Too broke to save? 2

Too broke to save money? Never

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If your basic expenses are too high, you just don't have enough money left over for savings, debt pay-down and "wants," which include stuff like clothes, gifts, vacations and the occasional dinner out, according to Harvard's Warren, co-author of the personal finance book "All Your Worth."

That's exactly the fix Jason Adair is in. His family's rent, at $855 a month, consumes about one-third of his take-home pay. Add in a whopping $400-a-month health insurance premium, and he's already near 50%.

Once he's accounted for all the family's other "must haves" -- car payment ($475), car insurance ($65), utilities ($170), food ($200), other loan payments ($105) -- he's up to 87%. No wonder money feels so tight.

Any solution is likely to be tough. Cheaper insurance might mean switching doctors or pediatricians. A lower car payment might mean selling the current car and settling for a beater -- or might not be possible at all if you owe more on your car than it's worth. Finding less expensive digs means moving and could mean a roommate, neither of which is all that appealing.

No part of your spending should be considered off-limits for possible cuts, though, if you really want your finances to work.

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One poster on the Your Money message board was shocked that anyone would suggest trimming child-care costs, which are a large part of many budgets. But other posters explained there are often reasonable options for those who do their research and are willing to consider other possibilities.

"Sometimes you can find less-expensive daycare, a sitter, or even change your job shifts to spend more time at home," wrote cschin4. "Nobody is telling anyone to neglect their children."

Another poster, Table for 2, agreed: "My old daycare cost me $110 a week and was very bad. Now my new daycare costs me $90 a week and we just love it."

In some cases, Warren notes, spending more than 50% on basics temporarily isn't a problem, such as when you're unemployed or adjusting to a new baby, as the Adairs are. But long term, you'll want to get as close to that 50% mark as you can if you want a sustainable budget.

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Look for ways to boost your income

If you've really cut expenses as far as you're willing to go and you're still not keeping up, your only solution is to make more money.

Talk to people who've gotten out of debt, and many of them did both.

They trimmed their budgets, but they also asked for raises, found new jobs, moonlighted, started sideline businesses, sold stuff on eBay, held yard sales. Their older children got after-school jobs; if one of the parents had been staying at home, he or she went back to work. (If you're looking for non-commuting options, check out "4 real jobs you can do from home.")

You'll want to avoid any "solution" that's likely to cost more money than it generates, like the typical multilevel marketing scheme or work-from-home scams. Making real money tends to involve real effort, but it can be done.

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If you're struggling with money and want ideas for solutions, come to the Your Money message board. You can just lurk and read, or you can post about your situation and get specific suggestions. If you've won your struggle with money -- or are on the way -- please come and share what you've learned. Who knows -- you just might inspire someone else.

Liz Pulliam Weston's new book, "Easy Money: How to Simplify Your Finances and Get What You Want Out of Life," is now available. Columns by Weston, the Web's most-read personal-finance writer and winner of the 2007 Clarion Award for online journalism, appear every Monday and Thursday, exclusively on MSN Money. She also answers reader questions on the Your Money message board.