5 Quick Money Fixes For Those ”Broke” Weeks

🔎 Disclosure: Heads up, babe: some links here are affiliate links, which means you might throw a tiny commission my way if you buy (zero extra cost to you). Only things you’d actually use and love get shared on this site.

1. Sell Stuff You Don’t Use (Instant Cash Flow)

You know that closet you’ve been avoiding? Yeah, the one that could probably fund your next grocery trip.

If you’re short on cash, selling things you don’t use is one of the fastest ways to get money back in your pocket.

Start with small wins like:

• Clothes you haven’t worn in a year. Someone else will love them.
  
• Old gadgets are collecting dust. Those headphones could earn $30+ online.
  
• Decor you bought on impulse. Turn your “meh” purchases into real money.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Take photos of five items right now and list them on Facebook Marketplace or a resale app.

Make It Easy: Grab a clean white photo backdrop board to make your listings pop instantly.

2. Cook Meals From What’s Already in Your Pantry

If your fridge looks empty but your pantry’s overflowing, you’re sitting on a secret gold mine.

Cooking with what you already have saves you money and clears space for the good stuff you’ll actually eat.

Here’s where to start:

• Use up canned goods first. soups, beans, and veggies turn into hearty stews.
  
• Turn pasta + sauce into comfort meals. You probably have both sitting there.
  
• Mix and match snacks. Get creative before spending $100 on new groceries.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Challenge yourself to make three full meals this week using only pantry and freezer items.

Make It Easy: Use a magnetic meal planner board to see what ingredients you already have before buying more.

3. Set a Weekly “Spending Freeze” Challenge

Think of this as your wallet’s reset button.

A spending freeze helps you see how much of your spending is truly necessary versus just convenient.

To make it fun (and effective):

• Pick one week per month where you buy only essentials.
  
• Get your family involved. Make it a mini game with a reward at the end.
  
• Keep track of savings. Seeing progress keeps you motivated.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick one day this week to start and plan your meals, gas, and essentials ahead of time.

4. Keep a Jar for Cash-Only Spending

Sometimes the best budgeting trick is the oldest one in the book.

When you physically see your cash go down, you become way more mindful of every dollar.

Here’s how to make it work:

• Label jars by category. “Coffee,” “Gas,” “Fun Money.”
  
• Add only what you plan to spend. No sneaky refills midweek!
  
• Enjoy watching your savings grow. Every leftover dollar is a mini win.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pull $40 in cash at the start of the week and use only that for extras.

Make It Easy: Try a clear glass savings jar so you can literally watch your progress grow.

5. Carpool Instead of Driving Solo

Gas prices have become their own form of daylight robbery lately, haven’t they?

Carpooling isn’t just for work. You can do it for errands, school drop-offs, or grocery trips, too.

Small habit, big savings:

• Split gas costs with friends or coworkers.
  
• Reduce wear and tear on your car (hello, lower maintenance bills).
  
• Enjoy some company. Road trips to Costco just got more fun.
  

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Coordinate one or two shared rides per week with a coworker or neighbour who’s nearby.

Make It Easy: Use a backseat organiser to keep everything tidy when sharing rides.

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