When the month runs short
Start with the number, not a list of tips. Money left tells you whether the gap is a few days or the whole month. Only then, separate what is already debited from what can move.
To move a payment, contact the biller or the bank. Here, you see the dates you wrote down.
- Work out the money left from take-home pay and bills already due.
- List debits in the next two weeks. Rent and energy come before the rest.
- Find a subscription you no longer use. Cancelling it does not fix this month, but it changes the next one.
- If the same gap returns, make next month's budget before payday, not after.
If that is not enough
Fragile-customer offer: if the bank has identified you as financially vulnerable, it must offer it. It costs at most €3 a month. With this offer, incident fees are capped at €20 a month and €200 a year, and intervention fees at €4 per transaction and €20 a month.
Without this offer, incident fees are capped at €25 a month as soon as the bank has identified you as financially vulnerable. Source: Banque de France, page read on 13 October 2026.
The municipal social-action centre (CCAS) at your town hall can help. Towns above 1,500 inhabitants must have one. Otherwise, ask the town hall. Source: service-public.fr, published on 15 January 2026.
The over-indebtedness file is free. You file it with the Banque de France.
If a bank refuses to open an account, the right to an account is free: the Banque de France names a bank. Opening the account and the basic banking services are free.
Questions
Should savings be used?
Only for a bill that cannot wait, and write the amount down. This page does not say to empty a savings account.
Does an overdraft fix the month?
It postpones the spending, with overdraft fees (agios). The money-left sum shows the gap before another one is added.