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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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.

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Earn 20,000 bonus points ($200 cash value) for a limited time with this incredible card

Get excited!An already fantastic travel card just got even better — The Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card(Rates and fees)now has a powerfullimited-time offer giving you the opportunity to earn 20,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 in the first 3 months. That's a$200 cash redemption value!

Here's what makes this card unique: Travel credit cards generally don’t have intro APR offers, but the Autograph Card offers a 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from account opening, then 20.24%, 25.24%, or 29.99% Variable. Plus, this bonus offer could be easy to hit depending on your spending habits.

The Autograph Card turns everyday purchases into lucrative rewards that can be redeemed for travel, gift cards, and more. Cardholders canearn unlimited 3x points on restaurants, travel, gas stations, transit, popular streaming services, and phone plans; plus earn 1x points on other purchases.

All this ... with NO annual fee!

It can be hard to find another option that provides so much earning potential with no annual fee. With this card, you can really rack up points quickly so you can start traveling more. Note that you’ll need good or excellent credit (typically 670 or higher) to qualify.

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

6 Things To Do If You’re Barely Scraping By Financially? ›

If your current budget doesn't balance or you're barely scraping by, you may need to look at working overtime, getting a second job, or possibly getting a new, higher-paying job. Often there is work that pays more, but the nature of the work is unattractive.

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

If your current budget doesn't balance or you're barely scraping by, you may need to look at working overtime, getting a second job, or possibly getting a new, higher-paying job. Often there is work that pays more, but the nature of the work is unattractive.

What to do if you're financially struggling? ›

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.

How do you prioritize money if you dont have enough money? ›

How to triage your bills
  1. Take care of basic needs first. Housing and electricity are essential to your health and safety. ...
  2. Next, take care of bills that help you keep your job. ...
  3. Then think about your credit cards: These shouldn't be your highest-priority bills to pay when you're up against a wall.
Jun 6, 2023

How to stop being broke? ›

How can I stop being broke?
  1. Stop spending more than you make.
  2. Budget your monthly earnings to have money left over.
  3. Increase your earnings through higher pay or working more hours.
  4. Start acquiring assets.
  5. Stop acquiring more debt.
  6. Save up an emergency fund.
Dec 21, 2022

How to get 1 month ahead on bills? ›

How Do I Get a Month Ahead?
  1. Create a budget (it needs to be a zero-based one to give you an accurate picture).
  2. Fund your expenses for this month.
  3. Once you can fund expenses for this month, start funding expenses for next month.
  4. Rinse and repeat. ...
  5. Experience the blissful peace of getting a month ahead with your budget.

How to prove financial hardship? ›

Lenders may ask you for evidence of your hardship, like a doctor's certificate or termination notice. Lenders may also ask for bank statements and evidence of income. They may also ask for a money plan or an income and expenses form. A free financial counsellor can help.

How do I turn my life around financially? ›

Browse through each to determine if there's room for improvement or if you are good to go:
  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.

What do you call someone who is financially struggling? ›

bankrupt exhausted impoverished indigent insolvent needy penniless poor poverty-stricken strapped.

How do you say you are financially unstable? ›

Here are some alternative phrases that should come in handy if you have to explain your situation or turn down an invitation for financial reasons.
  1. I'm running a little low on funds.
  2. I'm feeling the pinch at the moment.
  3. I'm temporarily in the red.
  4. I'm nearly running on empty.
  5. My resources are a little depleted.
Jan 8, 2019

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.

What are 6 common budget mistakes you can t afford to make? ›

Failure to Adjust the Budget: A static budget may become outdated as your financial situation evolves. Life events such as job changes, salary increases, or unexpected expenses can impact your financial landscape. Regularly review and adjust your budget to reflect changes in income, expenses, and financial goals.

What to do when you can't make ends meet? ›

Here are some practical ways that you can make ends meet when you've lost your job or taken a pay cut.
  1. Assess your finances. ...
  2. Look for benefits. ...
  3. Consider a side hustle or part-time job. ...
  4. Cut back on expenses. ...
  5. Contact your lenders. ...
  6. Sell unused items. ...
  7. Seek financial help.
Jun 5, 2023

Is it normal to struggle financially? ›

According to data from PYMNTS, 61% of American adults live from check to check, but you don't have to exist one pay period away from catastrophe to struggle financially.

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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