The Basic Needs Focus

Purpose / Reason
Prioritize securing food, shelter, and safety. Everything else comes after.
Answer to: “How do I deal with the initial shock of financial collapse?”

How to Apply

1. List housing, utilities, food/meds, transport, work tools.
2. Allocate today’s dollars to these in that order.
3. Pause all non‑essentials (subscriptions, extras) for 30 days.
4. Schedule calls for relief plans (rent, utilities, lenders).

How & Why It Works

• Triage and envelope budgeting put dollars where they matter most and stop leakage.

Results & Goals

• Immediate (0–72h): Panic down, priorities clear; essential bills triaged and first calls made.
• Short‑term (1–4 weeks): Cash leakage reduced, payment relief in place, income applications in flight.
• Medium‑term (1–3 months): Credit damage contained, basic needs stable, measurable savings/income uptick.

Citations / References

• CFPB — Dealing with debt & collectors
• FTC — Identity theft recovery
• Dept. of Labor — Unemployment & job seeker help
• IRS — Free File & payment plans
• FDIC — Safe banking & avoiding fees
• Mullainathan & Shafir — Scarcity