Being poor is nothing to be ashamed of.Taking control of your expenses will allow you to float away from this dark cloud.Don't spend more than you earn is a simple rule.Staying physically and mentally healthy, shopping smart, and taking a hard look at your finances will help you get back on track.
Step 1: Stay healthy.
If you get sick, you will not survive as a poor person.You may have to take work off if you are sick, compounding your financial situation.Maintaining a strong immune system can be accomplished by eating balanced meals each day.A good diet includes grains, fruits, and vegetables.It is not necessary to include a small amount of protein at every meal.You can eat healthy on a budget.The US Department of Agriculture has online recipes.
Step 2: You can spend time with friends and family.
Being with people who care for you will help you realize that you are still a good person despite being poor.You should make time for your family and friends to affirm that you are important.Psychic resilience is built by strong social support systems.When you know you have friends and family to rely on, you will be less likely to feel anxious, worried, or depressed.
Step 3: It's important to plan for the future.
It is hard to see anything outside of your immediate circumstances when you are poor.Paying the rent, electric bill, car insurance, and so on is what you are focused on.The threat of one of these costs pushing you further into financial ruin can distract you from planning for tomorrow.There is always a new day tomorrow.Stress can be alleviated by focusing on and planning for better days ahead.Don't worry about what could happen.It won't help you change your current situation if you focus on things you did wrong.You should envision yourself in 5, 10, and 15 years.Where do you think you will live?What kind of work will you do?You can invite your friend to do the same by sharing your thoughts.Try to find something positive each day that you can look forward to.Don't just think about how desperately you want to get out of work every day, try to make it something different.Some of the things you look forward to after a day are meeting a friend for a bike ride or taking your child to the playground.
Step 4: Be aware of your own abilities.
People living in poverty rate themselves low on self-efficacy, their own beliefs about what they can and cannot do.Accept the things you can't change.You have become poor, but it isn't the end of the world.You will come out of your situation better and stronger.Challenge negative thoughts.Do not dwell on the thought that you are no good or poor.Don't say, "I am a good person and many people like being around me" or "Someday I will be financially independent."Like everyone else, you are a fallible person.Mistakes do not define you, they are just bumps in your life path.Positive self-talk can be used to forgive yourself.Say to yourself, "I made a mistake, but I am still a good person."
Step 5: Exercise self-control.
People in poverty find it harder to control their impulses.You are often in need of financial and material help immediately.Think about times when you didn't exercise self-control.You might have been tempted to drink or eat to make you feel better.If you were struggling with poverty, you might have lost your temper more than before.Try to become aware of times when you lose control and take positive steps to reign yourself in.Try to find positive things to do.If you want to have a drink or blow up someone, go for a run or bike ride.You can paint a picture or play a musical instrument.Get some rest.6 to 8 hours of sleep is important for thinking clearly and deliberately.When you are well-rested, you will be able to exercise self-control.Stick to a regular bed time.
Step 6: You can either repair or refresh what you have.
cobblers, hardware stores, and electronics repair shops are available for hire.If you want to invest in a whole new couch, have it reupholstered.If you want to extend the life of your TV, take it to the repair shop.If a new household purchase is unavoidable, save money slowly in order to purchase the item you need.Rent-to-own options are not advisable.Rent-to-own furniture or electronic equipment can be paid in small installments over a long period of time.It will cost you more in the long run if you just paid the whole amount at once.If you want to keep your out-of-style clothes, try mixing and matching them with your other clothes.
Step 7: Seek bargains.
You can save by checking supermarket flyers, factory outlets and thrift stores.If you want to save time, try to find stores that offer price-matching sales so that you can bring in competitors' ads instead of going to the stores which offer the best deals.Look at prices carefully.If you look closely at shelf tags in the grocery store, you can see direct price comparisons.The price of one brand of juice might be $1 per liter, while another might cost less.If possible, choose the less expensive choice.
Step 8: Purchase food in bulk.
Buying in bulk means you pay by the pound for one large bag of something instead of buying several smaller pre-measured packages of the same foodstuff.This will lower your grocery costs.The rate per pound will be lower since grocers can move more product this way.Instead of buying three two-pound bags of rice for $2 each, you could buy a seven pound bag for $5 and get more food for less money.You can buy rice, beans, and vegetables in bulk at ethnic grocery stores.
Step 9: When you can, buy the economy size.
When buying more of a product, you will pay less per unit of measure.Many grocery stores offer a one pound box of cereals for $3 per pound, or a larger box for less money.The difference will save you more in the long run.Even though the total cost of the larger box is more expensive, you are getting more cereals for your money.
Step 10: Before you go shopping, make a shopping list.
When you go to the grocery store, shop consciously.You will have a plan when you visit the grocery store, and won't just wander around the store looking at things that are not really needed.Go to the checkout and get the items on your shopping list.Look for more spartan shops.The experience at a grocery store is one of the things you pay for.If you are trying to survive being poor, Whole Foods is not the best place to shop.
