Question:
Well I don't have a strict budget per se but I am financially stable. I always save for a rainy day from my pay AND for my bills. So I'm never caught short.
I haven't always been like that.I used to live pay to pay (when I was a student) so I can tell you from experience that companies are generally more obliging when you call them as soon as you know you are having difficulties. If you wait until you are heaps of payments behind, they will always say, why did you wait to contact us and will be more reluctant to help you out.
I would normally suggest consolidating your debt with a loan but if you are only getting income from welfare because Mark isn't working, then I think it would be hard to get, particularly as you sound phenomenally behind already. There are places that will loan to those with significant credit risk but usually the interest rates are through the roof.
Edited to say - Also when I have been drowning in the past, I've always tightened my belt. The luxuries all go and you only get necessities. Put food on the table, a roof over your head and clothes on your back. Those things have to come first, always.
I really would seek financial counselling.there are places that offer it free if you check in the yellow pages.
Do you have a budget? How do you do your budget?
To make a long story short, we are behind in our bills!! (Rent, Car, Phone, Electricity) We are at a very bad point financially, and somehow i have to pull us out of this.
So how do you go about it when you are DROWNING?
Hi Manda,
I agree with all the other ladies, if you set yourself a goal to get one bill paid off quicker than the others by paying a little more on that one until it is paid off it may be a bit easier. But in the long run you need to sit down write what bills are coming in putting money aside to pay them a little extra to get them paid off.
I made a list of all bills that need to be paid:
CAR
PHONE/MOBILE/BROARDBAND
ELETRICITY
GAS
SWIMMING (KIDS)
DANCING (KIDS)
MILKMAN
LAWN MOWER MAN
PRE-SCHOOL
PETROL
I have worked out how much I need to put away for each of these each fortnight. When my wage comes in I get it out of the bank in the right denominations to be able to put the right amount into their right envelopes. Say I need 600 in $50's, 300 in $20's, 100 in $10's 50, in $5's, 10 in $2's 3 in $1's that is what I take out of the bank. I ask the teller to do it as I have written it, funny enough they do it without any worry's. The envelopes are all marked with what I am paying how much has to go into it. The very first thing I pay even before coming home is the rent, I don't have one for the rent for that reason. It is to easy to borrow from the rent to pay something else then fall behind, we need a roof over our head. Now all my bills are paid as soon as they come in, I sometimes pay them with phone banking if I have enough in the bank to cover the bill, then I put the money that was to pay the bill into my purse but not before I have paid it.
Manda.we both get paid every two weeks. With one we pay for rent (our biggest expense, by fart) and with the other we pay our other bills. As soon as pay comes in, I pay cell, electric, internet, insurance, and matt's school loans and then whatever we have left is for food, ent, etc.
Dont' get overwhelmed. Just contact the companies and let them know what is going on.
Manda.Centrelink should be able to help you with a and, I have been advised, assist you in planning a budget.
I agree with the others, contact the companies concerned.they realise that they can't get blood from a stone and in most cases, as long as you are upfront with them will endeavour to help you.
When I was single and paying off a mortgage, I found that money was tight, but I always managed (just sometimes) to pay the essentials because I bought myself a cheap.really cheap.small photo album, labelled each sleeve with a different expense (rent/electricity etc) and each fortnight would put money in each sleeve so that when the bill fell due I could pay it, eg: Electricity approx $300 a quarter, 6 lots of $50 bills.
Hope that makes sense to you.and that Centrelink can help.
Thaks everyone.
Thanks for that link heather, Unfortunately im unable to get that payment as im already reicing a payment.
Now that marks not working atm, he will have to go into centrelink and start getting the ball rolling there, but its not as simple as that (long story but theres other stuff he HAS to sort out as well)
I will DO MY BEST to make him call the companies regardless of the fact things already behind.
I left the bills up to him as this is his place and they are ALL in his name, but things have happened and now its behind and whilst my children and i need to be here we need things such as electricty etc so i am taking over until things get sorted.
I know how this comes across with what you ladies know of our situation, but there is alot going on (especially lately) that you dont know, and no matter what i have to make sure my kids are being cared for now and in the future, IF that means paing the bills here then thats what i have to do
You certainly seem to be in a pickle.happy to help if I can, anytime.
Thanks Heather.
I know im no help but i really hope you can get things sorted.
This may or may not be an option.not sure.but have you thought of asking his folks for a short term loan to tide him through until he's working again?
