We have a silver lining in what seemed a dark cloud. I had a car accident a week ago and it was not my fault. My 2 kids were w/ me, but luckily no one was hurt. We are getting around $1100 from it and the car doesn't need anything but a turn signal really (its a cheap old car we use for work for gas mileage). I know we're paying our $400 house taxes that are due oct. 1 and we owe my mom $140 for her Menards card and may need to use some for our porch (we've been building it for 2 yrs. and its almost finished). I'm no sure what to pay next. I though since our expenses are there no matter what I should pay down some debt. We owe $400 to plumber, $500 on cc, $3,500 to finance co., $260 to bank credit reserve. So what should I pay? The min. mo. pmts. are only about 15-50 a mo., excluding finance co. which is 125. Any thoughts? Or should I prepay a bigger mo. expense like insurance, utilities, car pmt.?

If you had $560 after paying off your mom and the house taxes, personally, I'd pay off the credit card, or the bank credit reserve, and then te rest to the credit card. If you get rid of te smaler amounts first, you'll feel like you've acomplished more than just paying a little to all of the bills, and you'll also end up with less interest paid. Credit cards are usally the highest interest rates, which is why I sggested that one to be paid off first.

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"And the state of his bathroom -- I'm not one to gossip, but there are things crusted on his sink that have not simply developed intelligent life but have in all probability by now evolved their own political systems." Cain describes Abel in in SANDMAN #70

yep, I would pay off the debt with the highest interest rate, this will save you money in the long run!

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Maggie - Nanny to Nephew - Mom to Caitlyn Marie!!

I would pay the plumber. I don't know if he's self-employed or from a small business, but my husband is self-employed and it takes a financial toll if people don't pay within 30 days.

Here is what I'd do ...

$1100

- $140 to Mom
- $400 taxes
- $260 bank credit reserve
- $300 plumber

I'd like to see you put some of the money into savings but those items above really need to be paid.

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"I've been rich and I've been poor but independently wealthy is where it is at."

I too would pay the plumber first before hitting the other debts.

agrees with

1. plumber


then, whatever is the highest interest rate

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Think big! Change the world! One A.R.K at a time.

I agree

Can you pay your house taxes monthly or quarterly? I assume there must be a payment schedule possible or have you had so many emergencies recently that you hadn't saved ahead for the house taxes? I agree about the plumber, pay the small businessman first, it is really just like part of his paycheck. If you can pay your house taxes in installments, you could pay more on your other debts. I would also pay my mom if I were you. Money owed causes problems in relationships with friends and family. Don't stay in the position of owing friends or family money if possible.

As far as I know, we can't pay in installments. The taxes are due March 1 and September 1 and are delinquent April 1 and October 1. We don't have them included on our mortgage pmt.