This sounds horrible, but I need your advice on this girls. We can't pay all the bills this month, so which one should I skip? My dh gets paid weekly and this week the mortgage is due, truck pmt., car tags, and gas and electric (only pd. a partial pmt. last month). I was thinking I could skip the whole truck pmt. and maybe pay a little and call them and explain our situation and when I could pay. What do you think? I'm so embarrassed to have gotten us in this situation but I know things will get better now that I work part-time. Thanks in advance.

Please don't be embarrassed. You are certainly not the first family to have this problem and you won't be the last.

Dave Ramsey suggests listing your bills with the most important NEED first. Your needs will be housing, utilities (gas and electric),food, and transportation. He suggests paying what you can, starting from the top. When you run out of money, you draw a line. Everything under that line can't get paid that month.

Definitely communicate with any company that you cannot make a complete payment to. Let them know that you are in the process of working out a budget to ensure that they will get their payments in a timely manner beginning next month, if that is true. See which ones will accept a partial payment or a deferment. Communicate with them, and they will be more likely to work with you. Ignoring it will not help.

I wish you the best!!!! (((hugs)))

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exactly what newlywed said. Please don't be embarrassed. Sometimes you just can't pay everything every month. It happens to everyone.

I would get your bills together and call the 800 number on each and see what the penalty is on late payment for each. In our area, if you are ten days late on paying your water bill, they will turn it off -- no ifs, ands or buts. But our electric bill can be behind three months before they will turn off the power and even then they will still come to your door for payment before plugging the plug. Every company is different and some are more willing to work with you than others.

Hang in there. You are staying on top of things so you are headed in the right direction.

I know how you are feeling and it stinks, but just keep doing your best. I would pay my mortgage and power. I know where I live it is quite costly to have power turned back on, if it ever gets turned off. Good communication is key when you can't be promt with payments. Most people have been in this situation before and can understand. I wish you luck.

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Jennifer

Money must be managed first, spent later -Mary Hunt

Car tabs usually have a month grace period. Check on that.

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~Happiness is a large family~

You can do what is called pass a payment with your vehicles once a year.I have only did it once at Christmas time.You only pay the interest on that payment.It was around 30 dollars for me to pay it.I have a friend that does it once a year.They tack on the vehicle payment at the end and you have to make up for it then.

Hth.It does not hurt your credit either.Just call the bank and talk to them and they are really good about it.

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Wife to Rick for 14 Years
Mom to 2 boys Dakota 13 & Ryan 9
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January Grocery Budget~$330.00

I agree. Call all of them, explain your situation, ask them if you can have a grace month, and if they say no then ask them what the minimum you can pay is. I would think most of them would rather have some small amount paid as no payment at all as it shows "good faith". Good luck figuring it out. I hope they cooperate with you.

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Thanks girls! I talked to the truck finance co. and explained our situation and they were nice and said we might have a late fee or accumulated interest. We are at the end of the grace period for our car tags so that has to get paid this week. We have to make a double payment on a few bills next month but I'm hoping to get caught up in a couple months.

Depending upon your mortgage holder, they will sometimes allow (with permission) for you to skip a payment and keep adding on the extra interest and you will pay more in the long run, but are allowed to skip a payment. If you still need to skip something next month, call your mortgage holder and see if they will let you skip one payment.

I would pay the house payment. I have been in the situation before and have found that it is best to pay the house payment first and foremost. It is so easy to get behind on your house payment, which causes a lot of stress. I will pray that you will not be stressed by this