Okay dh and I screwed up, we know it. Were sorry and we are doing are best to fix it. Are past is still hauting us. We havent charged a single penny on credit in two yrs. But we havent paid off much of what we owe. I have crunched as much as I can there truely were only two choices. A. file for bankrupsy(sp?) or B. barrow from dh's 401K. Today is the last day to make any changes to dh's withholding for another year so we took a big leap. We are not going to be putting anything into dh's 401 this year and we cancelled our health insurance. We took me off the policy a year ago to save money but now we have to take the rest of us off too. By makeing these changes we will now bring home an extra 500 to 600 a month. We found a private insurance plan that we are going to buy for half the price of what we are paying now. But these changes wont take affect for another month. I have a bill that is due in full now or they are going to take us to court. SO I have sold some furniture, dh will get about 500 in over time this week and if I can cut our grocery to 25 a week for the rest of the month that will give us 200. Even with that we are at only half what we need. But maybe if we give them half they will give us some time to get the rest. I dont know but I do know that I am in deep survival mode for one more month.

Good luck!

My advice: try to contact them, before they contact you (by knocking on your door)! If it is clear that you are willing to pay and making arrangements to pay, they may be a little more lenient. Can you pay the bill in full?

I'm sorry you have to go through this. I know what its like to not pay things off. DH and I have been able to, but we've spent it on other things instead, now we are in a bit of a mess too. It sounds like you've got a plan. Bankruptcy is no good so try to avoid it, which it looks like you are. Hold your head up, you'll get through this!!

I'm so very sorry for your stress, but I can ASSURE you the storm that is going on around you, PEACE "WILL" BE STILL. It's hard to see through the mess but sometimes we have to walk through valleys to get to a mountain :)

Praying for you dear one. IT DOES GET BETTER...

Sending hugs. Sounds like your plan is pretty solid. The first few months are the hardest but it does get better!

Good luck, sounds like you have made some big changes that will affect your bottom line for hte better within just a couple of months. Hang in there! :)

step by step by step.

Best to you and yours in this difficult time.

looks like we will be eating chicken and eggs this week.

To save money I am going to be doing all my shoping at walmart this week. Normaly this goes against my beliefs but this week its to my advantage. I have to pick up my bil and take him to walmart so he can deposit his paycheck and get some food, ( he doesnt have a car ) In exchange he is going to fill up my gas tank for me. MY local windixie has whole chickens for 77. a pound this week and eggs for .99 cents. Im going to get walmart to price match so I dont have to go out again and I can do my shoping on bils dime;)

My thoughts and prayers are with you AnnK. You are in a tough spot now, but it looks like you've determined a way out of it. Hang in there and get frugal girl! We're here for you!

Jean

:grouphug::grouphug::grouphug::grouphug:

Sending hugs your way. Keep hanging in there. As long as you are doing your best there isnt anything else to do. my thoughts are with you.

Sending good thoughts your way!

Just keep doing the best you can!

Survival mode is never fun. I'm so sorry you are having to go through it. Pray, meditate or whatever spiritual thing you do. You'll get through it.

It sounds like you have a good plan and have made rational decisions. I hope you can get through this. Actually I know you can, you are strong and will be just fine. I hope that paying 1/2 will work for that first bill. Good luck and let us know how it is going.

I'm sorry to hear that. But you two have a plan and you're sticking it out together, so you'll come out ahead. I'd think they'll be willing to work with you on it if you have 1/2 soon and arrange a couple months where you pay the balance. It means lean times.

Side bar note: chicken here is minimum $4/lb. I envy your low prices. Beef and pork is what I stock up with under $2/lb for any cut.

:cheer4::yippee: I just opened my mail and yippee it looks like my morgage will be going down next year by about 300 a month!! Between this and the extra money will be have by makeing withholding cuts it looks like by the end of the year we will have 800 more a month to add into the budget. I cant believe I am finaly going to find my light at the end of the longest darkest tunel I have ever been in. Now that I know there is an end I am more determend then ever the make it threw the next few months.

