Sorry this is happening. It really must be hard dealing with your own illness and then the financial strain as well. It's particularly hard on the man when there's financial strain. Did you know it's against the law for creditors to harass and be abusive. Is your debt high enough to consider bankruptcy - this may be something to consider or consolidation of all your credit cards. We did this 6 months ago(bankruptcy) and we also learned to cut back massively on spending. I'll share a few tips.

1. Our phone bill was 90 with Bell, with all those little extras like 3 way calling etc. I researched other companies and their base price was 29. We called them and canceled all the extras and told them we would switch if they didn't offer the equal competitors price. You can do this with insurance, internet, satellite etc.

2. We canceled satellite/cable.

3. I started grocery shopping at discount stores - instead of paying 200, I would pay only 100 at discount stores. I look for sales and stock up and plan my meals according to what's on sale.

4. We cut out going out for dinner and buying take out. We make our own lunches instead of buying one - it's healthier anyway.

5. We only go to the movies once in a while and go a discount day.

6. I only buy the necessary school clothes and resist all impulse buying. I always ask myself "do I really need this".

These are just some of the ways I saved money and I really started to feel a sense of satisfaction from doing this. So far we've been able to keep our house. We're small business owners and business has been slow the last few years. Now I look forward to grocery shopping and feel such a sense of satisfaction when I save money.

You and your husband can work on this together and if he feels you're trying to help in the ways I mentioned, he'll feel supported. Even though I don't admire my husband for other reasons, I did feel sorry for him when he was crying because of devastating debt. Often men feel like failures when they're in debt and I know it's hard seeing a man cry. Usually men won't cry unless they're completely over whelmed. You both can work on this together and it will actually bring you closer - its survival time. Best of luck.