6 Things You Should Be Doing If You're Broke - Healthy Wealthy Skinny (2024)

Being broke sucks! Not having the money you need to purchase the things that you need or want can be frustrating and overwhelming.

The good news is, you can make changes that can get you out of this bad financial situation.

If you are broke and living paycheck to paycheck or direct deposit to direct deposit there are things you should definitely be doing to change your financial situation.

In this blog post, discover 6 things you should be doing if you’re broke.

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6 Things You Should Be Doing If You're Broke - Healthy Wealthy Skinny (1)

(1) Changing the Way You Think

This might sound odd but one of the first things you should be doing if you’re broke is changing the way you think.

Chances are you have been struggling with your finances for quite some time. Your problem could stem from how you think about money and your finances.

The way you think about money shapes your emotions and your actions. Changing the way you think will help you break bad money habits and help you make good money decisions.

(2) Evaluating Your Situation

Taking a good honest look at your situation is essential to changing your financial situation. There are multiple reasons you can be broke during periods of your life.

Are you spending too much money?

Are you unemployed?

Do you have issues with saving money?

All of these can contribute to being broke. Take the time to evaluate your financial situation.

Look at your situation objectively and without emotion and determine the areas of your finances that require a change.

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(3) Reducing Expenses

Reducing your expenses will go a long way towards not being broke.

Tracking your spending and making a budget is one of the first steps to reducing your expenses. It’s hard to spend less if you don’t know where your money is going.

Once you have established your budget you can investigate ways to reduce your expenses and stretch your budget.

Believe it or not, there are ways to save money on groceries, save on items for your kids, and just about all of the necessities of life.

With a little planning, you will be managing your personal finances like a pro.

Download a copy of our free Monthly 50/30/20 Budget Worksheet. It’s a free excel spreadsheet to help you create and maintain your budget.

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(4) Saving Money

Now you might be thinking, “how can I save money if I’m broke?”

Saving money when you’re broke is just a matter of making saving a priority. It is not easy, however, it is an essential element to your personal finance strategy.

Putting aside even a small amount each paycheck will make a very big difference.

Saving money and creating an emergency fund is one of the first steps you should take when putting together your financial plans. Your emergency fund will ensure that you have funds available when unexpected expenses arise. It will also protect you from going into debt.

(5) Making Extra Money

If you are broke you should definitely be looking for ways to make extra money.

Depending on your situation this might be by finding a job, working for a promotion on your current job or starting a side hustle that will help you add additional income.

There are multiple ways to make extra money online. Some yield immediate returns like taking online surveys, testing websites, or teaching English online.

There are other methods that require more time and effort, however, they yield much bigger results. Here are a few ways to make extra money without getting a traditional job.

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(6) Spending Wisely

Learning to spend wisely will ensure that you make the most of your income. It will help you make the most of your budget and help with saving money.

Comparison shopping, using cashback apps, and shopping online are just a few ways to spend wisely when you’re broke.

Here are a few articles that will teach you how to spend wisely when you’re broke.

  • 50 Frugal Foods to Buy When You’re Broke
  • 10 Items You Should Never Buy at the Dollar Store

Taking Action

The hardest step is always the first step.

If you are broke it is imperative that just get started. It might seem impossible at first but you can change your financial situation.

Living broke will be a thing of the past if you simply take action.

Leave a comment and share your best practices for staying financially healthy.

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6 Things You Should Be Doing If You're Broke - Healthy Wealthy Skinny (2024)

FAQs

How do you manage money when you are broke? ›

Budgeting When You're Broke
  1. Avoid Immediate Disasters. ...
  2. Review Credit Card Payments and Due Dates. ...
  3. Prioritizing Bills. ...
  4. Ignore the 10% Savings Rule, For Now. ...
  5. Review Your Past Month's Spending. ...
  6. Negotiate Credit Card Interest Rates. ...
  7. Eliminate Unnecessary Expenses. ...
  8. Journal New Budget for One Month.

