{"id":1502,"date":"2019-11-26T19:19:26","date_gmt":"2019-11-27T03:19:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/?p=1502"},"modified":"2023-02-20T06:03:02","modified_gmt":"2023-02-20T14:03:02","slug":"your-best-resources-to-find-government-free-money","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/your-best-resources-to-find-government-free-money\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Best Resources to Find Government Free Money"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Your-Best-Resources-to-Find-Government-Free-Money.jpg\" alt=\"Your Best Resources to Find Government Free Money\" class=\"wp-image-1523\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Your-Best-Resources-to-Find-Government-Free-Money.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Your-Best-Resources-to-Find-Government-Free-Money-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Your-Best-Resources-to-Find-Government-Free-Money-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Your-Best-Resources-to-Find-Government-Free-Money-1024x536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>None of us want to be in a situation where we feel like we\u2019re looking for \u201chandouts\u201d or like we can\u2019t provide for ourselves and those in our care. Despite what politicians and those talking heads on TV like to repeat endlessly, very few people set out with a life goal of \u201cmilking the system\u201d or \u201ctaking advantage.\u201d It\u2019s simply not how most of us are wired.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You know how it feels to work for something and succeed, whether that accomplishment was big or small. Getting the job, scoring the goal, or managing that home repair without starting a fire \u2013 success is often its own reward. Personally, I\u2019m thrilled when I don\u2019t burn the spaghetti \u2013 my goals are humble and my standards low.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even faux accomplishments give us more of a rush than we\u2019d like to admit. Remember the last time your favorite team beat that rival you despise so much? What about the high you get saving the princess from those scary turtles and mushrooms? None of us want to hold this up as our major life accomplishment, but the best games make us feel like we\u2019re <em>working<\/em> for something and then <em>achieving<\/em> it. Heck, I know people who take days to recover from the highs or lows of who gave who a rose on a dating show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Real Money, Real Talk<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The fact is that we are hard-wired to enjoy challenges followed by eventual success. If we lack struggle in our life, we seek it out or create it. (Who creates the most drama at your workplace? Hint: it\u2019s almost never the person whose life is <em>actually difficult<\/em>.) Is it possible there are a handful of people in the world who simply want to drift through, taking advantage of every shortcut and never wanting more? Sure \u2013 there are always a few of pretty much anything you might describe. But is that most people? More importantly, is that you?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No. It\u2019s not. So let\u2019s just get that out of the way right now. Period.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/01582a216a0174c06144b64071ccb816.png\" alt=\"Cannonball Adderley\" class=\"wp-image-1508\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/01582a216a0174c06144b64071ccb816.png 200w, https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/01582a216a0174c06144b64071ccb816-150x150.png 150w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>But to quote Cannonball Adderley, \u201cSometimes things don\u2019t lay the way they\u2019s \u2018posed to lay.\u201d In other words, sometimes stuff doesn\u2019t work the way it should. And yes, when that happens, we may need a little \u201cMercy, Mercy, Mercy\u201d \u2013 at least for a time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"cashr-content_3 cashr-entity-placement\" id=\"cashr-3913929435\"><div id=\"cashr-3312245270\" style=\"margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div> <script type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"https:\/\/embed.hifiona.com\/script\/helper\/bundle.js\"><\/script> <iframe class=\"even-iframe\" id=\"iFrameResizer0\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/embed.hifiona.com\/ui\/multi-product\/index.html?partner=loanry-savings-embed&access_token=8cd4ed8e-100a-4353-8752-57dcb4430372_4802f2cd-0b4e-4623-b23a-3fc23a7f178b&company_uuid=1c4e72b3-5950-449c-8ae5-a59c67bbda70&productType=savings&pw_fiona=true&available_products=deposits&tag.subid=4ESRW3\" style=\"width: 100%; border: none;\"><\/iframe> <\/div><\/div><\/div><h2 class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-heading\">Help! (I Need Somebody)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s assume that there are times we find ourselves unable to take care of absolute essentials \u2013 food, housing, transportation, or basic medical care. I don\u2019t mean that it would be difficult to cover <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2019\/07\/20\/heres-why-so-many-americans-cant-handle-a-400-unexpected-expense.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the proverbial $400 emergency<\/a>, as one popular and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/opinion\/articles\/2019-06-04\/the-400-emergency-expense-story-is-wrong\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">oft-repeated report<\/a> claims. I mean you can\u2019t cover lunch, or get to work, or pay for your baby\u2019s prescription. You need to find help, and <em>now<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are <strong>two basic sources<\/strong> for help outside of\u00a0family and friends. One is what we\u2019ll call \u201ccharitable organizations.\u201d For our purposes, this will include everything from local churches to organizations like the United Way to the YMCA and everything in between. The other is what we\u2019ll call \u201cgovernment free money.