Behind On Bills? Try These 11 Money Moves

Falling behind on your bills is stressful. But let's face it…Life has gotten pretty expensive 🫠

Whether it’s rent, a credit card payment, your phone bill, or just the rising cost of groceries, sometimes your income simply doesn’t stretch as far as it used to.

The good news is that there are usually a few things you can do to create some breathing room.

You might be able to cut a few expenses, make some extra money, or find ways to get paid for things you’re already doing.

Here are 11 money moves worth trying if you’re behind on your bills and need to improve your cash flow.

1. Sell Stuff You Don't Need

This is probably the fastest way to turn stuff sitting around your house into cash.

Take a look around your home and ask yourself what you haven't used in the last six months. Old electronics, furniture, clothes, collectibles, kitchen appliances, video games, tools and sporting equipment can all potentially be sold.

Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, Poshmark and local buy-and-sell groups are some obvious places to start.

And don't overlook the obvious stuff.

That old phone sitting in a drawer could be worth $200. A gaming console you barely use could be worth several hundred dollars. Even a closet full of clothes can add up.

If you're behind on bills, selling things you don't need can be a lot more useful than letting them continue collecting dust.

2. Make Money With Reward Apps

Reward apps aren't going to replace a full-time income, but they can be an easy way to make a few extra dollars when you're short on cash.

These apps typically pay you for completing surveys, playing games, trying offers, shopping, or completing other online tasks.

A few worth checking out include:

• HeyCash app – Earn rewards for completing surveys and other offers.
• Scrambly – Complete games and other tasks for rewards.
• Freecash – Offers surveys, games, app installs and other earning opportunities.
• Swagbucks – One of the older rewards platforms, with surveys, shopping rewards, games and other ways to earn.

The important thing here is to treat these as a way to supplement your income, not a solution to a serious financial problem.

If you're already sitting on your phone watching Netflix, you might as well see if you can turn some of that spare time into a few extra bucks.

3. Cancel Your Subscriptions

This one sounds boring, but it can make a surprisingly big difference.

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

Streaming services. Fitness apps. Software. News subscriptions. Cloud storage. Gaming services. Meal delivery memberships.

If you're paying $10 here and $15 there, it's easy to convince yourself that none of it matters.

But five $15 subscriptions are $75 every month. That's $900 per year!

If you're behind on bills, temporarily cutting subscriptions you don't actually need can free up money immediately. And you can always resubscribe later.

4. Make Money With Gig Apps

If you have a car, bike, or simply some spare time, gig apps can provide another way to bring in money.

Some popular options include:

• DoorDash – Deliver restaurant and other orders.
• Instacart – Shop for and deliver groceries.
• Rover – Get paid for dog walking and pet sitting.
• Uber Eats – Deliver food using a car, bike or other eligible vehicle depending on your market.

The nice thing about gig work is the flexibility.

You don't necessarily have to commit to 40 hours per week. You could pick up a few shifts after work or work a Saturday when you need some extra cash.

Just remember to account for expenses like gas, vehicle maintenance and taxes when calculating what you're actually earning.

5. Get Paid For Your Opinion

If you have a phone or computer and some spare time, you can also make money taking surveys.

Again, this isn't a replacement for a job. But if you need an extra $20, $50 or $100 here and there, surveys can be worth testing.

A few platforms to check out include:

• Branded Surveys – Paid surveys covering a variety of topics.
• Survey Junkie – A popular survey platform where you earn points for sharing your opinions.
• EarnStar – Offers paid surveys and other ways to earn rewards.

The biggest trick with surveys is finding the platforms that actually work well for you.

Don't spend 30 minutes on a survey that pays you $0.25. Look for opportunities with a reasonable payout relative to the time required.

6. Use Cash Advance Apps

If you're dealing with a short-term cash-flow problem, a cash advance app may be another option.

For example, EarnIn allows eligible users to access part of their earned wages before payday, subject to its terms and eligibility requirements.

