9 Clever Things To Do If You’re Scraping By Financially

If you're scraping by financially, it can feel like you're constantly playing defense.

The paycheck comes in, the bills get paid, and somehow there's barely anything left over. And when you're already stretched thin, advice like “just save more money” isn't particularly helpful.

Sometimes you need to find an extra $100, $500, or even $1,000 a month just to create some breathing room.

The good news is there are plenty of small moves that can help. Some can lower your monthly expenses. Others can help you make extra money. And a few can do both.

Here are nine clever things to try if you're struggling to make ends meet.

1. Create A Strict Household Budget

First, figure out exactly where your money is going. I know budgeting isn't exactly exciting, but if you're scraping by, you need to know your numbers.

Start by listing your monthly income and your essential expenses:

• Rent or mortgage
• Utilities
• Groceries
• Transportation
• Insurance
• Debt payments
• Phone
• Internet
• Other recurring bills

Then look at everything else you're spending money on.

Coffee runs, takeout, shopping, entertainment and random Amazon purchases can add up surprisingly quickly.

You don't necessarily need to eliminate all of these things. But you should know how much they're costing you. A simple budget can also help you identify your biggest problem areas.

If you're spending $600 a month on groceries and takeout, that's a much bigger opportunity than trying to save $5 here and there.

The goal isn't to make your life miserable 👉 It's to get control of your cash flow.

2. Cancel Unused Subscriptions

This is one of the easiest ways to cut expenses because there's a good chance you're paying for things you barely use.

Go through your bank and credit card statements and look for recurring charges. You might find subscriptions you completely forgot about.

Streaming services are an obvious example, but don't stop there. Check for:

• Fitness apps
• Software subscriptions
• Cloud storage
• Gaming subscriptions
• Premium memberships
• Meal delivery services
• News subscriptions
• Apps with monthly fees

Even cutting $50 in recurring expenses saves you $600 per year.

And unlike picking up extra work, once you cancel the expense, you don't have to keep working to save that money every month.

3. Make Money With GPT Apps

If you're looking for ways to make some extra money from your phone, GPT apps can be worth exploring.

GPT stands for “get-paid-to.” These apps generally reward you for completing activities such as surveys, offers, research studies, games and other online tasks.

A few worth checking out include:

• TopSurveys: A survey platform where you can get paid with surveys and by playing fun games.
• Freecash: Offers surveys, games, app offers and other ways to earn.
• Branded Surveys: Focuses primarily on paid surveys and rewards.
• Kashkick: Lets users earn rewards from surveys and other online activities.

These aren't replacements for a full-time income, and your earnings can vary based on your location, demographics and the available offers.

But if you're already sitting around watching TV or scrolling on your phone, you might as well see if you can turn some of that spare time into a little extra cash.

I recommend testing several apps rather than relying on just one. That way, you can figure out which platforms consistently have the best opportunities for you.

4. Sell Stuff Around Your House

One of the fastest ways to come up with some extra cash is to sell things you already own.

Most of us have a surprising amount of stuff sitting around that we don't use. Look through your closets, garage, basement and storage areas. You might find:

• Old electronics
• Furniture
• Clothing
• Tools
• Video games
• Sporting equipment
• Kitchen appliances
• Collectibles
• Unused gift cards

Facebook Marketplace, eBay and local classifieds can all be useful depending on what you're selling. And don't overthink it.

If you haven't used something in a year and wouldn't replace it if it disappeared tomorrow, there's a decent chance it's worth considering for sale.

You won't just make some money. You'll also get rid of clutter.

5. Negotiate Lower Bills

When money is tight, don't assume your current bills are set in stone.

Call your providers and ask if there's anything they can do to lower your monthly cost.

Insurance is one place to start. Get quotes from other providers and see whether you can find a better rate.

You can also negotiate your internet bill. Ask whether there are cheaper plans or promotions available.

The same goes for your phone plan. You may be paying for more data or features than you actually need. It's worth spending an hour reviewing these expenses because they're recurring bills.

If you manage to save $50 per month, that's $600 back in your pocket every year. And if you save $100 per month, you've freed up $1,200 annually without taking on another job.

6. Pick Up A Second Job

Sometimes cutting expenses isn't enough.

If you've gone through your budget and there's simply not enough money coming in, increasing your income may be the better solution.

A traditional part-time job can be surprisingly effective. You could work evenings, weekends or a few shifts per week depending on your schedule.

Retail, restaurants, warehouses, customer service and hospitality businesses are just a few places to look.

The nice thing about a second job is that you generally know exactly what you're going to earn for each shift.

And you don't necessarily have to keep it forever. You could take on extra work for a few months, use the additional income to catch up on bills or pay down debt, and then reassess.

7. Make Money In The Gig Economy

If you don't want a traditional second job, gig work gives you another option.

There are plenty of apps and platforms that let you make money by completing tasks or providing services. Depending on where you live, options can include:

• DoorDash
• Uber Eats
• Instacart
• Uber
• Rover
• TaskRabbit
• Local delivery jobs

The advantage is flexibility.

You may be able to work during the hours that make the most sense for you rather than committing to a fixed part-time schedule.

Just remember that gig work comes with expenses. If you're driving, factor in gas, maintenance, insurance and vehicle depreciation when figuring out your actual profit.

The goal isn't simply to make money. It's to make sure you're actually keeping a worthwhile amount after expenses.

8. Make Money With Microtask Sites

Microtask websites are another option if you have spare time but don't want to commit to a second job.

These platforms typically break work into small tasks that can be completed online.

Depending on the site, tasks might include things like data entry, categorization, transcription, research or AI-related tasks.

The individual tasks may not pay much. That's why I wouldn't treat microtask sites as some magical way to get rich.

Instead, think of them as a way to monetize small pockets of free time. If you're sitting around for 30 minutes waiting for an appointment, for example, you may be able to knock out a few tasks instead of scrolling social media.

Just be careful with any platform that asks you to pay money upfront to access work.

You should generally be getting paid to complete tasks, not paying someone for the privilege of working.

9. Try A No-Spend Challenge

Finally, try a no-spend challenge.

The concept is simple: for a specific period of time, you stop spending money on non-essential purchases.

You still pay your rent, utilities, debt payments and other necessary expenses. But you temporarily eliminate things like:

• Restaurant meals
• Takeout
• Shopping
• Entertainment purchases
• Unnecessary subscriptions
• Impulse buys

You could start with a weekend. Then try a full week. If that goes well, try a month.

A no-spend challenge can be useful because it forces you to become much more conscious of every purchase.

And there's a psychological benefit, too. Once you prove to yourself that you can go a week without buying something every time you want it, it's often easier to break the habit of impulse spending.

The Bottom Line

If you're scraping by financially, you don't necessarily need one massive solution.

You may need several small ones.

Canceling a few subscriptions could save $50 a month. Negotiating your bills could save another $75. Selling some stuff around the house could bring in a few hundred dollars. And picking up some extra work could increase your monthly income.

Put enough of those moves together and you can start creating some breathing room.

The important thing is to actually do something.

Don't spend three hours researching the perfect side hustle when you could spend 30 minutes canceling subscriptions, listing stuff for sale or calling your internet provider.

When money is tight, small wins count.