Crap... overdue bills

I really thought I paid my bills. We've been carefully juggling disconnect notices since DH has been out of work because of this stupid disease. With both of us "down" some how we're completely caught up with the less important bills and two months behind in important things like rent and electric. I'm still not in the mode that I can think of a quick fix and my complex is dragging it's feet to get my home up to code so we could get section 8. To top it all off my son's home (school starts soon) and I'm still at only about 60% useful (ie. getting up, showering, cooking dinner, and realizing my family needs me).

I seriously don't know what to do because my instinct is to pack our crap, put it in storage and couch surf until I have the brain power to find a solution but my son's getting to old not to realize whats really going on. I can't even really collect my scattered thoughts to look for solutions outside government assistance, they refuse to help until my husband gets approved for SSI. With no idea WTH we did with our money I doubt I'll be able to get help because we'd look like addicts. What did we do with that money???? How am I going to dig myself out of this hole long enough that my brain to catch up? WTH is wrong with me?

Im sorry your going thru all this stress.. paying bills in general can be overwhelming ..

Do you have a Therapist? or a caseworker? If so turn to them for help and guidence in finding out exactly what you assistance qualify for and where to help with the entire stressful situation.

Try not to beat yourself up ( yes easier said than done) Post here all you need .

Im sure others will be by to offer more information than I have to offer

((( Hugs )))

I understand where you're coming from. I just got a job, but it's only 7-8 hrs a week, so the pay isn't that great. I was making more on unemployment, but that ran out. I think we're behind on every bill we have except for water and car insurance. Our mortgage is in default, but we're slowly paying it back. It's like an endless cycle, and even though we've borrowed money from my husband's dad, we still can't get caught up.

How long is the SSI process?

It took DH 3 months to get denied. He's still struggling with deciding whether he deserves SSI or if he's just "lazy and faking it". Though he has told numerous time that he is not lazy and is not faking. You would think he'd get that spending between 10+ to 25 hours a week in different types of programs to become stable.

Yes, you would think he'd get that...

I feel your pain...I feel your pain...It's a constant struggle to juggle bills...Some days I wish that I could get a two or more week break from this...Just give me ONE WEEK without stupid s*** happening, struggling, phone calls from collectors. ONE WEEK... Struggling on one pay check no less...And then you have a child on top of that....I'm lightly treading every day because this month is going to be a trigger for me...Back to school shopping WHICH I haven't even started yet...***sighs***

The only thing you can do is take one day at a time...Get the major bills taken care of and pray to make it to the next pay check...Some weeks my paycheck is spent before I even get it, but I thank God I have what I have because others are far worse off...I'm currently doing something on the side for some extra cash ( no i'm not prostituting LOL) and looking for other ways to generate income to make it in between pay periods...Take one day at a time, try to relax and stay focused, and try to maintain some stability for your child. You can only do so much...Things will get better....They get worse before they get better...Just let it go...Whenever I take a "whatever" approach, things end up coming through and things work out...If we have to eat Ramen noodles and sandwiches for dinner then so be it...As long as I have my house, I'm good...

I understand Miguel'smom. I cry everyday, because of all the bills we have. Most of them are medical bills too. My husband gets paid through odd jobs, and I am on unemployment (which is going to run out in a week).

My PDoc recommended state disability, because it was obvious to him that I was in no condition to even go on a job interview, let alone nab a job. My husband assures me that he will find more employment, just to keep my stress level down, but how long can we last on one income?

My PDoc said that SSDI is the next step if state disability is not enough. I am aware that I will most likely be denied at first, but my husband has been my advocate all this time, and is not willing to give up as easily as I do. He really does love me and it makes me cry that I put him through so much crap.

Anyway, we are going to pinch our pennies until we figure out what we are going to do.

Re: back to school shopping. at my work and at pretty much all similar employers in Silicon Valley, there is a back to school drive going on right now. Unfortunately I cannot afford to participate, I have credit card debts and am behind on child support. But the idea is: the contributor buys a backpack and a list of items and places them in the backpack and brings to work. We have a hallway full of backpacks now. I do not know how they get distributed, but you may ask in your area - maybe a similar thing exists. The backpack really contains all that is necessary, except for clothing.

`I don't know where you are located, MM, but don't ever forget to pay your electric bill before it gets cut off in the state of North Carolina. I made this mistake while in a long hypomanic state that had me ignoring all responsibilities, and the sad thing is that we had the money to pay it. Anyway, it cost a $900 deposit, plus catching up on the two months we were behind. Over $2000 later, we finally had the electric back on.

I truly understand. One year I called the school before school started. I had never asked for help before. Not sure where they got it but they supplied my son his school supplies ) Worth a try!

There are other places probably where you live that take in donations. I'd call the county and see what they can do. Or Social services? Hope this helps

Back to school I'm not as stressed about because we home school there's no enormous BTS cost. If you call the teacher her first day back she can probably help.

My husband has decided he's going to deal with everything: He has electric pushed back until a friend can pay it. He's calling the head of the complex to figure out if they'll give us a payment plan or an eviction notice (so we can find help) but there's no way we can come up w. three months of rent at once. Did I say I F'n hate bp. I am very lucky that my state has a school clothing allowance program and our schools feel "free education" as just that, schools do not require school supplies.

I have been through this. Nothing is wrong with you. Sometimes with any mental illness we forgot things. My ex and I at times could not figure were I was spending the money. We would then look at all the bills for the month and realize I was manic during those times and was not spending the money on bills and food but rather on things that did not matter. I was buying wine and things like that. Due to me we got behind on our bills. We lost our apartment and our lights in the apartment got turned off. I suggest looking at the times when you got behind on the bills and try to figure out what your mood was during that time. It may help you figure out where the money went. I hope things get better for you and your husband.

I know we've hardly really moved the pass 2+ months but we've been juggling disconnect notices for over a year I know I paid several bills 3x and others none. We deal all in cash and money orders. I'm guessing when we dragged our self outside we ate out??? That would take a huge chunk of $. We also visited our son.