Money isn’t always in abundance, so it helps to have a few strategies for supplementing your income when you just don’t have enough money to take care of the more necessary things in your life.
Maybe something unexpected happened and depleted your funds, or your employer is late in paying you. Whatever the reason for your financial need, here are five tips that can help you buy essential items.
1] Credit
Using credit might be the easiest and simplest way to buy essential items if you don’t have enough money on hand. There are all kinds of banking and credit institutions to choose from.
Be aware of interest rates, credit limits and other fees, as these can affect your credit rating. More modern credit options allow you to book now pay later on IRCTC, if traditional credit systems don’t appeal to you.
2] Barter
Sometimes you are in the perfect place to barter. If you grow fruits, flowers, herbs or vegetables, you may be able to trade those for something or receive a discounted price on whatever it is that you need.
Maybe you have clothing or books or jewelry that you can barter with. Be creative. Although this is often considered an old-fashioned way of conducting business and transactions, it is still a very useful and viable option for getting essential items.
3] Use Your Skills
Everyone has at least one thing that they are good at. And chances are that your talent can come in handy when you are in a financial hole. You can offer your musical talents in exchange for money to buy the things that you need. If you know how to make clothes or shoes, you can use that to your advantage.
The Problem With Living Paycheck to Paycheck
Are you an excellent cook? Are you comfortable with getting your hands dirty and cleaning or building something? You can offer your skills or labor in exchange for what you need.
4] Charitable Organizations
Many times churches, temples and other non-profit organizations offer assistance to those who need it. There are food banks that dispense free food, there are funds available for those who need help with their utilities and other expenses and there are other places to turn to for assistance.
Some may require that you demonstrate your need, but many places ask no questions and freely give. Charitable organizations are a great option when options are few.
5] Ask
Never underestimate the power of making a request. Family and friends are a good place to start. You can ask for as much money as you feel comfortable asking for. But you have to be careful when asking for help from friends and family. It is possible to make too many requests.
Once you reach that point, people may go out of their way to avoid you or decline to help you. Everyone needs a little help sometimes, so don’t be ashamed to lean on someone else sometimes.
Essential items are difficult to live without, so when you don’t have enough money to buy them, it can be very discouraging. Just remember that there are plenty of ways for you to get what you need.
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