Unemployed and Struggling

It might be helpful for folks who may be able to help you to know some other aspects of your situation. Like, which city do you live in? Do you live or can you live with your parents to help you out on those hard times? And so on.

On the web there are surveys and the sort but it's more of getting tips than real money.

By the way, in London for example there are always ongoing temporary jobs and for some that works for them and they're okay with it.

It's hard without knowing where most of your money goes or how desperate your situation is. Some I can think of off the top of my head:

If you drink, smoke, or have takeaways, quit or cut back.

Meal prep and batch cook. Use the cheapest veg from aldi to bulk up meals, they rotate what's on offer.

Price compare utilities and insurance and switch to cheaper providers.

If you're laying interest on a credit card, switch to a interest free one or if you can't, ring up your current provider and ask if they'll switch it to interest free (worth a try and it worked for my husband).

Maybe ask about work like I do as a passenger assistant on school bus or with kids in care. Start at the council or Google transport services with your local council.

I presume you're normally here for deals, so go easy on what you buy here. Maybe cut it down and only buy stuff that you need, if you see it at a great price. Don't go crazy buying everything - it's easily done!

When you do need to buy stuff like essentials, see if you can buy online and get cashback. It might not help straight away as you tend to need to wait for it to pay out, but it could help in future.

I think the most important thing is to make a list of all the costs you have that are unchangeable and cut out any unnecessary extras. Once you have made sure you cover the basic costs, then you can looks at the extras and see if there is anything else you can afford after.

Make list of all the things that have to be paid each money, so bills, rent/mortgage, phone, council tax, car insurance etc.

Then look at how to reduce those costs.

Look at your other expenses and figure out what you can stop spending on. So for example, no takeaways or meals out, no Netflix or Amazon prime, no buying clothes or shoes unless necessary and if possible buy second hand, if you buy alcohol then stop, if you regularly get your hair, nails etc done then stop. Look at how to reduce your food shopping. Switch to value and supermarket own brands, bulk cook food and freeze it, use up everything you already have in your cupboards, fridge and freezer.

If you have debt on a credit card then switch it to a 0% interest one, it will ease the pressure of payments a bit.

If you have any items that you no longer use or need then try selling them.

You could also do survey sites, they either give you money or gift vouchers, although these can take a while.

Try and make small changes that will benefit you, even little things like changing where you do your shopping, instead of going to the likes of Tesco’s etc. Swap to Jacks or Aldi.

If you have a mobile phone contract, look at swapping to a pay as you go and only make minimal calls and texts that are required.

Have a clear out, list everything and anything on places like Gumtree and eBay and you can get money for your unwanted items!

Don’t know your situation but worth looking for a job even part time in bar/ restaurant/ cleaning or something you can get straight away really .... it’s not easy to live without income , you can scan your receipts from shops on apps like receipt hog and Shoppix for some extra cash but it takes a while to get £20 , good luck