8 Things To Do If You’re Barely Scraping By Financially - Quicken Compare

8 Things To Do If You’re Barely Scraping By Financially

Last updated: October 5, 2024 | by The Quicken Compare Team

Feel like your bank account is draining week after week? Don’t worry, we’ve all been there and we’re here to help.

We’ve done our research and found some strange and unusual but legit options to help you stack your bank account without having to leave the house. Some of these will help you save. Others will help you earn some extra cash to pad your wallet right away.

The companies on this list are legit – they’re all real companies that do what they say they’ll do. Let’s take a look…

1) Find Ways to Pay Your Credit Card Bill This Month

While you’re stressing out over your debt, your credit card company is getting rich off those insane interest rates. But websites like Quicken Compare could help you pay off that bill as soon as tomorrow with a provider.

Here’s a simple hack to save you money. If you’re carrying a credit card balance right now, Quicken Compare could help you find the cash you need to pay it off. Not only are credit card rates higher than ever right now, they’re also variable, which means if they continue getting higher, you’ll be paying even more in interest each month.

Home equity loans, personal loans, and cash-out refinances, on the other hand, have fixed rates, which are MUCH lower than your average credit card…Curious to see how much cash you could get?  It costs $0 and there’s no commitment required.

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2) Over 15K in debt?  Check out this option to get your finances back on track

Along with low debt-to-income-ratio and a strong financial history, you’ll need a high credit score for the lowest loan rates. If you are in $15K or more in debt, Accredited Debt Relief can help you with a plan to get out of debt.

Accredited Debt Relief helps individuals across the U.S. by creating personalized financial relief options that work. Their service is a form of debt consolidation customized to meet individual needs. They have helped thousands of people reduce what they owe and find financial peace of mind without the stress of alternatives like filing for bankruptcy.

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3) If You Haven’t Shopped Your Car Insurance Since Your 25th Birthday – Compare Insurance Providers

The younger the driver the higher the rates seems to be the motto of auto insurance companies. While your rate may seem arbitrary, insurance offers are straightforward calculation that take into consideration age, location, vehicle type, claims record etc.

Each auto insurance company uses a different calculation so when your 25th birthday rolls around, comparing insurance offers could result in huge savings. Shop around to compare rates, do not wait for your insurance provider to offer you a discount because it may not happen.

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4) If you own a home and are looking to pay down debt, use this under-the-radar strategy

You can get the cash you need right away with a home equity agreement. A Home Equity Agreement could help you access up to $300,000. With no monthly payments and no interest charges, this is a great alternative to taking out a loan.

Unlock is a flexible Home Equity Line of Credit alternative that can get you cash now in exchange for a percentage of your home’s future value. This means you can get the immediate money you need now for deferred payment in the future. Better yet, Unlock isn’t a lender, so this isn’t a loan and you don’t need perfect credit to qualify.

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5) Don’t Wait Until You’re Desperate for Gas to Fill Up

You’re savings if your gas routine consists of rushing to fill up at the first station you find whenever your tank is close to “E.” One of the biggest financial mistakes people make is ignoring small savings that add up over time.

In some areas, you may be able to save a 20 cents to $1 per gallon just by seeking out competitive prices instead of opting for convenience. That’s 20% savings that many are driving past without a second thought.

6) Get an Energy Audit

Many don’t know that utility companies offer free energy audits to their customers to help them conserve energy. The audit will tell you exactly where your energy leaks are, so that you can focus your improvements and on the places that will have the highest return. When your energy bill goes down it will feel like you made money!

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7) Clear your Browsing History when Searching for Airline Tickets

There are so many comparison sites and apps claiming they can score you the best deal on flights, but you don’t need any of them. There’s one simple thing anyone can do to trick the system and that’s clearing your cookies. Cookies are pieces of information that store the details of your web browsing. Airline prices surge when searches for those flights increase so clearing your browsing history is the best way to ensure you’re getting the lowest fare.

How to clear cookies on Chrome:

  • Click the menu button on your browser’s toolbar — it looks like 3 short lines on the far right.
  • Click on “Settings.”
  • Click “Show advanced settings.”
  • Find the “Privacy” section, and click “Content settings.”
  • Find the “Cookies” section, and click “Delete cookies.”

How to clear cookies on Firefox:

  • Click the menu button on your browser’s toolbar — it looks like 3 short lines.
  • Click on “History.”
  • Click on “Clear recent history.”
  • Set the time range to “Everything.”
  • Click on the arrow next to “Details” to expand the list of history items and select “Cookies.”
  • Click “Clear now” to clear the cookies and then close the window.

8) Homeowners Should Take Advantage of Refinance Benefits

With rates being super volatile right now, it’s important to understand the benefits of refinancing based on your situation. With a refinance, you can get cash out of your home to pay down debts or for home renovations, or you can lower your monthly mortgage payment depending on your current rate.

Are you a veteran? If you are a veteran and own a home, you may be able to refinance with $0 out of pocket using a “Streamline” refinance. Little paperwork and no Certificate of Eligibility, why not take advantage?

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