Money and Hard Times
A plan for when money gets tight
What to do first when income stops, and the free help most people miss.
Hard times are a readiness problem too. A layoff, a cut in hours or a surprise bill can knock a household off balance faster than any storm, and the first thirty days decide a lot.
These guides lay out what to do in order: file for benefits, protect housing, utilities and food, call before you miss a payment, and use the free programs that already exist for exactly this.
In this topic: 3 one-page guides · 1 article
One-page guides
Money guide
The first 30 days when income stops.
Twelve moves, in order, to keep the roof, the lights and the food steady while you regroup.
Open the guide
Money guide
Free help most people don't know to ask for.
Twelve real California programs for food, bills, health, phones, taxes and legal problems, and where to start each one.
Open the guide
Home guide
The document folder.
Twelve things to put in one folder by the door, so paperwork never costs you a day.
Open the guide