\u201d I use the term partly to be defiant towards those critical voices I mentioned above, and partly to emphasize that these sources are public. They involve federal, state, or \u2013 most often \u2013 local government services of the sort we all pay taxes to support and have collectively decided are good for society as a whole. The \u201cfree\u201d part means you\u2019re not expected to repay the help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, these sources of assistance exist for a reason. They\u2019re not dirty and shouldn\u2019t be secret and don\u2019t involve doing anything wrong. I hammer this point because I know it\u2019s hard enough being in a position to NEED help. You don\u2019t need anyone adding their own opinions about the system, the services, or yourself as a person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Results May Vary<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we dive in to more specifics, a disclaimer of sorts. The very nature of charitable organizations or government free money (government services) is that they <strong>vary from locale to locale, from city to city, and from state to state<\/strong>. The needs of inner city Los Angeles are very different from those of Southeastern Oklahoma. The services which are most effective in a blue-collar town whose factories have moved out may not accomplish the same things in a rural farming community suffering from drought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In other words, we\u2019re going to talk about things you should look into. Stuff that exists in many places in many different forms. In many cases, we\u2019ll be focusing more on who to ask than exactly what sort of answers to expect. &nbsp;It will be on <em>you<\/em> to take the information and start asking questions. Don\u2019t worry \u2013 we\u2019ll talk about how to do that along the way as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, though, what sorts of things might prompt you to seek government free money or assistance from charitable organizations? The nature of the need may determine the most effective places to star looking for help, but they overlap in so many cases that we\u2019ll treat them all together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Rental Assistance \/ Help With Utility Bills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s start with one of the most common challenges of modern life \u2013 housing. In theory, common wisdom suggests we allow about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apartmentguide.com\/blog\/percentage-annual-income-rent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">30% of our total income<\/a> to pay rent or a house payment. That\u2019s great on paper, but in reality we may have little choice but to commit far more than that just to have a place to live and raise our families. What can you do when you realize you simply can\u2019t make rent and find yourself in danger of eviction? What are your options when you literally can\u2019t keep the lights on?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Rental or utility assistance may not be paid to you directly as some of that \u201cgovernment free money,\u201d but a paid electric bill is a paid electric bill, right? This is also one of the few areas in which you may find federal programs available as well as local options. This could definitely <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/money-when-you-need-help-paying-bills\/\">help you paying bills<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"2421\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZAhzNAk.jpg\" alt=\"Reduce Utility Bills\" class=\"wp-image-1509\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZAhzNAk.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZAhzNAk-124x300.jpg 124w, https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZAhzNAk-768x1859.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/ZAhzNAk-423x1024.jpg 423w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Health Care and Medical Emergencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The dynamics of health care are a little different than trying to pay the rent or keep the lights on. For one thing, health conditions \u2013 especially serious ones \u2013 can be frightening as well as life-threatening. On the other hand, you may not need ongoing assistance so much as help with a specific problem or condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of us know that Emergency Rooms will take and treat just about anybody for just about anything, whether they can pay or not. There are certainly problems with this system, but at the moment they\u2019re an option if nothing else works out. Expect long waits and paperwork and there\u2019s no guarantee of just how much care you\u2019ll receive, but if you have a real emergency, well&#8230; that is what they\u2019re for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask your local doctor\u2019s office or state government representative about state-supported medical care. Most states have some form of insurance or coverage, although it usually means seeing \u201cnurse practitioners\u201d of \u201cphysician\u2019s assistants\u201d and you may experience longer waits. The quality of care may vary, but experience suggests that\u2019s luck of the draw more than an issue with just how much doctor school the person caring for you has had.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Food and Groceries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This one is sometimes a little easier. Hopefully you\u2019ve already looked into food stamps or whatever variation your state offers. Be ready for paperwork and bureaucracy and all the baggage that comes with government assistance. At the same time, you\u2019ll probably get further by being polite, professional, and persistent than you will if you let yourself get frustrated or overly emotional.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also numerous organizations, religious and otherwise, which provide cooked meals, bags of groceries, or other direct help. Some ramp up during the holidays while others operate year-round. You\u2019re less likely to be asked for extensive documentation or deal with government red tape, but how much is available when is entirely dependent on whoever\u2019s supplying the food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cell Phones<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>What used to be a luxury is now an essential. In the 21<sup>st<\/sup> century, a cell phone is almost required to get a job, connect with your kids\u2019 school, or communicate effectively with pretty much anyone. They also double as mini-computers, giving us access to the internet and essential information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are numerous providers for \u201cfree cell phones.