Before anything else, it needs to be said clearly: being in this position is not a personal failure. It doesn’t mean you didn’t try hard enough or manage money wrong. Most people end up here because wages are low, rent is high, emergencies pile up, or support disappears at the worst possible time. You are not broken. You are responding to pressure. Once the immediate panic eases even slightly, the focus shifts to fast money. Not dream money, not long‑term career money, j