I collected the empty cans, even plucking them from the garbage. I rinsed
them, put 25 in each plastic grocery bag, and took several bags home after
each shift. I returned them to a grocery store each week to collect the
deposits. Even working part-time I was able to make an extra $1,500 or per
year in this way (until they removed the pop machine).
Did other employees look at me strange? You bet. Who wants to be the popcan
guy? But between my wages, my pop cans, poker games and other
ventures, I quickly paid off my home while others were proud renters and
owners of debt.
The point? Get past your pride if you want to survive. Or at least redirect it
towards your ability to do what needs to be done. Pride gets in the way.
Pride is why people go bankrupt while there are ways to make money all
around them. A man loses his $70,000 per year accounting job, and can't
imagine working jobs that pay only $20,000 per year. He curses his "bad
luck" and waits for something better to "come along," instead of recognizing
the opportunity to pay his bills while looking for a way to once again make
more money.
When hard times come, drop your pride. Don't look for anyone to blame
(including yourself). Just look at the opportunities that are there and get to
work.
Above all, let go of your ideas about how things "should be." Such thoughts
stifle motivation and creativity. "Could be" isn't so bad, but idea of "should"
leads to anger, resentments, and excuses for not doing what can be done to
better a situation. See how things really are and then start taking action.

If you have a second car that isn't
necessary, for example, selling it saves you all the future expense of
insurance and annual licensing. That leads us into our next important step.
Cut Expenses
There is a section coming on this as well. The important point here is to start
this process immediately when your income drops. If you have prepared
properly, you already have an idea about what can be done to quickly reduce
your cost of living.
Other Help
If times are really tough, don't hesitate to seek out other help that is
available. Most towns have food banks and homeless shelters. I know of a
young man here in our small town that got a free gas fill-up for his car, paid
for by a local charity. He just needed to get to his next job, and they just
needed a (true) story and a driver's license.
There are also places that give things away for free. These are like thrift
stores that don't charge. Locals here who are poor (or say they are) can get
free televisions, furniture and clothing one day every week. Anything that
you need and can get for free means that much more money remaining that
you can use for other purposes.
Again, move fast if this is something that can help you. Once you spend $30
on clothing that you could have gotten for free, you can't get the money
back. Anticipate the expenses you'll have and start finding ways to lower
them now.
Talk To Your Lenders
Credit card companies can lower your payments or interest rate if you ask
them. Tell them about your situation, and about how you intend to pay them
in full with a little help from them. They may say no, but it can't hurt to ask.
If you are falling behind on your mortgage payments - or might soon be -
start taking action immediately. Many homes are being lost unnecessarily
now because borrowers don't talk to their lenders. Ask if there is any way to
have a "loan modification" that will lower you payments, or even suspend
them for a few months.
Then start looking at any way you can divert money from other expenses to
pay the mortgage. Don't pay on your credit card balances if the money spent
there can save your home. Let a car be repossessed if the money for those
payments can save your home.