Step 11: You can take advantage of the local food banks.
A food bank is an organization run by a church, homeless shelter or community aid organization that gives food to those in need.Many churches and community aid organizations offer free or low cost community dinners.If your church has weekly spaghetti dinners, soup kitchens, or other events where meals are provided to the general public, you should call them.
Step 12: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is available.
Low-income individuals and families can receive nutrition assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.The program is provided by the US Department of Agriculture.If you are 60 years old or older, you can have up to $3,250 in total household bank accounts.Supplemental Security Income, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and most retirement plans do not count against the total financial resources used to determine whether you qualify.Eligibility is determined by the amount of income you make.Look for your state's public assistance office.A full list of such offices and the online applications of states which offer them are available at http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/apply.You can fill in the paperwork, submit it online, or print it.Response times can be different by state.You can call your local SNAP hotline with the list: http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/state-informationhotline-numbers.Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits can only be used for food purchases.Pet foods, soaps, household supplies, vitamins and medicines, alcohol, and hot foods cannot be purchased with SNAP benefits.
Step 13: You can sign up for the program.
The goal of the program is to improve the health of elderly people by providing them with healthy foods.Similar to other nutrition assistance programs, the program is administered by the US Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service.Contact your local human resources office to sign up for CSFP.The USDA has a database of food distribution contacts.
Step 14: There are benefits for women, infants, and children.
If you're a low-income mother, you may be eligible for benefits.The program is publicly funded and administered by the US Department of Agriculture.juices, milk, breakfast cereals, cheese, eggs, fruits and vegetables, whole wheat bread, canned fish, peanut butter, and legumes are some of the foods given to people who qualify for the program.Call your local public assistance office to apply for the program.
Step 15: You can apply for public housing.
Section 8 vouchers and public housing are designed to give low-income people more affordable housing options.The programs are overseen by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.Tenants in public housing pay a small percentage of their income to subsidize their rent.It's important to limit your housing costs in this way.You must earn 80% or less of the average local income to be eligible for public housing.You can apply for public housing in your state if you contact your local HUD office.If you apply for affordable housing, you may be put on a waiting list.
Step 16: You can open an account with the credit union.
Don't invest in banks.Compared to banks, credit unions have lower fees, higher savings rates and lower loan rates.Credit unions have lower minimum account balance requirements than banks.
Step 17: Don't cash your checks at check cashing services.
You can take a percentage out of your check at these places.Over time, this will leave you with less income.The check cashing service takes 5% of the check if you cash a $100 check each week.It adds up quickly, but it doesn't seem like much.By the end of the year, it will be five dollars per week.
Step 18: Don't use automatic debit services from your bank.
People on the edge are more likely to have overdrawn accounts.Late fees and charges are caused by this.Financial control will be returned to you if you end automatic debit for utilities, rent, and other regular costs.
Step 19: You can live within your means.
There are steps you can take to reduce your financial risks when you are living on a fixed income.Paying off the balance on your credit cards and loans is more important than taking out a new credit card.Make a budget for the household.You can calculate your household's total income in one column.This includes revenue from everyone in your house.Then figure out your household's total expenses.The costs accumulated by children and pets as well as you and any other adults in the house should be considered.The income total should be subtracted from the expenses.Try to find a way to increase your income if the expenses exceed the income.Before buying anything, ask yourself if it's really necessary.If you are not so poor, put it back on the shelf.
Step 20: If possible, don't rely on a single income stream.
Full-time jobs are very rare.To make ends meet, you will have to cobble together a work schedule consisting of multiple part-time jobs.It can be difficult to juggle two or even three work schedules, but such an arrangement will ensure you always have a source of income.If one job doesn't provide an adequate amount of hours in a given week or month, you'll already have your other job to fall back on.If you think you can work more hours, request them.Employees who are eager to work are great for employers.If you can't find more time in your schedule to work due to the presence of small children, ask a trusted relative or neighbor to look after them.If you have a hard time finding transportation to get to a place of work, ask your friends and family to give you a ride.You can check local public transit options as well.If you can't take on more work at your current place of employment, ask for a raise.If you have been on the job for a year, you are more likely to get a raise.
Step 21: You should keep an eye out for better work opportunities.
If you work at a restaurant that pays 10 bucks an hour and the restaurant up the street pays 11 bucks, you should consider leaving.You don't have to feel bad about leaving a job.You are just looking out for your own economic interests.
Step 22: Financial advice can be obtained from a consultant.
If you're in debt, you might want to talk to a debt counselor.Debt counselors can help you get under control of your debt.A financial advisor, a specially trained economic expert who helps individuals utilize and save their money in the most efficient way possible, could also be of assistance to you.Financial advisors can teach you how to budget.They can be reached over the phone or online.You should be on the lookout for credit counseling fraud.Do not allow any agency to add you as an authorized user on another bank account, or obtain an Employer Identification Number for you, because they are in fact in the business of preying on economically vulnerable individuals, and charge lots of fees.