This can potentially help if you're facing a bill that comes due a few days before your paycheck.

But there's an important distinction here. A cash advance isn't free money. You're essentially moving money forward from your future paycheck, so you still need to make sure you can cover your expenses once payday arrives.

I'd consider this more of an emergency cash-flow tool than a regular income strategy.

7. Leverage Sign-Up Bonuses

If you're already planning to shop, open an account, or try a new service, check whether there's a sign-up bonus available.

There are plenty of companies that use bonuses and promotional offers to attract new customers.

Some examples include:

• Rakuten – Earn cashback when shopping through participating retailers.
• Current – A banking platform that periodically offers promotional bonuses to eligible new customers.
• InboxDollars – Offers rewards for completing various online activities.

The key is not to spend money simply because there's a bonus attached. If you were already going to make the purchase or use the service, getting an additional reward can be a nice bonus.

If the promotion requires you to spend $500 to get $20 back, it probably isn't solving your cash-flow problem.

8. Use Cashback Reward Apps

If you're already spending money on groceries, gas and everyday purchases, you might as well see if you can get some of that money back.

There are several cashback and rewards apps that can help. A few worth exploring include:

• Fetch – Scan eligible receipts and earn points that can be redeemed for rewards.
• Upside – Offers cashback on eligible purchases at participating gas stations and other businesses.
• Myner – A rewards app built around earning from your data and completing certain activities.
• Pogo – Rewards users for linking accounts and participating in various earning opportunities.

This isn't going to magically fix your finances.

But cashback is one of those things that can add up over time, especially if you're already spending money on things like groceries and gas.

The important part is to never spend extra money just to earn cashback.

9. Get A Part-Time Job

Sometimes the boring answer is the right answer.

If you're consistently behind on your bills, getting a part-time job can provide more predictable income than trying to piece together money from dozens of apps.

Look for something that fits around your existing schedule. Even 10 hours per week can make a difference.

A restaurant might need someone for weekend shifts. A local retailer might have evening hours available. You could also look for warehouse, customer service, administrative or seasonal work.

If you're trying to dig yourself out of a financial hole, predictable income can be extremely valuable.

10. Call Your Service Providers And Negotiate

This is one of my favorite money-saving moves because it can take about 10 minutes.

Call your internet, phone, insurance or other service providers and ask whether there are any cheaper plans or discounts available.

You can simply say:

“I'm trying to lower my monthly expenses. Are there any cheaper plans or promotions available for my account?”

You might be surprised by what they offer. You can also ask whether you're paying for features you don't need.

Maybe you don't need the fastest internet package. Maybe you can switch to a cheaper phone plan. Maybe you can remove an add-on from your cable package.

Even saving $30 per month is $360 per year. And unlike making an extra $30, cutting $30 from your monthly expenses can keep saving you money every month going forward.

11. Try Paid Focus Group Work

Here's one that doesn't get talked about enough.

Companies and researchers will sometimes pay people to participate in interviews, focus groups and research studies.

These opportunities can pay substantially more than a typical online survey because you're providing more detailed feedback.

Two platforms worth checking out are:

• User Interviews
• Respondent

You may be asked to participate in a video interview, test a product, discuss your experiences with a particular service, or answer questions about your profession or consumer habits.

Not everyone will qualify for every study. But when you do qualify, the compensation can be much better than a typical survey.

Final Thoughts

Being behind on your bills isn't something you need to solve with one giant money-making idea.

Sometimes you just need to find an extra $50 here, cut $50 there, and create a little more breathing room.

Sell stuff you don't use.

Cancel subscriptions.

Try some reward apps.

Pick up a few hours of gig work.

Call your service providers.

Look for better-paying research opportunities.

And if the problem is bigger than a few hundred dollars, focus on the bigger levers too — increasing your regular income and reducing your recurring expenses.

The goal isn't to spend every waking hour chasing $5 opportunities. It's to find a few realistic ways to improve your cash flow and start getting caught up.