How do you budget when you're broke? ›

How to Create a Budget With a Low Income
  1. Step 1: List your income. Every budget starts with your income, no matter how much you make. ...
  2. Step 2: List your expenses. ...
  3. Step 3: Subtract your expenses from your income. ...
  4. Cut out extras. ...
  5. Skip the restaurants. ...
  6. Don't buy new clothes. ...
  7. Sell your stuff. ...
  8. Save money on expenses.
Oct 17, 2023

What to do when you're really broke? ›

Fun things to do when broke: 13 Ideas
  1. Go for a bike ride. It's not a secret that spending time out in nature is a great thing you can do for your health. ...
  2. Have a picnic in the park. ...
  3. Go on a hike. ...
  4. Take a walk with a podcast. ...
  5. Watch the sunrise. ...
  6. Go to the library. ...
  7. Bake or cook a new recipe. ...
  8. Go to a museum's free day.
May 7, 2023

How do you survive going broke? ›

Financial experts: 4 tips on how to cope with financial loss in a bleak economy
  1. Build up cash. ...
  2. Pay down your debt. ...
  3. Start investing in stocks. ...
  4. Live below your means. ...
  5. Start reversing bad habits. ...
  6. Face the inevitable. ...
  7. Let go of the idea of scarcity.
Dec 5, 2023

What is the 50/30/20 rule? ›

Do not subtract other amounts that may be withheld or automatically deducted, like health insurance or retirement contributions. Those will become part of your budget. The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings.

What is the 60 20 20 rule? ›

Put 60% of your income towards your needs (including debts), 20% towards your wants, and 20% towards your savings.

How to live on very little money? ›

Here are a few other tips and tricks for surviving on a low income:
  1. Look for free and low-cost activities. ...
  2. Ask for a raise. ...
  3. Start a side hustle. ...
  4. Replace costly habits with inexpensive ones. ...
  5. Plan sequenced reward opportunities. ...
  6. Create accountability. ...
  7. Seek out low-cost alternatives to your hobbies.
Sep 14, 2022

How to live off low income? ›

Many financial experts recommend the 50-20-30 rule for low-income families. Spend 50% of your income on food, medical, and housing needs. Use 20% on saving an emergency fund and paying down outstanding debt. Then use 30% for all other expenses.

How to go from broke to financially free? ›

How to Achieve Financial Freedom
  1. Learn How to Budget.
  2. Get Debt Out of Your Life—For Good.
  3. Set Financial Goals.
  4. Be Smart About Your Career Choice.
  5. Save Money for Emergencies.
  6. Plan for Big Purchases.
  7. Invest for Your Retirement Future.
  8. Look for Ways to Save Money.
Feb 2, 2024

What to do when you're broke with no job? ›

Filing for unemployment, credit cards, lines of credit, prioritizing bill payments, and state assistance programs are just some of the options available that can help you manage your bills while you're between incomes.

How to entertain yourself when you're broke? ›

So if you're looking for activities that are fun and free, consider these 10 ways to entertain yourself.
  1. See What Your Community Has to Offer. ...
  2. Work on Your Family Tree. ...
  3. Do Some Good in the World. ...
  4. Work on Your Garden. ...
  5. Reconnect With a Friend or Family Member. ...
  6. Take a Nature Hike. ...
  7. Check Out Library Events. ...
  8. Go On a Picnic.

How to get money fast? ›

How to make money fast
  1. Become a rideshare driver. ...
  2. 2. Make deliveries. ...
  3. Take surveys. ...
  4. Pet sit. ...
  5. Sell clothes and accessories online. ...
  6. Sell unused gift cards. ...
  7. Earn a bank bonus. ...
  8. Help others with simple, everyday tasks.

How to save money when you are poor? ›

SHARE:
  1. Focus on small changes in various budget categories.
  2. Automate your savings into a high-yield savings account.
  3. Earn interest on your checking account.
  4. Use those three-payday months to save more.
  5. Keep a budget.
  6. Shop around for insurance rates.
  7. Refinance your mortgage.
  8. Find a way to save on rent.
Oct 19, 2023

What is the 40 30 20 rule? ›

The most common way to use the 40-30-20-10 rule is to assign 40% of your income — after taxes — to necessities such as food and housing, 30% to discretionary spending, 20% to savings or paying off debt and 10% to charitable giving or meeting financial goals.

Is saving $1000 a month good? ›

Saving $1,000 per month can be a good sign, as it means you're setting aside money for emergencies and long-term goals. However, if you're ignoring high-interest debt to meet your savings goals, you might want to switch gears and focus on paying off debt first.

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