Austerity Living

Financial advice for people losing income is usually insulting. "Cancel your subscriptions." "Make coffee at home." Those tips save $50/month. You need to save $2,000/month. This is real austerity — the actual hierarchy of what to pay, what to cut, and how to survive on dramatically less money while keeping the things that matter for your mental health and recovery.

Sources & Verification

• Federal Poverty Level guidelines: HHS ASPE, "Poverty Guidelines" (aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines)
• SNAP program: USDA FNS (fns.usda.gov/snap)
• Medicaid eligibility: healthcare.gov and Kaiser Family Foundation (kff.org/medicaid/)
• LIHEAP: ACF Office of Community Services (acf.hhs.gov/ocs/programs/liheap)
• Food bank locator: Feeding America (feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank)
• Income-driven student loan repayment: Federal Student Aid (studentaid.gov/manage-loans/repayment/plans/income-driven)
• Mortgage forbearance options: CFPB, "Mortgage Relief Options" (consumerfinance.gov/housing)
• Patient assistance programs: NeedyMeds (needymeds.org)
• $4 generic prescription programs: available at Walmart, Costco, and other major pharmacies
• Benefits screening tool: benefits.gov
• 211 helpline: United Way (211.org) — connects to local services in every US community

When to Use