Guides for common money and basic-needs problems

Pick the problem you are dealing with. Start with the next step you can take today.

Emergency Help

How to Find Emergency Housing Tonight If you may have nowhere safe to sleep tonight, focus on tonight first. You do not need to solve permanent housing before… What to Do When You Need Help With Several Bills at Once When rent, utilities, food, debt, and medical bills all hit at once, the problem is not only that you need more money.…

Food

What to Do When You Run Out of Food Before Payday Running out of food before payday can happen fast after one large bill, fewer work hours, or a family emergency. The first…

Getting Help

How to Avoid Scams When You Are Looking for Help Scammers look for people who are scared, rushed, or short on money. They may pretend to offer grants, rent help, utility help,… How to Find Free or Low-Cost Legal Help You may not need a private lawyer as your first step. Legal aid offices, court self-help centers, nonprofit groups, bar associations, and… What to Do If an Assistance Program Says No A denial can feel final, but it may not be. You may have been denied because of missing papers, an income rule,… What to Do When You Need Help and Have No Money When money is almost gone, every bill can feel urgent. It helps to stop trying to fix everything at once. Your first…

Health & Medical

How to Ask a Hospital to Lower a Medical Bill A hospital bill is not always the final amount you must pay. If the bill is too high, ask for an itemized… How to Find Low-Cost Dental Care Dental pain can become a bigger health problem if you wait too long. If you do not have dental insurance or cannot… What to Do When You Cannot Pay for Medicine If you cannot afford a prescription, do not wait until the last dose if you can avoid it. Call the doctor or…

Home & Repairs

How to Find Help Paying for Home Repairs A leaking roof, broken furnace, unsafe wiring, plumbing failure, or accessibility problem can become an emergency. Home repair help exists in many…

Rent & Housing

How to Find Help With a Security Deposit or Move-In Costs Getting approved for an apartment does not help if you cannot pay the security deposit, first month's rent, utility deposit, application fees,… What to Do When You Cannot Pay Rent If you cannot pay rent, the worst thing you can do is ignore the problem and hope it disappears. Start early. Find… What to Do When You Get an Eviction Notice An eviction notice is serious, but a notice does not always mean you must leave the same day. The next steps depend…

Transportation

What to Do When Your Car Breaks Down and You Need It for Work A car repair can become a job emergency when you have no other way to get to work. Before you use a…

Utilities

What to Do When You Get an Electric Shutoff Notice An electric shutoff notice has a real deadline. Do not wait for the power to go off before you ask for help.… What to Do When Your Gas May Be Shut Off Gas service may control heat, hot water, cooking, or all three. A shutoff can become dangerous in cold weather. Start with the… What to Do When Your Water May Be Shut Off Water help is often harder to find because local cities, water districts, and private water companies use different rules. If you have…

Work & Family

How to Find Help Paying for Childcare Childcare can cost enough to make work or school impossible. If the price is more than your family can carry, ask about… What to Do After You Lose Your Job Losing a job can turn into a rent, food, insurance, and transportation problem very quickly. The first week matters. Protect your final…