\u201d Depending on your income, they may be entirely free or require a minimal monthly commitment. Check out several before you decide. If you\u2019re not sure about the legitimacy of an offer, walk away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where Should I Begin?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>So, you\u2019ve accepted that you\u2019re going to need a little help \u2013 at least temporarily. And what\u2019s available is going to vary widely with where you are and the details of your situation. You probably have a few ideas where to start, but there are probably more options than you realize for <strong>government free money<\/strong>, charitable organizations, or other sources of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Search Ingenuity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>First, do what you\u2019re doing now. The internet is many things, not all of them entirely helpful, but at the moment it\u2019s absolutely the best place to start for gathering information \u2013 especially when you\u2019re not exactly sure what you\u2019re looking for. A Google search for \u201crental assistance South Bend Indiana\u201d brought up several promising leads on the first page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The First: &#8220;Housing Assistance Office&#8221;<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>The first was something called the \u201cHousing Assistance Office&#8221;, which upon further poking turns out to be a local government service for nearby Mishawaka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Second: \u201cSouth Bend Housing Authority\u201d<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201cSouth Bend Housing Authority\u201d was second, and took me to a website which I wouldn\u2019t have otherwise identified as a source of help, but upon closer perusal is clearly designed for just that purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Third: Catholic Charities<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>The third was Catholic Charities which falls under \u201ccharitable organizations\u201d and has the advantage of being both well-known and traditionally quite non-threatening. Immediately following that was a rental assistance site that seems to connect you to both help of the \u201cgovernment free money\u201d variety and privately funded options. All you do is give them a little info and they\u2019ll do the searching, no matter where you happen to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There were more, but you get the idea. I didn\u2019t call the Housing Authority or fill out the form for rental assistance, and <em>I\u2019m not vouching for any particular site or source of assistance<\/em>. My point is that sometimes we overlook the most obvious place to start \u2013 the same internet you\u2019re using right now to gather information. At the same time, this is still the internet. Let the web-surfer beware! Under no circumstances should you give payment information or anything too specific or personal to any site on the web no matter what they promise you. I know you know this, but I also know that sometimes when times are particularly stressful, we get careless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Be determined instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">City-County Government<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether they come up on your search results or not, your local city-county government (or borough, or parish, or township, etc.) should be able to tell you what services are available in your area. It\u2019s a fundamental function of local government, even if that function consists of telling you that they don\u2019t have those sorts of services in your area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep in mind that although we\u2019re calling it \u201c<strong>government free money<\/strong>,\u201d these are services we\u2019ve collectively decided are good for society \u2013 not just for you, not just for me, not just for some, but for all of us. Like police protection, fire departments, paved roads, and public schools, government help with rent or utilities is an agreed-upon function of the community. In exchange, they may require you to attend <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/\">financial wellness programs<\/a> <\/strong>or similar programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ask!<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s something your mama probably told you a hundred times back in the day \u2013 you won\u2019t know until you ask. It may be uncomfortable. You may feel unsure whether or not you\u2019re talking to the right person or saying the right thing. And yes, it\u2019s possible some of the folks you talk to won\u2019t be particularly helpful or friendly. None of that matters. What matters is that you\u2019re going to ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It might help to write down 2 or 3 bullet points for yourself of exactly what you want to say. Avoid unnecessary details and emotion if possible and stick to the basics. \u201cMy name is _____ and I\u2019m in a situation where I\u2019m not sure I can pay my rent. I have ____ kids and I\u2019m worried about what\u2019s going to happen if we lose our home. I\u2019m hoping you might be able to point me to some options in this area.