Comments on: Reader Question: I Can’t Pay My Bills! What Bills Should I Pay First?

By: Juna

Juna — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:12:10 +0000

Wow – It seems like a lot of folks are going through financial hardship. I agree pay your mortgage and maintenance if you are in an association, then taxes then hit your light bill and water. Phone, cable, can wait. It is better to have a cell phone. Cutting back is an art. Even if you are paying late, I think it would be hard for a jusge to allow a company to garnish your wages. Balancing can be hard if you don’t have much money. What is the max amount that your wages can be garnished? Is their an amount?

By: dave

dave — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:03:41 +0000

housing is very importantthat comes first credit is a privalage you dont realy need it but my electric bill is over 1200 and i have allready used heap and red cross what next i am struggling here to fix this by 2 days any suggestions

By: Getting Off the Debt Treadmill - Stop Running In Place and Start Making Progress : Generation X Finance

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 13:50:22 +0000

[...] not good for the health of your mind or body. For families living paycheck to paycheck and can’t pay their bills, the frustration of trying to beat back their growing levels of debt can make life seem almost [...]

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:43:26 +0000

Wondering if someone could tell me if the gas company would shut off my gas if partial payments are being made.Last month my bill was over $300 and I made a $100 paymentRyan

By: annmarie

annmarie — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:17:01 +0000

If you can’t make payment on the water bills, some localities will roll the water bill onto the tax bill after it’s late for a while , in turn your mortgage co. pays that in escrow,then you can write the taxes off. I realize this may increase escrow a bit. Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

By: Marco

Marco — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 01:01:47 +0000

The Chevololet dealer ship close down while my car was in repair I was making payment on it. what do i do? So many people just went and got their vehicle and said the company will get back with them. The word going around is they may file bankruft this week

By: Andrea

Andrea — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:58:17 +0000

What should we do if we can’t pay our bills and we can’t sell our house to change our situation, how do we lower our monthly expenses when the housing market is so terrible?

By: Struggling

Struggling — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 20:29:45 +0000

I just wanted to give advise. I too am struggling. I used to make a 6 figure income until my business went south and my health did as well.It’s been very dificult as it has been with many.
Now I barely get by. But regarding the order of payments. This is what I recommend.
Pay Housing first, then utilities, then ,car,gas then consider paying credit cards.
But you should first negotiate with the credit card companies. You can yourself. If you lost your job sometimes they can defer payments. Or if you can’t pay the minimums tell them you’re considering bankruptcy.Then tell them if anything you can afford and if you have had a god payment history, mention that.
Another thing that helps is my family gets by instead of buying food, we get good quality store and manufacture donated food from foodbanks weekly. This saves hundreds a week and a month. If you’re fortunate enough to have access to some in your area, try the church’s an there are senior ones as well. Be proactive when you’re going through hard times and don’t forget coupns online. They help a bundle too.

By: LauaL

LauaL — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:45:07 +0000

I give up, I am now using my credit card to get money to pay on my credti card.. I have a fixed income SS, I guess they cannot touch that..all of my cards (only three), have finance charges greater than the montlhy bill.. I am so sick of this..!! A lawyer told me to call them up and tell them goodbye..!!They cannot take my SS.
Honestly I need food and gasolene…How does anyone do it? I am 70 years old..I need some freedom from worry.!I have maintained excellent credit for years, with sacrifice.I cannot do it anymore.

By: Richard Neva

Richard Neva — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:49:32 +0000

I am beyond the beyond with financing and being retired on a fixed income! I maxed out 14 credit cards and chose not to go bankrupt but went into debt negotiation. That takes 555.00 every month, then my house payment 786.00, then my gasoline bill about 150.00 a month. Now my car needs a 1000.00 dollar part to be reliable and I must have a good car for all my doctor appointments, I do not do pleasure trips. That car repair blew all my savings! Now I have nothing to live on till the end of the month when my checks come in. I cannot use credit cards anymore either. I am screwed!