| When life catches up on us and we discover that we | | | | appreciate a decent rent and so will your budget. |
| are up to our necks in debt, it suddenly dawns on us | | | | And What About Quitting Smoking? |
| that we must have done something wrong and start | | | | It is a great expense, as well as a heavy toll on your |
| wringing our hands and yanking our hair out when we | | | | health. You might be saving heavily on medical |
| begin to receive scores of unpaid bills. If the same is | | | | expenses in the future. Maybe reducing the amount of |
| happening to you, it might be useful to take note of | | | | beers or any other drink you have, just out of habit. |
| some tips to make things easier. | | | | Add everything up and you have an interesting sum. |
| The Only Possible Solution... | | | | You can also cancel the cable TV expense, |
| Is to work out a sound family budget, at least equaling | | | | membership of a club you hardly ever go to, movie |
| income with expenses, but that takes time and | | | | rentals, eating out and delivery pizza. You would be |
| besides, the flood is in our living-room, so we have to | | | | surprised at the entirely different flavor that |
| do something quick. Rake up some cash, increase | | | | homemade food has and how much you can save on |
| income and reduce expenses, but… how? | | | | it. |
| Immediate Cash | | | | Forget About Vending Machines |
| Going to ask a friend for a few bucks to pay a bill | | | | When at work, instead of buying yourself a cup of |
| would be an easy way out, but eventually we will end | | | | coffee, take a thermos flask with more coffee than |
| up by losing that friend. One of the best ways to get | | | | you can drink in a whole day, for less than the price of |
| immediate cash is to rig up a garage sale with things | | | | just one cup. Homemade lunch will also be of great |
| you do not need any more or at least just yet. There | | | | importance for saving precious money. |
| will be time in the future to purchase them again if you | | | | Extra Income |
| really want it that badly. To make a louder noise in the | | | | Be open to getting a better job, if you do not specially |
| neighborhood, one or more of your neighbors could join | | | | like the one you have, an extra job if you can find the |
| in. | | | | time or weekend jobs. If you have children, they can |
| Anything you can sell that will avoid the expense that | | | | help too, by not asking for unnecessary things, candy, |
| using it brings to you, will also be of great help: An | | | | magazines or expensive toys. |
| extra car, an old fishing row boat, you name it. Your | | | | The solution is your decision. We have just served as |
| main concern now is to gather cash and get by with | | | | a checklist of some of the possible ways to end your |
| the least family suffering. | | | | financial suffering. When everything else has been |
| A Spare Room | | | | considered, you can start thinking about debt |
| You can also consider renting out the extra room, | | | | consolidation. But until then, there is some way to go, |
| even if it is until the emergency is over. Students | | | | leaving the absolute minimum amount for a debt |
| coming in from the country or small towns will | | | | consolidation loan. |