There are days when there is barely food in the pantry and times are hard. These are the times when no matter what the financial crisis, things have taken a turn for the worst and we don’t have the resources we need. During these times it can easy to enter survival mode and just make it through. However, it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead, you can learn to thrive when money is tight.

When my kids were smaller I would curse these tight times. I would weep and I would survive. I was the most grumpy and unsatisfied in these seasons. Then I was reminded of something my grandma used to say, “You can be poor without being messy.” While my house was clean, my attitude was definitely messy. I decided it was time to approach the next season of little with a different attitude and see what it changed. While it didn’t change the situation, it did change the way we walked it.

9 tips to get you through financial hardship without bitterness:

Get Creative in the Kitchen
Not every meal will be a gourmet meal. Find money saving recipes and try them out. It may mean getting creative with beans or changing the way you eat for a season. Instead of letting it break you, decide to get creative and find new things your family can enjoy.

Make it a challenge
Cutting back in a hard season can be very difficult. Instead of setting new rules, make it a challenge. Give everyone areas they can help cut back and challenge them to see who can do the best in their different areas. For the kids this may mean that they don’t dump the entire bottle of shampoo in the tub to make bubble bath. Find small challenges that will make big changes for your family.

Pull out the games
Did you have to cancel cable because of the financial situation you are in? Instead of grieving that, replace it with family game time. Maybe it’s time to sit down to the game of life and laugh about going in to debt buying a boat you didn’t even want. If you don’t have board games make one up. You may find a fun family tradition in the midst of this.

Thrift stores are your friend
Sometimes you are going to want to get gifts for someone or need to get clothing. Try your local thrift store. It may be new for you but the thrift store can be a great place to find a gently loved item that you need for a fraction of the cost.

Invite people over
Maybe you can’t afford the gas to go out to visit friends. Can you invite them over? Maybe you can hang out together at your house instead. Don’t make it a party that you have to buy items for. Instead surround yourself with friends who understand your current situation and love you anyway. If you want to know who your real friends are, see who sticks around when you are broke.

Kill your pride
It may be time to put your pride aside and reach out for help. Do you need to talk to a local charity for help with an electric bill? Do you need to visit a food ministry to get enough food to get your through? It can be embarrassing to do this but there are people who will help you if you will ask. This may mean a season on medicaid or food stamps. There is nothing to be ashamed of. These programs are there to help you out of a hard time.

Be deliberate about laughing
It can be so easy to let the gravity of your situation pull you down. Make a point of finding things to laugh about each day. Have a tickle fight with the kids. Count your blessings. Find something each day that will make you laugh.

Dismiss guilt
If it is your fault that you are in this situation it’s time to forgive yourself for the choices you made. You can’t change the past but you can change what you do with the future. Look at what you did to get here and then forgive yourself and move forward.

Forgive
If this situation is a result of someone else’s choice, it’s time to forgive them. For whatever reason this person has made a choice beyond your control. If you hold on to bitterness you are only stealing your joy. Choose to forgive them so you can find peace in the middle of this hard season.

How you thrive when money is tight?
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Don’t miss 11 Ways being poor is keeping you poor