\u201d That sort of thing. Be polite, but keep your head up even on the phone. <em><u>You\u2019re not doing anything wrong<\/u><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Local Charitable Organizations and Community Agencies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You probably don\u2019t have to go far to find a local United Way office, or the Salvation Army, or other recognizable \u201cname brand\u201d agency. Not all of these groups do everything, but any United Way office, for example, knows what services are out there in the surrounding community and who to connect you with to find whatever sort of assistance you need. Some agencies get very creative finding ways to make things happen for individuals in tough situations. They\u2019re also excellent sources for education and training, including <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/the-7-best-financial-literacy-charities-money-deeds\/\">free financial advice<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Best of all, this is what everyone there signed up for. Whether they provide direct help or not, they all chose careers aimed at helping people like you in situations like yours. So ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Churches and Other Faith Organizations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll find a pretty wide range of reactions with this one. Some churches have entire departments dedicated to this sort of community service, while others may be caught completely off-guard to even be asked. But one consistent element of a faith organization, whatever its orientation, is that it probably wants to serve those in need. If that\u2019s you, it\u2019s absolutely worth asking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Realize, though, that these aren\u2019t public institutions in the governmental sense. It\u2019s entirely up to them if or how they help. It\u2019s very unlikely their approach will be anything like the <strong>government free money<\/strong> you may encounter from other sources. Some may require you to attend services, or counseling, or otherwise \u201cplug in\u201d to their organization. It\u2019s up to you whether or not to accept, of course, but don\u2019t be offended or surprised. They may simply have a different idea of what true \u201chelp\u201d involves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your Child\u2019s School<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have kids in school, particularly if it\u2019s your local public school, chances are good there are people there who specifically deal with a range of student needs including some of those you\u2019re dealing with right now. In some cases, this may mean little more than a few extra forms to make sure your child can get a reasonably healthy breakfast in addition to a daily school lunch. On the other hand, many districts network with a variety of community supports to provide (or try to provide) full wraparound services \u2013 at least for the student, and sometimes for the entire family.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"725\" height=\"944\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/adv_advice-career-applyingforfinaid-ig.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/adv_advice-career-applyingforfinaid-ig.jpg 725w, https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/adv_advice-career-applyingforfinaid-ig-230x300.jpg 230w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 725px) 100vw, 725px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Child&#8217;s Counselor<\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p>Start with your child\u2019s counselor or favorite teacher, although you can sometimes simply ask whoever answers the phone. Understand that public educators aren\u2019t particularly interested in judging your life choices \u2013 they want to help your child learn. Most will be thrilled you\u2019ve reached out, because no one who\u2019s been in the education system for any length of time has any doubt about the connection between nutrition and educational success, or between having a coat and coming to school every day. They want your child to get those glasses, that checkup, those counseling services. Some are quite creative figuring out how to help make that happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s not exactly government free money, but the root of everything we\u2019re talking about here is figuring out how to take care of yourself and your family. Coats and dental checkups are huge when it comes to that sort of thing, yes?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oh, and none of them care about your immigration or other legal status issues. They really don\u2019t. It\u2019s a rare school in 2019 that doesn\u2019t have at least one or two staff members who speak any language found in the community. Don\u2019t be afraid, and don\u2019t be embarrassed. They want the same things you do, I assure you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Your Local Library<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is another option for which results may vary. By and large, however, libraries in the 21<sup>st<\/sup> century are determinedly trying to serve the widest possible range of people with whatever minimal resources they\u2019re given. Being librarians, that means information is the name of the game.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The library is unlikely to provide most services directly, although they are traditionally quite popular with some segments of the population as temperatures outside drop each year. They are very likely to know who in your area provides what sort of assistance, and may even help you reach out and initiate contact. They\u2019ll know where to start looking for some of that <strong>government free money<\/strong>, where to find shelter, where to find food, etc. If they don\u2019t know, they\u2019ll know who does know. It\u2019s what they do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once again, the key is to ask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cMoney Experts\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Personalities like Dave Ramsey or Suze Orman can be useful sources of information or inspiration when it comes to wisely saving or using your money, but they\u2019re not really focused on what to do when you don\u2019t have any to begin with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may recognize the name \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/matthew-lesko-free-money-tips\/\">Matthew Lesko<\/a>,\u201d although you probably know him better as the crazy guy in the question mark suit (<em>not the green one who fights Batman \u2013 a different crazy guy in a question mark suit<\/em>). Among other things, he\u2019s known for his extensive list of \u201cfree money\u201d tips and ways to get your hands on that <strong>government free money<\/strong>. As with so many things, some people swear his advice is life-changing while others think he\u2019s either delusional or dishonest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"What We Learned from Matthew Lesko\u2019s Free Money Tips?