6 proven solutions to help out during temporary cash flow issues
We’ve all experienced temporary cash problems now and then. Even businesses get a bit stuck for ready funds from time to time. We know that managing your finances can be extremely challenging in times when your anticipated cash flow is disrupted, which can be caused by a sudden job loss or reduced hours, a medical emergency, or any unexpected expense.
The good thing is there are proven solutions that can help you out when you find yourself a bit short on funds - here are a few options to consider.
1. Ask your family and friends for a hand
Your first line of defence in times of financial troubles is your family and friends. Reach out to them to ask if they can help by lending you some money to tide you over. When you borrow from people who are close to you, it’s important to agree when the money will be paid back, and to live up to your end of the bargain. No one likes to feel they’ve been taken advantage of when they lend someone money, so make sure your promises are realistic.
2. Get a loan
A loan is one of the proven solutions to a short-term cash problem, and they’re quick and easy to obtain. Small personal loans especially are a great way to get you through temporary money woes and may help to get things back on track.
A small personal loan is often unsecured, so you don’t have to worry about having to risk any of your assets for collateral. You may also have a choice of repayment options and an opportunity to set the loan term, which will then dictate the amount of your monthly repayments. Additionally, some lenders may approve this type of loan even if your credit score isn’t that flash. Bear in mind though that the better your credit rating, the higher your approval rate will be.
3. Apply for Child Care Subsidy (CCS)
The kids are often the most affected when a family goes through a temporary cash flow issue. If you’re not already receiving a child care subsidy, it’s time to ask the Australian Government to help you with your children’s care costs, which may include centre-based day care, outside school hours care, family day care or in-home care. Naturally there are eligibility criteria you’ll need to meet, including the total income in the household, the number of children in the family, their ages, etc. You can find out more about the Child Care Subsidy here.
4. Apply for Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS)
If you’re getting the CCS, but it isn’t enough to cover all of your children’s expenses, you could also apply for the Additional Child Care Subsidy (ACCS). It’s the government's way of helping families who are going through temporary financial struggles due to an event that occurred within the last six months. Some of the events that are eligible include the death of a partner or child, an unexpected job loss, loss of child support from the paying parent who died, a major disaster or family or domestic violence. To see if you may be entitled to ACCS support, read all the details here - Additional Child Care Subsidy.
5. Consider freelancing
Freelancing may not work for everyone, but it sure does work for many people, especially since the Covid pandemic gave rise to large numbers of people working from home. Freelancing usually means taking online jobs on a per-project basis, so if you’re experiencing temporary cash flow problems, you may want to consider taking on some temporary jobs until you’re back on your feet.
Depending on your skills and experience, you’ll find many opportunities online for services such as writing or blogging, website design, graphic design, bookkeeping, or data entry. You may even like it so much that it becomes a regular source of income – or even replaces your day job! However you go about it, that additional income will help you to managing your finances better.
6. Find some extra income
If online work or freelancing aren’t your thing, there are still other ways you can earn some extra income to tide you over until your financial situation improves. There are so many ways you can make some extra cash - you can babysit or dog sit, you can clear up the clutter and have a garage sale, do some Uber driving, rent out a spare room or even rent your car out on a casual basis. The opportunities are endless.
A final word
Life, in general, is unpredictable, and you never know what surprises (nasty or otherwise) are lurking just around the corner. Those unforeseen circumstances can bring some temporary cash flow problems with them, but fortunately, there are potential solutions (as listed above) that you can lean on in difficult times. As a small loan provider, Safe Financial is one of those solutions, and we’ll be glad to help. Just take a look at our cash loans up to $5,000 to find out how quick and easy it is to get your hands on some extra funds. Once a loan is approved, the cash is usually in your bank account within a few hours – so you can manage the unexpected until your finances get back to normal.