Introduction
I remember the night I realized I was completely broke.
I was sitting in my car, in a grocery store parking lot, staring at my debit card and wondering if it would go through. I needed gas, food, and rent was due in four days—but my account balance was down to $4.82.
I felt sick.
I had been working hard, but the bills just kept piling up—rent, credit cards, student loans, car payments. Every paycheck disappeared before I even had time to breathe.
That night, I cried. Not because I was weak, but because I was tired—tired of pretending everything was fine, tired of feeling like I’d never get ahead, tired of being broke.
But that moment also changed me.
When you hit financial rock bottom, something inside you snaps—you stop caring about pride and start focusing on survival. I knew I had to take drastic steps if I wanted to get out of that hole.
And so, I did.
Over the next few months, I made tough, uncomfortable decisions that completely transformed my life and my finances.
If you’re reading this and feeling hopeless, please know—I’ve been there. And I promise, you can climb out.
Here are the 12 drastic steps that helped me go from flat broke to financially stable again.
12 Drastic Steps to Take If You’re Out Of Money (2026)
1. Stop Spending Money — Completely
The first thing I did was brutally simple: I stopped spending money on everything that wasn’t absolutely essential.
No takeout, no coffee runs, no Netflix, no “just one drink with friends.”
For 30 days, I went into full survival mode. It was uncomfortable—but it showed me exactly where my money was going.
Why It Works:
When you’re broke, the first step is to stop the financial bleeding. You can’t fix what’s wrong until you stop making it worse.
How to Do It:
- Write down your bare minimum expenses: rent, utilities, food, and transportation.
- Cut everything else.
- Challenge yourself to a “no-spend month.”
See Also: 12 Skills You Should Learn To Save Money
2. Sell Everything You Don’t Need
The second drastic step was turning my clutter into cash.
I looked around my apartment and started seeing dollar signs — an old laptop, extra furniture, unused clothes, kitchen gadgets. I listed them all online.
By the end of the first week, I had made $600.
That money became my lifeline for groceries and gas.
Why It Works:
You likely have hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars sitting around your home in unused stuff. Selling it quickly gives you breathing room.
Where to Sell:
- Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist for local sales
- eBay for collectibles and electronics
- Poshmark or ThredUp for clothes
3. Negotiate Your Bills
I used to think my bills were fixed — until I realized many weren’t.
One day, I spent an afternoon calling my phone company, internet provider, and insurance company. To my surprise, all three lowered my monthly rate — just because I asked.
It took two hours and saved me $120 a month.
Why It Works:
Companies would rather keep a paying customer at a lower rate than lose one entirely.
How to Do It:
- Call every provider you pay monthly.
- Politely say, “I’m struggling financially. Is there any way to lower my bill or switch to a cheaper plan?”
- Mention competitors’ prices if you can.
4. Pick Up Any Side Income You Can
When you’re broke, you can’t be picky — you just need to earn.
I picked up extra work wherever I could — delivering food, freelancing online, even selling homemade crafts. I worked nights, weekends, whatever it took.
It wasn’t glamorous, but it helped me stay afloat.
Why It Works:
You can’t save what you don’t earn. Even small amounts of extra cash make a big difference when you’re struggling.
Ideas for Quick Side Income:
- Deliver with DoorDash, Uber Eats, or Instacart
- Freelance on Fiverr or Upwork
- Pet sit or babysit for neighbors
- Sell handmade crafts on Etsy
5. Ask for Help (Without Shame)
This was the hardest step for me.
I didn’t want anyone to know I was struggling. But the truth is, we all need help sometimes — and there’s no shame in asking for it.
I reached out to a close friend and explained my situation. She brought me groceries and helped me find a local food pantry. That one act of kindness helped me survive that month.
Why It Works:
When you’re broke, pride can be your worst enemy. Help can come from unexpected places — you just have to be willing to ask.
Where to Find Help:
- Friends or family
- Local churches or community centers
- Food pantries and non-profit organizations
- 211.org (U.S. resource for financial assistance programs)
6. Pause Debt Payments (Temporarily)
When you’re in financial crisis mode, your top priority isn’t paying off debt — it’s staying afloat.
I used to panic about missing payments, but then I learned many lenders offer hardship or forbearance options.