\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Gh40MVHJ4LM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>There\u2019s nothing to be lost in reading or listening to what he has to say, but keep in mind that he\u2019s still a crazy guy in a question mark suit. Take it for what it\u2019s worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is A Personal Loan An Option?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If your circumstances are temporary, you may be able to address some of your needs with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/alternatives-to-storefront-and-online-payday-loans\/\">a personal loan<\/a>. This allows you to avoid the headaches and complications of <strong>government free money<\/strong> or charitable organizations. And some of us feel better knowing that we\u2019ll soon be repaying what we\u2019re given.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many options for these sorts of loans. From local banks or credit unions to storefronts and payday loans to online lenders of all varieties. What\u2019s available to you will largely depend on your credit history, with traditional banks being the most conservative. At the other end of the spectrum are payday loans and other \u201cquickie cash\u201d offers, which tend to charge huge fees and outrageous interest. It\u2019s difficult to imagine many situations in which these are a good idea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are numerous online lenders who specialize in short-term loans, loans for bad credit, loans to consolidate bills or help you pay the rent or whatever else you may be needing. At Loanry, we pride ourselves on connecting you with legitimate online lenders who want to compete for your business, whatever your situation. It may turn out what they\u2019re offering isn\u2019t for you, but there\u2019s only one way to find out \u2013 and that\u2019s something we can help with. If you need this kind of help, you can start here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You should also check out this piece from my colleague Brandy Woodfolk on \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/11-popular-lenders-that-offer-small-dollar-loans\/\">Small Dollar Loans<\/a>\u201d and several popular lenders who specialize in them. Again, these may not be the right path for you, but you won\u2019t know until you learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As we discussed at the beginning, few of us have the goal or relying on others long-term. It may take a few weeks, a few months, or even a few years, but most of us want very much to get back into a position where we can pay our own rent, buy our own food, and clothe our own kids. As you work towards that, there may be ways to supplement your income creatively (and legally) which you haven\u2019t considered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, do you have a skill someone might want to learn or teach their kids? Do you make things other folks might buy? Can you write or design graphics on a freelance basis? You might be surprised what you have to offer that you haven\u2019t thought of. Check out this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/a-guide-to-making-money-when-times-are-tough\/\">Guide to Making Money When Times Are Tough<\/a> \u2013 you won\u2019t regret it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, know that you will get yourself back on top again. You may not end up rich or ever feel as comfortable as you\u2019d like, but you\u2019ll be taking care of yourself and those you love. When that happens, rather than allow anyone \u2013 including yourself \u2013 to make you feel awkward or ashamed of accepting government free money or other help when you needed it, look for ways to \u201cpay it forward.\u201d Help a friend. Be encouraging. Volunteer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>We all need a little help sometimes.<\/strong><\/p>\n<a class=\"arb-banner\" href=\"https:\/\/mall.goalry.com\/cashry\/?utm_campaign=organic&utm_source=cashry&utm_medium=moneytipscategory&utm_content=banner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"arb-banner-img\" src=\"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/cashry-banner.jpg\" alt=\"cashry\"><\/a><!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on the_content --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on the_content -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>None of us want to be in a situation where we feel like we\u2019re looking for \u201chandouts\u201d or like we can\u2019t provide for ourselves and those in our care. Despite what politicians and those talking heads on TV like to repeat endlessly, very few people set out with a life goal of \u201cmilking the system\u201d [&hellip;]<!-- AddThis Advanced Settings generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><!-- AddThis Share Buttons generic via filter on get_the_excerpt --><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":1522,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[131,125],"class_list":["post-1502","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-tips","tag-financial-wellness-programs","tag-free-financial-advice"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/Your-Best-Resources-to-Find-Government-Free-Money-1.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Blaine Koehn","author_link":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/author\/blaine-koehn\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1502","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1502"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1502\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5445,"href":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1502\/revisions\/5445"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1502"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1502"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cashry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1502"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}