So hold on to your hats ladies , its gonna get ruff for a while but in the end it will all be worth it.

:cheer4::cheer4::cheer4: Yay!!:cheer4::yippee: I just opened my mail and yippee it looks like my morgage will be going down next year by about 300 a month!! Between this and the extra money will be have by makeing withholding cuts it looks like by the end of the year we will have 800 more a month to add into the budget. I cant believe I am finaly going to find my light at the end of the longest darkest tunel I have ever been in. Now that I know there is an end I am more determend then ever the make it threw the next few months.

So hold on to your hats ladies , its gonna get ruff for a while but in the end it will all be worth it.

That's great! Gotta love $300 extra a month!

When we renewed our mortgage, dh thought it would be a good idea to increase the payments, little did he realize how tight he'd made the budget, landing us into some of the debt we're in. But we're chipping away, and SO ARE YOU! YAYAY~

Keep on hanging in there! It sounds like you are on the right track...hope good things continue your way.

Best of luck to you through all of this!

BTW, those are great prices on chicken and eggs!

Congratulations... Way to go!!!!

You can do this!! And look at the great news that came in the mail just today, woohoo, you'll get there before you know it!

We're here for you!

kj

That's great news about the mortgage! What happened with the creditor? Did you call them? I'd actually write them a letter saying "I, (your name) acknowledge this debt, and have every intention of paying this debt, but am unable to pay more than (whatever you can come up with) now. Please accept this payment as an act of good faith. I should be able to pay you $xxx on (date). " Then I would mail them that payment, and call them before it gets there, and tell them what you have done. Keep a copy of the letter and the check. Seriously, I read this in a book once about getting and staying out of debt, and I had to do it when I had my back surgery and was out of work. I sent everyone $1, with that note and even though the accounts went to collections before I was able to get my settlement and pay them off, they all offered to reopen the accounts (I declined), and I was able to get a home loan a year later by having them write letters to my bank.

Ann, hang in there, everything is going to get better. I'm so glad that your mortgage is going down, that's going to be a big help. Glad you're seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. It sounds like you have a good plan.


--Michelle

:hug2: That's fantastic news! I'll keep you and your family in my prayers for good things to keep happening to you! :hug2:

Ann,

I know you can do this, if you want to talk just pm me. I am sending good thoughts and prayers your way and your plan sounds solid, believe me YOU CAN do it! :hugz:

Sorry that you're having to make all of these tough choices. I sounds like you are working super hard to dig yourselves out. Good luck.

Keep your chin up. You can do it

WOW, somebody had been digging up some old threads today.

You will all be glade to know that things have worked. The creditor didnt accept our payment but it was alll worked out in the end. We still have somethings to take care of but in Feburary our house payment will drop and then we will be able to take care of the rest.

So glad things worked out for you! :)

sending ((Hugs)) I think alot of us have been down this road in one way or another and can relate. you sound like you have a good plan and there is a light at the end of the tunnel - I am beginning to see it finally!

Thats great news about your mortgage!!

Ann, I am so sorry you are going through this. You really have it together though, you are finding all of these small ways to fix this problem and that is what it takes.

I will tell you a little story. I have completely been at rock bottom financially back when I was married. My EXH had taken off for a week, on a sales trip. Chloe was just a baby. He had left a little bit of money, but not much and I did not have access to a bank account. A bill came due (electric) and the guy came to our door to shut it off. I gave him every dime I had to buy us a week. I had no food in the house and I had to put my baby in the stroller and go digging through the dumpster behind the grocery store to feed us that week. It was horrible, humiliating and unpleasant but we didn't starve, feeze, or sit in the dark.

You are doing just what you have to do, and that is what it takes. you will turn your life around with that attitude. I know that is true because I have done just that.

My philosophy has always been "Money DOES grow on trees. Sometimes you just have to plant it, water it and fertilize it." And by getting a ride to the store, you are doing just that - you made a tank full of gas appear. By selling furniture, you are doing just that - more money for a bill is appearing.

Hang in there Ann - things are turning around already even though it doesn't feel like it!