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Being flat broke is never a nice experience, but the only way out is to take action yourself, no matter what or who is the reason for your financial difficulties:

1. Don't EVER ignore debts, bills etc and stick your head in the sand - they won't just go away, in fact things will get hugely worse if you don't take action (most companies are quite willing for you to pay bills in instalments or arrange debt repayment plans to suit you as long as you get in touch first and don't wait for them to find you, threaten with bailiffs etc)

2. Scrutinise your life and daily habits, i.e. do you really need all those clothes, kitchen appliances, unused presents etc? Do you have to go for fast-food outlets rather than cooking for yourself? Do you have to have cable TV? and so on, you'll be surprised at how much cash is lurking in your attic / lifestyle / habits when you're really brutally honest with yourself (that's the hard part); get rid of all your old clutter and / or expensive habits, and you'll see how much you can save or even make some money from selling on stuff (it doesn't need to be ebay, a boot sale or swapping unwanted items for things you need with neighbours or friends is also a way to cope with being broke!)

3. If possible, find another job - even 10 extra hours a week could get you that little extra money you need and don't be too proud: supermarket cashier, paper route, baby sitting - any job will do, and keep telling yourself it's a short-term fix so you don't get disheartened, but having that extra money will actually help your self-esteem too; also don't forget to try and sell / trade your unused skills, you might have talents that other people desperately need and you have never considered it anything special

4. If you are in the lucky position of having relatives or friends with a better income, bite the bullet and ask for a loan from them (but beware, money can destroy the best friendship, so still make up a little contract and be sure you both agree to the repayment schedule - and stick to it!)

5. Don't sit around at home and moan about how bad your situation is, even if it's hard to cope - doing anything is better than sitting at home in self-pity, and taking action will also make you feel better as you're actively tackling the obstacles in your way. Equally, try and not compensate with any drug / alcohol / medicine abuse - that's just a way into more trouble, even though it sounds cliche and obvious, but it's true!

6. Down days are normal - see 5. - try not to delve into depression and at the slightest sign of anything more than a low mood, contact your doctor; otherwise, accept that some days the situation is going to control your moods and drag you down

7. Remind yourself that there are a lot of things that are free - going to a park in nice weather, just enjoying the sunshine and being out, going to free events in the community, catching up with friends etc - all of those will help you cope with the situation and cost nothing at all!

Learn more about this author, Vanessa Fagan.
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