We all fall short on cash on a regular basis. So what can we do when we are short on cash?

Local Grants
There are a surprising number of local grants available for some of your basic needs.

Church or Other Place of Worship
Something not listed on Money Happy is the fact that most churches will try to assist members with emergency money for basic needs, or have bags of groceries available so you can save your dollars for other needs.

Food for Free
Plan to get bags of groceries for a few months (or longer) from your local church, or senior center (if you are older), or your county food bank so that you save your dollars for other things.

Think savings and credit cards. Tools and advice to help you.

Help Building Savings

Digit
Digit is an on-line program that figures out your spending patterns for you and track when you have a few extra dollars, then automatically puts them into savings for you. You access your savings when you need to — no fees — it's your money.

Here's what another website says about Digit.

Community Financial Resources
Community Financial Resources (CFR) helps low and moderate income residents by working to create affordable financial products and services structured to help you avoid unnecessary fees while getting services you need. The way to get to their products is to connect to a community organization that works with CFR. Here are the CFR products:

• The CFR Prepaid Visa Debit Card offered in partnership with US Bank. Good starting point for consumers who are unbanked and would like a secure way to save money and receive money.
• Secured Credit Builder Card offered through cooperative Center Federal Credit that combines building savings and building credit.
• A Banking Menu developed with Alameda County Community Asset Network (AC CAN), an online tool that matches consumer needs with the "best-fit" entry level checking and savings accounts at banks and credit unions in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• A financial education intervention for the California Black Infant Health Program to improve black infant health outcomes. This program is in partnership with the Center on Social Disparities in health at UC San Francisco. This is with the intent to address financial issues and to build financial resilience and improve family well-being.

To learn more about CFR and their resources visit: Community Financial Resources

EARN
EARN is a non-profit organization that provides a free program to help you save. With their saving incentive program you will cultivate a savings habit to help you reach your goals.

How does it work?
• Sign up and link your savings account to EARN, this simply so EARN can verify that you are saving monthly.
• Pick a savings goal and monthly amount. Rainy day fund, a car, school, whatever you need to save for.
• Save at least $20 a month, by putting in that in your existing savings account whether you do that online or in person, and earn $10 in rewards each month.

EARN is located in San Francisco, California. However, their program is based online so anyone across the country can sign up. All you need is an existing savings account with any U.S. bank and have access to it online to be able to link it to the EARN platform.

Utilize their platform to see how much you're saving monthly, and how close you are to your goal. The only rule is that for the 6 month duration of the program if you withdraw from your savings you will lose the EARN incentive for that month.

Go online to sign up and learn more!

Every different type of debt has its own rules and options for how to make handling the debt easier. In other words — it can be complicated. For example, if you have student loan debt, you might qualify to get that debt discharged completely or to get on an income-based repayment plan. If you have medical debt, you might qualify for "charity care" to cover all or part of the debt.

Contact Housing and Economic Rights Advocates (HERA) for free in-depth counseling by lawyers on how to approach getting out of debt.

It's easy to join a credit union, you can often become a member based just on what city or county you live in. Credit Unions often offer better customer service than banks because when you're a member you're not only a customer but a shareowner.

What is a credit union?
Credit unions and banks are both financial institutions that provide similar services to consumers, however credit unions are non-profit organizations, while banks are for-profit organizations.

Credit unions exist to serve a community of people tied by a "bond of association," this could be through a geographical region, employment, membership in another association, faith-based organization, or some other organization that has nothing to do with the credit union.

Credit unions serve that community by providing financial services with the most favorable terms they can afford to offer. Credit unions often offer small dividends (payments returned to members), discounted loan rates, reduced fees and other benefits to its members.
Is my money safe?

Funds in banks are backed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and funds in credit unions are backed by the National Credit Union Administration. Deposits are insured up to $250,000 per person, per ownership category.

More information on credit unions can be found at nerdwallet and also the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Establishing credit is incredibly important to your financial life. Good credit is essential, whether you want to buy a house or a car, get insurance or an apartment, or maybe even pay less of a deposit for utilities.

Building Credit
Lending Circles:

• A safe and affordable option that is helpful for any consumer looking for a small dollar loan.
• Especially useful for those with no credit or bad credit.

One non-profit organization that focuses on Lending Circles: Mission Asset Fund, visit MissionAssetFund.org for more information.

First, what are Lending Circles?

Lending Circles provide a zero-interest loan to help participants build credit and access an affordable, small dollar loan. Six to ten people come together for an in-person formation and decide on an amount for their group loan, for example ten participants for a loan of $1,000. Each participant may have a different goal for the money they borrow, medical bills, paying off debt or paying tuition.

For example, 10 participants each pay $100 monthly, that totals to $1,000 which will go to one of the 10 participants monthly until all participants have received a $1,000 loan.

Participants in the Lending Circle make the same monthly payment ranging from $50 to $200. This is what Mission Asset Fund (MAF) reports to credit bureaus. After completing the program, many participants establish credit score for the first time or improve damaged ones.

Lending Circles Program steps:

1. Apply
Fill out an online application
Take financial education
Complete online survey
2. Join
Set loan amount and loan order
Sign loan documents
3. Participate
Payments reported to credit bureaus
Statements emailed monthly
Receive loan when it's your turn

MAF is located in San Francisco, California but partners with organizations across the country to expand access to Lending Circles.

FIND A LENDING CIRCLE PROVIDER NEAR YOU

Community Financial Resources

Community Financial Resources (CFR) helps low and moderate income residents by working to create affordable financial products and services structured to help you avoid unnecessary fees while getting services you need. The way to get to their products is to connect to a community organization that works with CFR.

Here are the CFR products:

The CFR Prepaid Visa Debit Card is offered in partnership with US Bank. This is a good starting point for consumers who are unbanked and would like a secure way to save money and receive money.

• No check-cashing or bank fees!
• Direct deposit
• No monthly fee
• No minimum balance
• Safeguards to prevent overdraft
• No bounced checks or penalty fees

• Linked savings account making it easy to save
• Easily keep track of account balance via texts, email, phone inquiry or online
• Get a join account card to inexpensively share money Pay bills on line and on time!
• Free cash back at participating ATMs
• Use wherever Visa is accepted

The Secured Credit Builder Card is offered through Cooperative Center Federal Credit, it combines building savings and building credit.

• Open with as little as $200 in a savings account and start building or repairing your credit score!

Remember to always:

• Make your monthly card payments on time
• Only use 30% of your credit line
• Even if you already have a credit card it's good to have additional trade lines on your credit report
• Increase your credit limit by increasing your security deposit.

What is a secured credit card?

Fresh-Start or Credit-Builder loans, also known as secured credit cards, allow you build savings and credit at the same time. A secured credit card functions just as a regular credit card does, but your credit line depends on how much is held as a security deposit in your savings account. The savings account is yours, and you can access any money beyond the security deposit. The Credit Union lets your borrow against the security deposit in your savings. Once you show that you are able to make on-time payments they report those payments to the Credit Bureaus, and that improves your credit.

Benefits:

• No credit score requirement
• No annual fee
• ITIN or Social Security Number accepted
• 10.25% APR

Why care about my credit score?

• Lower cost loans
• More affordable mortgages
• No large security deposits to set up utilities
• Looked at when submitting rental applications and job screenings.