's a five-point decrease from October, when more than 41 percent of respondents reported experiencing financial hardship.

How to prove financial hardship? ›

Be prepared to show:
  1. the reason you are experiencing hardship, for example a letter from your employer or a certificate for an illness.
  2. your current income and other major financial expenses, such as other loans.
  3. what repayments you can afford.

Are Americans struggling financially right now? ›

Most Americans Are Still Struggling Post COVID-19

Contrarily, the wealthiest 20% of households still maintain cash savings at approximately 8% above pre-pandemic levels. Ultimately, with inflation taken into account, the majority of Americans are worse off financially compared with before the start of the pandemic.

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 are the 7 steps to financial freedom? ›

You can too!
  • Save $1,000 for Your Starter Emergency Fund.
  • Pay Off All Debt (Except the House) Using the Debt Snowball.
  • Save 3–6 Months of Expenses in a Fully Funded Emergency Fund.
  • Invest 15% of Your Household Income in Retirement.
  • Save for Your Children's College Fund.
  • Pay Off Your Home Early.
  • Build Wealth and Give.

Why do I struggle so much 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.

What are 10 steps to financial freedom? ›

10 Steps to Financial Success
  • Establish goals. What do you want to do with your money? ...
  • Evaluate your current financial situation. ...
  • Create a spending and savings plan. ...
  • Establish an emergency savings fund. ...
  • Seek advice and do research. ...
  • Make sure you're covered. ...
  • Establish a good credit history. ...
  • Delete your debt.

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

How do I get unstuck financially? ›

Take time to think about what matters most to you. Your financial advisor can help you make a plan to bring these goals to life. Getting financially unstuck usually starts with understanding why you're stuck in the first place. You can then lean on your financial team to find your way through it.

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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