If you've ever been behind on bills, in debt, and gotten control please share your...

**thrifty gal** · 07-03-2007, 07:13 AM

story with me.

I am at my wit's end. We are behind on our bills, and not doing great financially. I am so tired of worrying. I work up a plan, but it never goes accordingly, or even close to it. I feel like I'm drowning here.

Dh has not worked overtime in quite a few months, and it has really hurt our situation. Plus, Murphy has visited us for the last 2 years. He did some extra work this weekend.

Anywho, I just really need some stories of motivation, and inspiration.

Thanks!

**sueh** · 07-03-2007, 07:29 AM

My debt issues go way back as my now ex h could never keep a job. Anyway in 1999 I got pregnant with my dd1 and had her in 2000. I was suppose to go back to work after my maternity leave but we decided that it wasn't worth it so I gave my notice and became a sahm. Well my ex quite his job not even 2 weeks later. My daughter and I had no insurance. So I had to get state insurance for my baby. The bills progressily got worse. I became pregant with dd2 and it became even worse. We didn't pay our rent in a year.

In 2002 right before Thanksgiving I found out that my ex was leaving us. I didn't know what to do. I made arrangements with my landlord in order to stay here I would have to pay extra rent. So I was also left with past cc debt because I couldnt' pay my bills, utitlity debt, car payment, insurance. I was overwhelmed. I got a job parttime and slowly plugged away at my debt.
In 2005 I went full-time at work and got a promotion. I was very happy. In January 2006 with my tax return I paid the all my debt off.

I am very proud of myself to get where I am today. It was a long journey and I have learned so much from it. I do now have some cc debt that it really freaking me out and I am working my butt off to get it paid down.
I do know how you feel, I use to go to bed wondering if the next day I would homeless or my utilities shutt off.
It also seemed as if Murphy was a roommate of mine. He wouldn't go away.

Again, it is long journey but you will get there one step at a time.

Good Luck!

**Libby** · 07-03-2007, 07:46 AM

Im sorry to hear that you feel this way but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I promise!! The best thing to do is focus on paying off one bill and then snowballing your payment with the next smallest bill and so on so that you get a huge rolling payment on one of your larger bills. Once you get started it just keeps going on its own. Also, have you tried calling to see if you can get a lower interest rate on your late bills? Are you doing all you can to live as frugally as possible - w/o depriving yourself of anything? Is there anywhere where you can trim or curb your spending? In times like these you become insanely creative but you will pull through! And remember we're all here for you

**baronmom** · 07-03-2007, 08:23 AM

I feel your pain. We too are struggling with our bills. We are behind on a few of them. I have been trying to work more so that I can get a little extra, but these other things keep popping up to make the bills even higher. Found out recently that dh did not have dental so he had two visits to the dentist that we will now have to pay as well as some medical bills for my kids because of this wonderful thing called a deductible. It all went down hill when dh took a $1600 a month pay cut. We have yet to rebound and get back on track. I too hate worrying all the time on how a bill is going to get paid. Nothing worse than the banks calling cause they want their money. The car payment banks are the worst. They call even when the bill is less than a month late. Every other day I get a call. I seriously wish that things would get back on track for us as well. Best of luck to you.

**nodmicks** · 07-03-2007, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by shorty

Im sorry to hear that you feel this way but there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I promise!! The best thing to do is focus on paying off one bill and then snowballing your payment with the next smallest bill and so on so that you get a huge rolling payment on one of your larger bills. Once you get started it just keeps going on its own. Also, have you tried calling to see if you can get a lower interest rate on your late bills? Are you doing all you can to live as frugally as possible - w/o depriving yourself of anything? Is there anywhere where you can trim or curb your spending? In times like these you become insanely creative but you will pull through! And remember we're all here for you

I agree 100% with this advice! We paid off over 46K in consumer non mortgage debt. Through the vast majority of it we had an income around 30K.
Have you read Financial Peace? That really helped me with the budgeting.
You can do it!!!

**MNmommy** · 07-03-2007, 10:31 AM

We are alittle behind on some of our bills also, but not too bad any more. I call the utlity comany and explain to them my situation, and I can only make this much of a payment adn they were usually good with that. Lately we have been able to pay our bills since we're caught up from the winter. Winter time here in MN hurts the checkbook.

**jamie79** · 07-03-2007, 10:57 AM

I have friends who are in a very similar situation and they will not even call to see if the companies they owe money too will work out some kind of plan with them. All they do is play the we are poor routine.
Can you do some other things? Have a yard sale? Cut down on some things too? Just keep plugging away and dont stop posting here for support

**Libby** · 07-03-2007, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by MNmommy

We are alittle behind on some of our bills also, but not too bad any more. I call the utlity comany and explain to them my situation, and I can only make this much of a payment adn they were usually good with that. Lately we have been able to pay our bills since we're caught up from the winter. Winter time here in MN hurts the checkbook.

Have you/are you able to plan ahead and put away extra money now for this upcoming winter season? (yes I know summer has yet to just begin) Just a thought.

Originally Posted by jamie79

I have friends who are in a very similar situation and they will not even call to see if the companies they owe money too will work out some kind of plan with them. All they do is play the we are poor routine.
Can you do some other things? Have a yard sale? Cut down on some things too? Just keep plugging away and dont stop posting here for support

I tend to think of those that play the 'we are poor' routine are those that like to live in debt while trying to keep up with the Jones' etc. Whereas those that are truly poor or are in severe debt are the ones actually trying to dig themselves out of it by selling off items, bartering and learning to be super frugal. Those are also the ones that get OUT of the debt and can proudly stop playing the 'we are poor' crap.

**jamie79** · 07-03-2007, 11:24 PM

Shorty, I agree but with these people they live in a house that is falling apart. Another friend I know who knows them well, told me that together they make about $27 an hour. Not great but since their mortgage is $500 with taxes and ins certainly doable if they would control their spending.
I went yard saling on day with the woman and in 3 days she spent $400 . $80 on food and the rest on yard sailing and going to dinner and bingo. If they controlled their spending then they would have money to slowly work on their house.