Nearly everyone has experienced being broke at some point in their lives. When you are broke, it can be very tempting to use credit to bridge the gap until you get paid again, but in many cases, this results in soaring debt levels that can be difficult to pay off with a limited income. Instead of creating additional debt, here are some tips that you can use to live somewhat comfortably when you are broke.
Be Content With Staying Home
When you do not have any additional money to spend, you may be tempted to use your credit cards to continue having fun with your friends and living the life that you are used to. Unfortunately, this is a quick path to financial devastation as debt accumulates that you cannot afford to pay off. If you are low on funds, do not be afraid to cancel your plans and stay at home instead. Your real friends will understand and may even offer to come to your home instead to do something fun and cheap together, like watch a movie or play video games. If your friends make you feel bad for bailing when you have no money, you may want to find better friends that are more understanding and compassionate.
Be Creative In The Kitchen
When you are broke, it can be hard to curb eating out when it is what you are used to doing. Instead of calling for take-out, get creative in the kitchen with items that are already in your refrigerator or pantry. There are many resources available to provide you with recipes that utilize the ingredients that you already have available. You may find that you enjoy cooking for yourself more than you imagined and will save a ton of money buying groceries instead of paying someone to prepare your food for you.
Sell Items That You Don’t Need
Most people have things around the house that they do not use often or received as a gift but never made use of. If you have some items like this cluttering up your closets or basement, consider selling them to obtain some extra cash. There are a number of outlets to sell unwanted items that are still in good condition. If you want to sell the items quickly, you can sell them at resale stores that specialize in home furnishing, electronics, sports equipment, or clothing. You can also sell the items on websites, like Amazon, eBay, or Craigslist, or at yard sales.