The "cut back on spending" type suggestions are part of the solution, but can also sound a little condescending to people who are truly poor. As if money just appears in your bank account if you can only muster the right amount of will power? Should you give up eating? Find an abandoned house to squat in? If you can only save $50 a month, how long does it take for you to save up for college, a working car, or a more stable place to live?