7 Ways to Handle a Personal Financial Crisis

COVID-19 has hit Americans hard. As of this writing, more than 3 million of us have tested positive. And over 130,000 have died.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that actual coronavirus cases may be 10 times higher in some areas of the U.S.

But even many Americans who have been able to avoid infection have been negatively impacted by the virus.

Some have lost jobs, while others have lost their entire business. Some have had their work hours cut and income reduced.

Is emergency fund an option?

What should someone do if suddenly they have little to no money coming in? How can they feed themselves and their families? And pay their bills?

How do they handle an unexpected expense? Such as a vehicle or a major home appliance breaking down? And how can they pay for emergency medical treatment?

The easy answer to these questions is dipping into your emergency fund. That’s what it’s there for.

But not everyone has been able to establish this type of fund. Or maybe some folks had one but depleted it during the last emergency.

1. Stop non-essential spending

The first thing to do when a financial emergency hits is stop all spending not crucial to your survival.

That might mean no dinners out and no restaurant carryout. Spending only what’s necessary at the grocery store and preparing all meals at home will take care of that.

The same with certain activities you planned. Like going shopping at the mall or taking in a movie at a theater. Maybe a vacation needs to be postponed. Perhaps you could get rid of your landline and cable subscription. And cancel a gym membership.

The key here is to separate your needs from your wants. Make a list of your necessities – food, water, medicine, hygiene supplies, etc. – and focus on them. The wants can wait. For now, stick to the needs.

2. Call your creditors

The second step to take after a financial emergency occurs is to contact companies to which you owe money.

This could be anything from a car loan to a credit card debt. You might be surprised at how willing companies are to work with you. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

They’d rather get a little something from you each month than nothing. The worst thing you can do regarding debts is ignoring them. When those companies believe you’re blowing them off, they will do one of two things.

Either they will sell your debt to another company that might have more aggressive collection tactics. Or they might take legal action against you. Neither is good.

3. Sell your surplus

Third, determine what you can sell. If you and your spouse or roommate have two cars but could survive on one, consider selling one of them.

Perhaps you have extra furniture you rarely use. Check your basement and garage for any items that could bring in cash.

A garage or yard sale may be the perfect way to unload some of these things that are taking up space.

Smaller items that can be shipped easier and less expensively could be sold over the Internet. Such as clothes you never wear and books you’ve already read.

4. Pursue new income

A fourth strategy for handling a monetary setback is discovering a new source of income.

How you do this will depend on a number of factors. Including your health and mobility. Or your technological savvy.

There are many work-at-home opportunities out there. But you need to be careful because a number of them are scams.

Perhaps you can get part-time work at a local store. Or use your business expertise to become a consultant. Or utilize your skill set to provide a service. Or launch a home-based business.

5. Beg, borrow… but don’t steal

A fifth way to deal with a financial crisis is borrowing money from family or a close friend.

Ideally, this would be a family member. Being unable to pay back a loan in a timely manner to a friend could destroy the friendship.

Everyone’s family situation is different. Some people will gladly reach out to help, no questions asked.

Others might make you grovel or will just refuse outright. So this might not be a viable option for some. But if it is, it’s a quick way to get some much-needed cash. And hopefully you’ll be a in a position to help another family member some day.

6. Seek out free stuff

Sixth, replace costly entertainment with free activities. A long walk around the neighborhood is a free and healthy way to spend an hour.

Check out your local library. It may host free events, speakers and group meetings. Your taxes pay for this, so get involved and find out how you can benefit.

Many local events have been cancelled or postponed due to COVID-19. But some are still being held with social distancing factored in. Including free outdoor concerts.

Select a hobby you enjoy and spend time improving your skills. You may grow your hobby to a point where you could even make a few extra dollars. Such as photography, flower arranging, cake decorating, etc.

7. Hone in on your home

A seventh and final way to deal with a financial crunch is to rely on things you already have in your home.

Many people could feed themselves and family members for a week or more. Just on what they have in their freezer and pantry.

When a piece of furniture or a small kitchen appliance stops working, try to fix it rather than replace it. There’s plenty of information online that can help.

If you have to buy a replacement, look for second-hand options. That toaster you get at a garage sale won’t be as shiny as a new one. But it might work just as well.

Build a food stockpile

One of the things you hopefully already have in your home is a supply of survival food. 4Patriots Survival Food is good for 25 years, but you don’t need to wait that long to try it. Now might be the time to eat some of it.

If you don’t currently have a supply of survival food, this could be the perfect opportunity to acquire some. Especially since 4Patriots is offering a buy one, get one free 72-hour kit.

And because we are one of the few companies that has survival food in stock and ready to ship, you could have your 72-hour kits in a week or sooner.

We want as many people as possible to have the peace of mind that comes from being prepared. Especially now…

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