Too Many Bills to Pay?

We had one devastating year due to huge medical expenses we had to pay ourselves so I went online and searched for 0% for lifetime of the loan amount.Discover card offered one, and as we have a good credit rating, we applied and were accepted. We had to put almost twenty thousand on it. Their only stipulation was we had to use the charge card at least once a month. So I called one of my daily newspapers and had that small amount as a charge each month. Interest is charged on all purchases which is where they get you. We meet their obligatory condition, and we got a no interest loan for that really large amount which gets automatically taken from our savings account because if you pay late on that special account you have to pay interest on the balance of EVERYTHING.

Hang In there and watch the day to day spending because it is the little stuff that adds up to big stuff when you start keeping a daily log. Snack items, newspapers and magazines can add up to an unbelievable total over a month's time if not careful.
Try doing a daily accounting for a month and I'm sure you will find money you don't need to be spending that will help pay on what you need to pay.

Hi Sandy, My husband works with senior citizens. He found if you contact the creditors and explain that you are having temporary difficulites, they are happy to work with you.

Go to www.daveramsey.com/ He has a wealth of information on getting a handle on debt and becoming debt-free. All it takes is baby-steps and being consistent, and you will be out of debt before you know it.

I dont know how much equity you have in your home, but you might try a home equity loan. I think its best if you put equal monthly payments toward your taxes and other large bills in a savings account... ING, Inc an online bank pays good interest. That way when the time comes to pay your taxes or homeowners insurance or car insurance the money will be there for you to pay it with.

Sandy,

I highly recommend going to this website:
DaveRamsey.com

I have been following his program for 6 months and it does work.

Honey - been there/done that but I know that doesn't make you feel any better.

BE CAREFUL of the credit counseling agencys - I spent money I didn't have and they didn't do anything for me. I only had one large creditor and that creditor ended up suing me - they could have taken my house!!! The credit counseling agency was suppose to stop things like that from happening but they didn't. I fired them and dealt with the attorneys and we finally came to a compromise which will save my credit (what little is left) and that I can live with.

Deal with you creditors one on one. Your car financer will probably let you skip a payment or two, call the credit card companies, if the customer service person refuses to help you ask to talk to their supervisor and keep going up the chain until someone will. Don't sweat medical bills - send them $5.00 a month that should keep your account from going to a collection agency.

Remember one thing - Everyone has problems. It doesn't make you a bad person, it doesn't reflect on you at all. Sometimes nasty people will try and bully you into payinging money you don't have - DON'T LET THEM.

Trust me, even the IRS has people that know good people can get in situations where they need help. Just keep looking and calling and talking and you'll find them.

Good Luck and God Bless

OMG - I went to that Dave Ramsey - spent an hour reviewing his site and touring it - and I signed up. We live paycheck to paycheck and I really think his program will help. I know this wasn't my request but thanks for the advice Jennifer!!

try going to http://www.modestneeds.org & see if they can help. It's a once a year help. But any help is better than none.

Try getting in touch with Crown Ministries at crown.org
Christian-based financial ministry. Have never heard any of their advice which was not helpful.

Your property tax can be set up with payments, also if you are a Senior Citizen you may qualify for even lower penalty and lower interest charges.

check with your local Tax Assessor

Sandy, we all get in a bind sometimes, but sit tight because the CCCS will go over your bills and help you get on track with a budget plan to pay the bills you owe. Once you learn to do the budget, and see the difference between a "want" and a "need" you will be able to get yourself back on track. Good luck.
Lee from Ohio

Hi!
Please go to Mary Hunt's site called:
Cheapskatemonthly.com
She uses the philosophy that you can get out of debt by learning how to manage what you already earn!!! It is not about having to make more money, as you will learn. Check it out, and especially check out the calculator that will figure out your last payment date, this is a wonderful site, and my husband and I used it to clear out 22,000 in debt. You will feel liberated and educate yourself in the process. Don't feel like you have gone wrong, just educate yourself thru this site, she is a smart cookie and Good Luck!!!

Carol Vitu

March 20, 20060 found this helpful

Go to my web site and read the stories of people who got out of serious debt with working from home.
www.healthconcerns.advancingwithus.../
Go to Success stories at the top. If this is of interest to you, I will tell you more. It cost me $29 to start my own business from my home while I work my part time job. Last year my personal friend earned enough to retire her husband from his job of over 25 years. We don't sell, inventory, deliver, or collect for any thing. We receive residual monthly checks for word of mouth advertising. cartonv2atjunodotcom

thank you all for responding. i have been to all of the websites you have offered. i had a car repair yesterday for $600.00. i just dont know where this money is going to come from but GOD does know.
thank you
sandy

Stacey Burkhart

March 24, 20060 found this helpful

Have you thought about picking up a part time job that is flexible to you. I am a Pampered Chef consultant and by simply doing 3-4 shows a month you can earn at least $500 extra a month. Need more, simply book a few more shows. You make roughly $100 per show and a show is between 3-4 hours worth of work, so that is about $25-$33 an hour. Not bad! You select the days you want to work and book show on those days.

Feel free to ask me any questions you might have. I'd be happy to help coach you and train you and get you started. Contact me, Stacey
staceycooks4u@hotmail.com

tommie miller

October 18, 20070 found this helpful

I'm not sure where you are from, but I'm from South Florida and in the past 2-3 years we've experienced a huge rise and fall in property values and with it a huge increase in property taxes. This is especially true for a smaller house like mine, where we are very obviously paying for property that is rapidly declining in value. I have submitted a request to have our property taxes lowered, but i don't know how far it will go in lowering the taxes. You may want to get involved on a civic level or with your home owners association (if you have one).
God Bless. Wishing you the very best in getting over this hump.