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

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Last updated March 11, 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.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

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 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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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

Get out of $15,000 or more in credit card debt

Credit card debt is a toxic, expensive loop. It holds you back from getting out of a financial hole or moving forward with the amazing life you envisioned for yourself. The biggest problem? The longer you put it off, the harder it gets to fix.

Delief Relief Advocates could help. If you have more than $15,000 in debt from credit cards, medical bills, collections, or personal loans, their representatives might be able to assist you in resolving it.

The best part? There are no fees until you complete your program and see results. To get started, just answer a few simple questions.

Visit Debt Relief Advocates

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

Unlock up to 10% cash back your first year with this incredible offer

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.

You can earn cash back just by using this card for your everyday purchases — 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. This is great for someone who wants to pay down debt or finance a large purchase while still earning rewards.

Accepted by 99% of merchants, if you want cash back, the Discover it® Cash Back card can help put more back in your wallet.

The best part? 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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6 Things To Do If You’re Barely Scraping By Financially (2024)

FAQs

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

Even before the global coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic fallout, an American Psychological Association (APA) study found that 72% of Americans feel stressed about money at least some of the time. The recent economic difficulties mean that even more of us are now facing financial struggles and hardship.

What to do if you are barely scraping by? ›

7 Big-Picture Life Changes to Consider
  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. ...
  8. More From LearnVest.

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.

What to do when you're running out of money? ›

Here's what to do if you have run out of emergency savings:
  1. Slash Your Budget Further. ...
  2. Sell Things You're Not Using. ...
  3. Pause Retirement Savings. ...
  4. Negotiate Bills. ...
  5. Call Lenders for Help. ...
  6. Take on a Side Hustle.

What to do when you are financially broken? ›

In this article:
  1. Identify the problem.
  2. Make a budget to help you resolve your financial problems.
  3. Lower your expenses.
  4. Pay in cash.
  5. Stop taking on debt to avoid aggravating your financial problems.
  6. Avoid buying new.
  7. Meet with your advisor to discuss your financial problems.
  8. Increase your income.
Jan 29, 2024

Is it normal to struggle financially? ›

Even before the global coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic fallout, an American Psychological Association (APA) study found that 72% of Americans feel stressed about money at least some of the time. The recent economic difficulties mean that even more of us are now facing financial struggles and hardship.

Is anyone else struggling financially? ›

If you are facing financial stress right now, you are not alone. According to a recent Ramsey Solutions study, 34% of survey respondents indicated that they were either facing financial struggles or were actively in crisis.

What is a hardship loan? ›

A hardship loan is a loan to cover an unexpected financial shortfall, either because your expenses went up or your income went down. Hardship loans are not like other loans that are designed to meet an expected or planned need (like a car loan or a business expansion loan).

What is a financial hardship? ›

You are in financial hardship if you have difficulty paying your bills and repayments on your loans and debts when they are due. Under credit law you have rights when you are in financial hardship . This page explains your rights and obligations under the law.

What are the 5 foundations in order? ›

Q-Chat
  • Save a $500 emergency fund.
  • Get out of debt.
  • Pay cash for your car.
  • Pay cash for college.
  • Build wealth and give.

How do you restart financially? ›

5 simple ways to reset your budget right now
  1. Try a no spend week. It may sound small, but just seven days without making a purchase can significantly impact your finances. ...
  2. Take away temptation. ...
  3. Revisit recurring payments. ...
  4. Save without thinking. ...
  5. Find an accountability partner.

How do I start financially again? ›

How to get finances back on track
  1. Set a budget and stay organised. ...
  2. Look at balance transfer cards. ...
  3. Try and pay more on your credit cards. ...
  4. Reduce your loans and overdrafts. ...
  5. Switch account providers. ...
  6. Don't fall for pay-later schemes. ...
  7. Picture your goals. ...
  8. Plan for unexpected events.

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. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals.

What does barely scrape by mean? ›

1. : to live with barely enough money : to be able to buy only the things most needed. Money was tight, but we somehow managed to scrape by. 2. : to succeed at doing something but just barely.

Why don t I have enough money? ›

A lack of awareness of how to have to use the money you've got; how to save it, how to invest it, how to avoid bad debt. For example credit cards; spending money on credit cards on things you can't afford or things that have got zero value or just disappear very quickly, like going on a holiday.

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