The idea of accumulating debt is one that instills fear in many people. Whether you have a small or prodigious amount of debt currently, you’re afraid of adding on more to the pile as you endure your current financial situation. Making a plan and heeding certain advice can help you to better handle this potentially precarious situation.

Make a Budget

Right now isn’t the time to spend money without serious consideration. Budgets can be created on paper, in a spreadsheet, or with an easy tool like everydollar. You should create a list of all the expenses that you have each month. Then, you should look at how much money you bring in each month. If the former exceeds the latter, a major problem exists. You will need to curtail your discretionary spending. Even when you do have money leftover after bills, you want to make sure you are putting those funds toward savings or your current debt. Dave Ramsey’s baby steps are an amazing way to prioritize these spending objectives.

Take on Extra Work

The thought of adding a part-time job onto your full-time one can seem jarring, but you can make it work when you know that it is a necessity. You may want to find coffee shops or restaurants that are hiring at night or on the weekend. Looking into babysitting, tutoring or housekeeping opportunities is another possibilities. If spending more time outside of the house isn’t an option, consider selling a craft or baked goods through an online platform. You could even tutor online or work as a freelance writer or editor. Leaving the home isn’t a requirement for earning more money.

Sell that Vehicle

Many people have an old car that is just hanging around and taking up space. Even when you couldn’t imagine anyone wanting to purchase your car, consider the option to sell your aging vehicles for scrap. This extra money might not fund all of your expenses for the next month, but it can certainly give you a boost or allow you to put more money toward paying off more debt.

Learn to Reject Offers

Telling your relatives and friends that you can’t go out to socialize with them is difficult, especially when you’re a person who loves to get out of the house. Let them know that you’re going through some financial difficulties. You can also look into free or low-cost possibilities for spending time with your loved ones. When you get into a strong financial state, you could have a little celebration at your home to thank them for their patience.

When financial problems are plaguing your life, you don’t want to make them worse. In fact, you can use some suggestions to better them.