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How can I pay off debt when I already live check to check?  I’ve heard this question a few times and unless you’re blessed with a windfall of money, there are two ways to pay off debt if you’re living check to check, cut your expenses and/or increase your income.  

Ways to cut your expenses

Cut any subscriptions/memberships you don't use.  If you use your memberships and you enjoy them,  I'm not telling you to get rid of them, just keep in mind it may take you longer to get out of debt.  Back to those subscriptions and memberships.   Review your bank or credit card statements to see what subscriptions and memberships you have that you are not using.  Cancel them and put the money saved toward your debt.  

Sell items.  Look around your house or in your closet.   What items do you have laying around that you don't use and is just taking up space?  Do you have clothes or shoes in your closet you have never worn or only wore a few times.  You can sell those items in a yard sell, to a pawn/consignment shop, online (EBay/Amazon), or on apps like Poshmark, letgo or Offer Up. 

Cut the cable.  You don't have to cut it permanently  you can do it temporarily until you are in the position to turn it back on.  There are some cheaper options available, such as, Sling TV, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, or  Playstation Vue.   All you need is Internet and WIFI. I talk about cable alternatives here.

Ways to increase your income 

Pick up a side gig. You can pick up a part-time job in retail, teach part-time at a community college or online, child care (there are plenty of people who need 2nd and 3rd shift childcare), etc.

Use your gifts and talents. If you have a skill that can become profitable, use that to your advantage.   If your good a doing hair (braids, sew-ins, etc.), everyone loves a good kitchen beautician, especially if you are professional.  If you can sew and are good at alterations start offering services. If you can bake, start sells your best desserts.  

Freelancer. If you love to write, you can get paid to write for other businesses, you can design graphics, build websites, bookkeeping and more. You can find some freelance gigs on Fiverr, Upwork (elance).

Give yourself a raise.  If you receive a large tax refund each year then you can afford to give yourself a raise.  That refund is an interest free loan you are giving the IRS.  The crazy thing about that is they don’t give you an interest free loan on the money you owe them.  They charge you interest and penalties, so why are you letting them hold onto your money all year while you struggle.  

Check out my video on how to get check your tax withholdings using the IRS Tax Withholding Calculator.

Give your opinion. If you are opinionated and would like to get paid for it.  Try taking suryveys.  I recommend Survey Junkie, it's free to sign up and they will pay you to take surveys in your free time.  So why not make money while you're watching your favorite show. 

Become a virtual assistant. Virtual Assistants (VAs) helps business owners with various tasks that can range from administrative to more specialized services like social media management, project management and tech.  

You can find virtual assistant positions on Fiverr,  Upwork, and remote.co.

I have post on 30+ Side Hustles that should also checkout to increase your income.

What are some of the ways you’re using to pay off debt?