How Do You Make Cut Backs When You’ve Already Cut Everything?

We recently heard from a reader who asks:

“I don’t know what to do. We’ve stopped having a TV, we don’t have Internet at home, we don’t go to the movies, we never eat out, our clothes are second hand, we often get free food from family because we can’t afford to feed ourselves. Yet, our debts are still growing. Help! Please?”

Ouch, I feel your pain.

Here’s what I suggest you do:

Give yourself a moment to recognize what you are doing. You’re a hero already. You know there’s a problem. You’re doing a lot to address that problem. Changes won’t happen overnight, but you have taken massive steps to improve your circumstances. Give yourselves a round of applause for that. Feel better about it.
Try to be grateful for what you have. There is some evidence to suggest that simple gratitude for our circumstances, when written down, can make us feel better too. Write a list each day of three things you are grateful for.
Realize it’s time to stop saving more and start earning more instead. You may or may not love this idea but this is the simple truth. There is a moment in life when you cannot save anymore. In fact, even if you could it would just be painful and cause misery. Instead, you have to earn more.

Now, we’ve written about things you can do from home or in your spare time, that make money, extensively.

So, please check out our article that outlines 52 ways to make some extra cash. Or check out how these moms are making over $3,000 a month.

You can do it. I know you can and soon, you’ll be wondering why you didn’t do this first. Good luck.