Financial emergencies can happen anytime due to a lost job or an unexpected expense. Since the average American has less than $500 in the bank to cover an emergency expense, preparing for financial hardships is imperative to save your livelihood.
What would you do when facing a financial emergency? One popular solution is applying for 1hr payday loans no credit check opportunities. A one-hour payday loan can help you out of an emergency financial crisis as soon as it arises.
However, it would help if you considered long-term solutions for preventing or managing future financial emergencies. A payday loan can relieve you from an emergency, but you should still attempt to limit your potential economic anxiety as much as possible.
Here are the top 10 untold solutions to the financial emergency you need to consider to better prepare for economic hardships down the road.
1) Negotiate with Your Creditors
Do you have substantial credit card or loan debts? If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot fulfill your monthly payment obligations toward your debts, then contact your creditors to negotiate a solution.
Sometimes, lenders and credit card companies are willing to negotiate smaller or more flexible monthly payments with their customers if it will help them pay their debts.
2) Maintain a Positive Mindset
Staying positive during a financial emergency may seem challenging because all your worst fears and anxieties will immediately come to mind.
If you can maintain a positive mindset when things get hard, you will think more clearly and make better decisions. Otherwise, the stress and anxiety from the financial hardships will cause you to make even worse decisions.
Some techniques for maintaining a positive mindset include meditation, exercise, healthy eating, and leaning on those you love for emotional support.
3) Establish Additional Income Streams
You don’t have to only rely on your primary job for income. Thanks to all the online freelancing opportunities, generating additional income streams to supplement your income has never been easier.
For example, you could become an Uber driver and shuttle people around your local area for extra cash when you have free time. And if you have any special skills like writing or graphic design, you could sell those services online for money.
You may not be able to rely solely on freelancing for income, but it can help you navigate a financial emergency when it arises.
4) Eliminate Non-Critical Expenses
Do you spend too much on nonessential expenses like Netflix subscriptions, restaurant dining, and movie tickets? If so, it may be time to cut out these expenses if you’re on a tight budget and cannot handle a financial emergency.
Getting your financial life in order means eliminating unnecessary expenses and only focusing on the ones that matter. You might be surprised how much money you can save by eliminating these non-critical expenses from your monthly budget.
5) Save Money Whenever You Can
Saving money can be challenging when living on a tight budget. But if you can put an extra $100 from every paycheck into a savings account, you will save a lot of money by the end of each year.
Many Americans cannot afford a $500 emergency expense due to their inability or unwillingness to save money. But if you follow the previous tip and cut out nonessential expenditures, you should find it easier to save money.
Having money in the bank will prepare you for the day when a financial emergency strikes. Then you will not have to take out as big a loan to pay it off because you can rely on your money in the bank.
6) Ask Your Boss for a Raise
Some people are afraid to ask their bosses for a raise out of fear of rejection. But that does not have to be you.
If you have been a hard worker and loyal to the company, there is nothing wrong with asking your boss for a raise. The worst thing they can say is no.
Your boss will probably tell you why they said “no,” so you can learn what you need to do to improve your chances of getting a raise. Of course, if they say “yes” to your request, you can enjoy more money in your future paychecks.
Either way, there are only upsides to asking your boss for a raise. The hardest thing is getting the confidence to ask the question in the first place.
7) Ask a Family Member or Friend for Help
You may feel ashamed to ask a family member or friend for financial assistance but don’t be.
Family and friends may be willing to help you in a financial emergency if they trust you and have the means to do so. They likely won’t even charge you interest if they loan you money. So, why not ask and see what they say?
8) Use Your Insurance
An insurance policy may cover some or all the costs of critical financial emergencies, such as car damage, health issues, property damage, theft, disability, etc. It depends on whether you have the right insurance policies.
Contact your insurance carrier to file a claim when faced with a particular financial hardship you believe is covered under your policy.
9) Sell Unwanted Stuff
Do you have unwanted items you no longer need around your house, such as furniture, televisions, computers, etc.? If so, you could sell these items to raise money for a financial emergency.
Some popular ways to sell used items are eBay, Amazon, garage sales, classified ads, social media, and mobile apps.
10) Hold Off on Any Big Plans
Are you planning a big purchase, such as a car, house, or vacation? You may want to put those plans on hold when faced with a financial emergency.
The most important thing you can do is protect your credit by paying your existing debts and avoiding more debt. Then, you can always return to your big plans after improving your financial situation.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you can now take the necessary precautions to manage a financial emergency effectively when it occurs. The worst-case scenario is that you rely on 1hr payday loans no credit check opportunities to pay emergency expenses.
Don’t worry about the debt from the loans because you can start paying it back again once you get paid at your job. But for now, a payday loan can cover emergency expenses like medical bills, car repairs, house repairs, etc.
This article was written in cooperation with Rankwisely.