BY VICTORIA CRAIG

 

You're watching multi-source video news analysis from Newsy. 

In an effort to stay relevant after spending weeks out of the spotlight, the Occupy Wall Street movement is tightening its belt. Fox Business’ Gerri Willis explains the reason behind the movement’s new focus on fiscal responsibility.

“First Occupy Wall Street ran out of steam, now they’re running out of money. The group raised more than $700,000 last fall and this week it has about $170,000 left.”

The Wall Street Journal credits the 24-hour protests and constant media attention for keeping the movement afloat in the first place.

“The money woes highlight how Occupy Wall Street has struggled to maintain momentum since it was evicted from a Lower Manhattan park on Nov. 15. During the two months protesters camped out in Zuccotti Park, donations poured in from around the nation and world as media attention focused on the round-the-clock demonstration.”

To that point, the New York Times notes how the movement’s spending focus has shifted since it kicked off last fall.

“In October..., they spent roughly $37,000, mostly on basic necessities like tools and cleaning supplies. Spending jumped to $121,000 in November, in part to accommodate the influx of people who joined the encampment. It dropped to $82,000 in December, with the enforcement of the ban on sleeping bags and lying down in the park, the arrival of cold weather and the departure of many protesters for the holidays.”

So what do you do when you run out of money? Stop spending. CNN reports how the movement’s leaders are trying to preserve their finances.

“Occupy leaders have imposed a partial spending freeze, looking to eliminate all non-essential spending. They say the want to hold on to enough money to bail out protesters when they’re arrested.”

If they want to stay relevant, the Atlantic reports, the group isn’t doing much to prop-up its dwindlin bank accounts.

“…[One accounting volunteer] said the group had no plans to start doing active fund-raising (as opposed to passive fund-raising in which people simply donate money unsolicited, which is what's happened so far), and that ‘there's a sizable and serious resistance towards going to a traditional form of fundraising."

Despite its lack of funds and/or  fundraising, one Occupy organizers says it’s a movement about actions, not money -- adding-- the lack of funds doesn’t indicate a lack of strength.