Make Money

7 Things To Do If You’re Barely Scraping By Financially

Last updated July 18, 2025 | By FinanceBuzz Editors

Find creative ways to earn cash during your free time

  1. Thrift and flip: Head to local thrift stores, estate sales, or pursue free listings online. With a little skill and elbow grease, you could repurpose old furniture and other goods and sell them locally or online.
  2. Do work for older neighbors or family: From mowing the lawn to helping replace light bulbs, chances are there is someone nearby who could use your help. Beyond making a few extra bucks, they are sure to love the company.
  3. Haul large items with your truck: If you drive a pickup, you could advertise haul-away or large item delivery services in your area on sites like Craigslist.
  4. Pick up photography: You don’t need to have an official business or work weddings for this side gig. Head out to festivals, nightclubs, or popular areas in your city and offer to take people’s photos. Then airdrop or email the photos of your subjects for a small fee.

Ask this company to pay off high interest credit card debt (not everyone is eligible)

If you’re struggling to decide which bills to pay this month and also pay the rent on time, this could be a solution.

This program can help you pay off your credit card debt for possibly less than you owe. You’d be shocked by the difference. Say you owe around $30,000 in debt. You might just feel stuck with it. That’s just what you owe, and you have to pay it all, right? Wrong.

When you join this program you could significantly reduce your debt and be debt-free in 48 months.

In fact over 550,000 Americans have resolved $11.5 billion in debt through this BBB A+ rated program since 2009.

If you’re ready to get out of debt for good, take a few minutes to see if you’re eligible.

You might be eligible if you check these 3 boxes:

  1. You owe $30,000 or more in debt
  2. You have a job or source of income
  3. You are ready to be debt free

See if you're eligible for this debt relief program

You’ll hardly believe you waited so long to do something like this. Seriously, just check it out.

Virginia Driver? Cancel your car insurance

Driving without car insurance is illegal, but if you do this, you’re not actually breaking the law.

This tool can help you see if you’re overpaying for car insurance in just a few clicks. You’d be shocked by the difference. $159 per month is what they wanted to charge me. I thought that was the best price, don’t even look anywhere else. Right? Wrong.

I used this tool and now I’m able to pay just $47 a month for two cars.1Too many insurance companies do this. They push up our rates and make us pay even more. But if you want to try this tool and compare and potentially score same-day savings, here’s what to do:

  1. Click the link below and enter your zip code, date of birth, and phone number.
  2. Answer a few questions about your car’s make and model to get matched with top offers.
  3. Choose the best quote for you and lock it in before rates go up.

Compare rates now and see if you could score same-day savings today!

I can hardly believe I waited so long to do this, but I’m glad I finally did. It only took me two minutes. Super fast. You have to trust me on this. Just try it out.

Pay no interest on balance transfers until 2027

Imagine getting an intro 0% APR for 21 months from date of account opening on balance transfers (APR then 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable)). Sounds great — right? You could dramatically change your financial picture with this industry-leading low-interest card - the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card.

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 21 months from date of account opening, then a 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable) APR (balance transfers must be completed within 4 months of account opening). 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 just stop with balance transfers, though. Cardholders also get a generous intro APR of 0% for 12 months from date of account opening on purchases. After the intro period for purchases and balance transfers, the APR is 17.24% - 27.99% (Variable).

The best part? There's no annual fee with the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card(Rates and fees).

Click here to Apply Now to the Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card

Don’t pay a CENT to contractors for home repairs until you do this

Sounds crazy. And maybe you’re not even sure if this is real. But … you’re probably curious anyway. Choice Home Warranty makes it so you might be able to save $100s in home repairs!

They’ve been around since 2008 (so you know they’re legit) and they offer affordable plans to cover appliances and systems in your home that could break down from routine wear and tear.

Think of it like this: Say your air conditioning unit breaks down during a heatwave. Instead of paying $1,500 for repairs, you may only need to pay a $100 service fee with Choice Home Warranty, and their techs come and fix it ASAP. This could save you $1,400 almost instantly!

Choose a plan here and you can still lock in their ultra-low 2024 rates (for a limited time). Then, whenever a covered system in your home breaks down, all you have to do is make your claim online or give them a call. Their team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.2

Choose a plan from Choice Home Warranty here and lock in 2024 rates

P.S. Use the links above and you’ll get $50 off and 1 month free. We don’t know how long this will last, so take advantage of it today before it disappears.

Pick up gig work from a trusted website

  1. Deliver packages with Amazon Flex: Use your own vehicle to deliver Amazon packages during your off-hours. According to Amazon, most drivers can earn between $18-$25 an hour.
  2. Do odd jobs on Taskrabbit: Sign up to be a tasker, and choose small jobs in your area in over 50+ service categories. You get to keep 100% of what you chargem, plus tips. Tasks can include moving furniture, running errands, IKEA assembly, and more.
  3. Pick up freelance microtasks: Check out a freelance platform like Upwork and look for postings for simple tasks like data entry, proofreading, image tagging, and more.
  4. Event staffing: You could pick up work for events like weddings, business conferences, or festivals. Just do a quick internet search for companies in your area. Beyond pay, some people report scoring added perks like free food for their time.

Access your home equity to cover debt — no payment or interest charges for 10 years

Struggling with debt? If you want to utilize your home equity to help pay it down, you’re probably frustrated right now. The strict qualifications of the traditional financial system have left many unable to.

But there’s another option you may not have heard of, a home equity agreement (HEA) from Unlock.

With Unlock, you could tap into up to $500,000 of your home equity and make no payments for ten years. It’s not a home equity loan, HELOC, cash-out refinance, or reverse mortgage.

An Unlock HEA is not a loan at all. Instead, it gives you cash in exchange for a portion of your home’s future value:

  • Access up to $500,000 of your home’s equity.
  • No payments or interest charges for ten years.
  • Not subject to traditional interest rates.
  • Minimum credit score: 500+.

You can verify your property value and equity in 60 seconds — and with no impact on your credit score: Start by entering your property address here.

And don’t worry — Unlock has an A+ rating from the BBB. So see what you’re eligible for, and you could have the funds you need to end your toxic debt loop sooner than you think.

Apply for a home equity agreement with Unlock

National Debt Relief
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National Debt Relief Benefits

  • No upfront fees3
  • One-on-one evaluation with a Certified Debt Specialist
  • For people with $30,000 in unsecured debts and up
Visit National Debt Relief