How to get out of debt when you’re paycheck to paycheck

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Well I’m not proud of it but I’m in debt $2200 to be exact. I had some health struggles and ended up working less hours these past two months so a lot of regular day to day purchases got put on my credit card. I’m feeling really panicked. I know $2200 isn’t like the biggest debt in the world but when you live paycheck to paycheck it seems like a ton. I worked a lot last week and am expecting a good paycheck this Friday especially with having holiday pay. I get paid weekly.

If I work 35-40 hours or so a week my weekly paychecks are around $600 take home pay. But this week for instance I’m having a bad flare up with my heart. I only worked 2.5 hours yesterday and 3.5 hours today. Which means Friday and Saturday I had better work my full 10 hour shifts or else my paycheck on the 13th is gonna suck.

So how am I supposed to pay off this debt when things are so tight as they are. I make $21.50 an hour which should be a livable wage, but when I miss my hours things dwindle down a lot

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I’ve spent 2 years trying to payback a similar amount, it was at around 3,000 and has gone down to about 2,000 something. I think with debt you have to be patient. Every once inawhile when you get an injection eg like a bonus - just put it towards the debt and hopefully it’ll add up to reduce the time taken. Good luck

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It’s hard not to beat myself up about it because I actually went bankrupt two years ago and swore I’d never get into debt again

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I had a bankrupty 20 years ago cuz i was irresponsible with my credit cards. Now i sock away every cent that i have leftover at the end of each month. I don’t eat out or get Starbucks…i have a good bit saved but i know that there can be unexpected bills at any time (like my car breaking down today). You know what they say…$5000 is a lot to owe but not a lot to have. I hope you feel better and can get all your hours in. You’ll be able to get rid of your debt over time, don’t panic…

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Thank you @WhiteRaven I appreciate the encouragement. I’m trying to just do one thing at a time. I need to be able to afford my necessities then out every little bit extra towards my debt

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My monthly expenses are about $1800 after rent, utilities, and groceries plus monthly subscriptions. I budget $300 in groceries which should be more than enough.

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put every cent that isnt a nessesity in savings until u get a good sized chunk than put it on the debt. my only debt right now is my vehicle. about 11k or 13k i cant remember. live on under 1000 a month. im working on saving some money. i made a budget and am trying not to spend on anything.

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Own the bank, and then write off your own debt, to create inflation for normal people to pay the cost. Works every time.

In your situation, take a good hard look at history and make decisions from there.

I would suggest thinking about moving out of cities, and lowering your cost of living to actually support your life, not to drain away from it.

It helps to realize that everything you are doing now, your +10-20 year old self will laugh at. Nothing beats today’s woes like tomorrow’s struggles. When in doubt I always go back to the bigger fish theory.

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I’d move out of the city except I don’t have a car and I rely on public transport. Plus having a chronic illness along with mental illness being close to my doctors is important

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I get wanting to be wherever you feel the most comfortable.

I am lucky that I live with family in a rural area, although I do not like being cooped up with my parents (which are abusive) all day long.

I would feel most comfortable in moving to another country entirely.

I know things won’t last the way they are, so my opportunity will come sooner than later to change my situation. Whether I will be able or willing to make something of it, is another question entirely.

I think that is key, to focus on the situation instead of symptoms of it. It is easy to change your situation, but very hard to deal with the symptoms tied to the situation.

Sometimes the situation is out of your control, like inflation rising prices. In that case you need to ask what you are willing to give up to change the situation, as the symptoms will not disappear on their own, as they are tied to the situation itself.

If hyperinflation hits, then it might be wiser to own the chicken that lays the eggs rather than buying the eggs at the local grocery store. Or if cities become prisons, then you need to make a choice to stay or leave, and evaluate the alternatives.

I think life can be fun if you empower yourself to control the situation, and it is helpful to realize that debt is almost purely abstract and cannot control your life, unless you delegate your life’s control to other people through that debt.

This is not financial advice.

Fun fact: There is more debt in the world than tangible assets to represent the debt’s trading value.

And you aren’t supposed to know that, because baseless fiat only has value, while people believe it has value. And that is the game we are all playing, in a nutshell.

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Best bet is to save a little over time and hopefully get enough to pay it back.

Or pay it back in small installments.

Hope this helps.

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Well if ya say so. :yum:

buys bank and prints money :bank::dollar::moneybag:

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