UA uses additional tools, such as keeping written records of how one spends one's time, "possession consciousness" (the disposal of "what no longer serves us"), Goal pages which is the writing down of one's goals, measuring progress and rewarding achievement and the avoidance of "debting" (unsecured borrowing).
Given the more subjective nature of underearning, as opposed to alcoholism, the effectiveness of UA is probably even harder to rigorously investigate.
"[5][6] Underearners Anonymous was started when a group of individuals attending a DA meeting, realized the power of the 12 steps to release people from the bondage of deprivation.
However, UA also believes that a healthy relationship with money requires more than just recovery from "incurring unsecured debt," the primary focus of Debtors Anonymous.
[8] Underearning also overlaps with deprivation, social anorexia, and underachieving, collectively referred to as "under-being," giving it an emphasis different from the Debtors Anonymous focus on behaviors such as credit card debt, overspending and compulsive shopping.