What do you do when you can't pay all of your bills each month? I know this sound incredibly stupid but we are at the point where we can't pay them all each month. How do you determine which ones don't get paid? My sister and her husband pay the important ones (duh!) and call creditors on the rest and then forget it. I don't understand this! HOW can you just "dismiss" that you owe people money? She said (and she's an incredibly intelligent woman) that she is not dismissing them. She simply can't afford to pay them so WHY worry yourself sick over it. It is not going to change a thing. I am worrying myself sick over all of this. I am blaming my husband because he can only find pt work as a dishwasher at the moment (yet isn't exactly LOOKING for better), my daycare load is down to four and I am turning into a babbling idiot over this. I have had a headache daily for close to two month now everyday like clockwork it hits but at diff times. don't get me wrong. I thank God I have employment of any kind in today's economy but it feels like it is all crashing down around my feet. I guess what I really want to know is this, "how do you pay the bill you CAN and manage to actually enjoy one minute of peace knowing you owe so much to other people?" My sis goes out and has fun and laughs while I sit home with my "worry beads" rubbing and rubbing like it's gonna change something!!!

It happens. You just pay the important ones first and then pay the others ASAP.

We are in tough times and I sure hope the economy improves!!!

I Pay what I can and pray for the rest. God has brought us through month by month. I learned that worrying is like rocking in a rocking chair. It gives u something to do, but u r getting nowhere.

Ladybugs:

My grandmother used to struggle with this when I lived with her and my grandpa as a kid. We had nothing except a roof over our heads and potty.

Her philosophy was this: Pay the mortgage, the water, the lites, and food. The rest will take care of itself. She always said they can shoot you (call you) but they cant eat you (destroy you). That worked for her and it works for me.

In other words, try not to worry about the other creditors. Keep your roof, your lites, your potty, and eat.

I know it is hard because I struggle every month like most people but my grandma's words keep me in focus.

Hugs to you and I am sorry that you are struggling right now.
Jeaninne

Well put!! As usuall!!!

You can also call your credit card company, tell them of your situation, believe it or not many of them will work with you. The will lower your APR, and lower your monthly payment. I have always heard, if you cant pay, then call them and explain the situation. I don't get paid during the summer, and it is like robbing peter to pay paul sometimes...

Check with the utilities for possible one time assistance. I know they have programs locally for this. It might buy you a month to try to catch up on some things.

wow, ladybugs---you asked the question i had on my mind.....it's so frustrating...we do not live beyond our means..and have never done so.....we live in a mobile home we bought new in 1994..i would love to have bought a double wide--but i was not wanting to go over the budget...now we are 4 years from paying it off and i am so thankful we didnt go overboard...my husband lost his job last july and didnt find anything until november (and he was denied unemployment)....and it is a pt job as well...custodian at a middle school. and i too have been babysitting the past few years...i will be out of that job in 2 weeks...my least one starts all-day kindergarten this year..(first year of all-day kindergarten here--i was expecting to have one more year with her)so..i, too, like you have got a lot of the same worries on my mind...i am trusting God to work all things out for our good, since we love God and are living according to His plans...he has been very good to us and worked things out so far..so i can only pray that he continues in the future..
i try to remain very positive!! we can only live one day at a time... so to have enough for that day is a good thing! as long as we have a roof over our head and food to eat...i consider us to be very Blessed!
btw--we will be without healthcare at the end of this month--i called today to check on the available state insurance...we have a 6 month waiting period on it...and do not qualify for medicaid...but she did offer that we possibly would be eligible for food stamps...so i am seriously considering it...in this economy we MUST take advantage of whatever is available...my husband has been employed for all of our married life and has always been a wonderful provider for myself and our two children and i have never been employed outside the home...i have babysat in order to have some extra spending money for the little extras we all like to splurge on once in awhile....
and to answer you question--- about-- which bills to pay??? i dont know..i wish---- i did...but it makes me feel a little better--to know that there are so many others in the same situation..as i am in...
WE ALL NEED TO PRAY TO GOD FOR A BETTER ECONOMY...

IF WE ALL PRAY FOR IT, MAYBE IT MIGHT WORK!

Dave Ramsey a Christian financial pay off debts guru must have learned from Jeanine's grandmother because that is what he says too. Cover your 4 walls (housing, food, lights, transportation) then pay the minimum payments on all you can. If there is any left then pay the smallest debt first till it's paid off, once it's paid off, take that money + the minimum payment of the next smallest and concentrate on getting it paid off, then repeat.. the money starts to snowball and you are soon (well.. not so soon but eventually) out of debt.

This is on the condition that you are keeping your food bill low by using coupons and eating a lot of beans and rice and also that you aren't paying 4-500$ monthly car payment. A lot of people who calls into his show have large car payments and he suggest selling these and buying a junker.. even when you are upside down on the car payment. He also insist on writing a budget. He has samples you can print off from his website. (bottom of the page in a box - gazelle intensity is one).

Best of luck and remember... if you worry, you havent prayed and if you've prayed you need not worry.