OH stormy i wish asking ANYONE for a loan was an option but unfortulately itd not
I haven't always been like that.I used to live pay to pay (when I was a student) so I can tell you from experience that companies are generally more obliging when you call them as soon as you know you are having difficulties. If you wait until you are heaps of payments behind, they will always say, why did you wait to contact us and will be more reluctant to help you out.
I would normally suggest consolidating your debt with a loan but if you are only getting income from welfare because Mark isn't working, then I think it would be hard to get, particularly as you sound phenomenally behind already. There are places that will loan to those with significant credit risk but usually the interest rates are through the roof.
Edited to say - Also when I have been drowning in the past, I've always tightened my belt. The luxuries all go and you only get necessities. Put food on the table, a roof over your head and clothes on your back. Those things have to come first, always.
I really would seek financial counselling.there are places that offer it free if you check in the yellow pages.
Answer:
Do you have a budget? How do you do your budget?
To make a long story short, we are behind in our bills!! (Rent, Car, Phone, Electricity) We are at a very bad point financially, and somehow i have to pull us out of this.
So how do you go about it when you are DROWNING?
Hi Manda,
I agree with all the other ladies, if you set yourself a goal to get one bill paid off quicker than the others by paying a little more on that one until it is paid off it may be a bit easier. But in the long run you need to sit down write what bills are coming in putting money aside to pay them a little extra to get them paid off.
I made a list of all bills that need to be paid:
CAR
PHONE/MOBILE/BROARDBAND
ELETRICITY
GAS
SWIMMING (KIDS)
DANCING (KIDS)
MILKMAN
LAWN MOWER MAN
PRE-SCHOOL
PETROL
I have worked out how much I need to put away for each of these each fortnight. When my wage comes in I get it out of the bank in the right denominations to be able to put the right amount into their right envelopes. Say I need 600 in $50's, 300 in $20's, 100 in $10's 50, in $5's, 10 in $2's 3 in $1's that is what I take out of the bank. I ask the teller to do it as I have written it, funny enough they do it without any worry's. The envelopes are all marked with what I am paying how much has to go into it. The very first thing I pay even before coming home is the rent, I don't have one for the rent for that reason. It is to easy to borrow from the rent to pay something else then fall behind, we need a roof over our head. Now all my bills are paid as soon as they come in, I sometimes pay them with phone banking if I have enough in the bank to cover the bill, then I put the money that was to pay the bill into my purse but not before I have paid it.
Answer:
Manda.we both get paid every two weeks. With one we pay for rent (our biggest expense, by fart) and with the other we pay our other bills. As soon as pay comes in, I pay cell, electric, internet, insurance, and matt's school loans and then whatever we have left is for food, ent, etc.
Dont' get overwhelmed. Just contact the companies and let them know what is going on.
Answer:
Manda.Centrelink should be able to help you with a and, I have been advised, assist you in planning a budget.
I agree with the others, contact the companies concerned.they realise that they can't get blood from a stone and in most cases, as long as you are upfront with them will endeavour to help you.
When I was single and paying off a mortgage, I found that money was tight, but I always managed (just sometimes) to pay the essentials because I bought myself a cheap.really cheap.small photo album, labelled each sleeve with a different expense (rent/electricity etc) and each fortnight would put money in each sleeve so that when the bill fell due I could pay it, eg: Electricity approx $300 a quarter, 6 lots of $50 bills.
Hope that makes sense to you.and that Centrelink can help.
Answer:
Thaks everyone.
Thanks for that link heather, Unfortunately im unable to get that payment as im already reicing a payment.
Now that marks not working atm, he will have to go into centrelink and start getting the ball rolling there, but its not as simple as that (long story but theres other stuff he HAS to sort out as well)
I will DO MY BEST to make him call the companies regardless of the fact things already behind.
I left the bills up to him as this is his place and they are ALL in his name, but things have happened and now its behind and whilst my children and i need to be here we need things such as electricty etc so i am taking over until things get sorted.
I know how this comes across with what you ladies know of our situation, but there is alot going on (especially lately) that you dont know, and no matter what i have to make sure my kids are being cared for now and in the future, IF that means paing the bills here then thats what i have to do
Answer:
You certainly seem to be in a pickle.happy to help if I can, anytime.
Answer:
Thanks Heather.
Answer:
I know im no help but i really hope you can get things sorted.
Answer:
This may or may not be an option.not sure.but have you thought of asking his folks for a short term loan to tide him through until he's working again?
Answer:
OH stormy i wish asking ANYONE for a loan was an option but unfortulately itd not