I called my credit card companies and explained my situation. To my surprise, most agreed to pause interest or delay payments temporarily.
Why It Works:
It gives you breathing room while you stabilize your income and expenses.
How to Do It:
- Contact lenders directly.
- Explain your financial hardship honestly.
- Ask about deferment, forbearance, or payment plans.
7. Downsize or Move to Save on Rent
This was one of the most drastic decisions I made — and one of the smartest.
My rent was eating up 60% of my paycheck. I found a smaller apartment in a less trendy neighborhood, packed up my things, and moved.
It wasn’t easy — but it cut my rent by $400 a month.
Why It Works:
Housing is usually your biggest expense. Reducing it, even temporarily, gives massive relief.
Other Options:
- Move in with family or a roommate
- Rent out a room or list your space on Airbnb
- Relocate to a cheaper area if possible
8. Cancel Subscriptions and Memberships
When I looked at my bank statement, I found multiple “small” charges — Spotify, Netflix, gym, apps, Amazon Prime. Together, they added up to almost $100 a month.
I canceled all of them.
Yes, I missed my shows and music for a bit, but it was worth it.
Why It Works:
Recurring subscriptions silently drain your budget. Cutting them gives instant cash flow improvement.
How to Do It:
- Use Truebill or Rocket Money to find recurring charges.
- Cancel everything that isn’t essential.
- Revisit later when your finances recover.
9. Cut Up Your Credit Cards
This one hurt — but it was necessary.
When I was broke, I used credit cards like a lifeline. But all they did was make my situation worse. I was using debt to survive, which kept me stuck in the same cycle.
So, I cut them up.
It forced me to live within my means and stop digging deeper into debt.
Why It Works:
When you’re broke, access to credit can feel like comfort — but it’s actually quicksand.
10. Switch to a Cash-Only Budget
Once I stopped using credit, I switched to a cash envelope system.
I withdrew cash for each category — food, gas, necessities — and once it was gone, that was it.
This system gave me control and visibility over every dollar I spent.
Why It Works:
Cash makes spending feel real. It forces discipline and helps prevent overspending.
How to Start:
- Create 3–4 envelope categories (Food, Gas, Misc).
- Withdraw cash for each one weekly.
- Stick to it — no cheating!
11. Take a Hard Look at Your Lifestyle
When I was broke, I had to face an uncomfortable truth — my lifestyle didn’t match my income.
I was eating out too much, living alone when I couldn’t afford it, and spending to impress others.
Once I started being honest about my habits, I could finally make changes.
Why It Works:
You can’t fix what you don’t acknowledge. Awareness is the foundation of change.
How to Do It:
- Write down your top 5 monthly expenses.
- Ask yourself: “Do I need this, or do I just want it?”
- Focus on needs until you recover.
12. Start Rebuilding — One Step at a Time
After several months of survival mode, something amazing happened — I started to feel hope again.
My bills were lower, I had emergency cash from selling items, and I was working side jobs. Slowly, my savings account started growing.
It wasn’t overnight, but it was real.
Why It Works:
Once you stabilize, even small wins create momentum. Progress leads to motivation, and motivation leads to transformation.
Next Steps:
- Build a $1,000 emergency fund.
- Create a simple zero-based budget.
- Focus on income growth, not just cutting expenses.
My Turning Point
Looking back, that night in the parking lot was one of the hardest moments of my life—but it was also the beginning of my transformation.
Being broke taught me humility, discipline, and resourcefulness. I learned that money problems aren’t permanent—they’re challenges that can be overcome with action.
The key was taking drastic, decisive steps instead of waiting for things to magically improve.
It wasn’t easy. I worked hard, sacrificed comfort, and rebuilt my financial foundation from scratch. But it was worth it—because today, I have savings, zero debt, and peace of mind.
And it all started the moment I decided I’d had enough.
Conclusion
If you’re out of money right now, I want you to hear this: you are not a failure.
Money struggles don’t define your worth—they’re just a chapter in your story.
But to turn the page, you have to act. You have to take bold, uncomfortable, drastic steps to reclaim control.
Start with one thing today — sell something, call a bill provider, or cancel a subscription. It might not fix everything immediately, but it will move you forward.
Because when you take consistent small steps, they lead to massive change.
I started broke, scared, and alone. And if I can rebuild from $4.82 in my account, you can too.