[Moodmuse]

I totaled up our monthly bills and done all the calculations of what's coming in and what's going out. OMG! We're about $2000 short of being able to pay our bills a month. Just a few yrs ago my father payed off $30,000 in loans for us and what did we do? Charged everything back up. There's no way we can tell him. We want to get out from under the business he gave us but still can't afford to. The stress is killing me along with causing arguments between my hubby and I. It totally makes my BP worse. We're thinking about letting all the credit cards go and only pay essentials. Although we still wouldn't be able to get rid of business. It would however help with stress to let the bills go.

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[Clinte89]

I let me bills go and I'm stress free of course I'm lucky enough to live with my parents.

[Lonely46]

Originally Posted by Moodmuse

I totaled up our monthly bills and done all the calculations of what's coming in and what's going out. OMG! We're about $2000 short of being able to pay our bills a month. Just a few yrs ago my father payed off $30,000 in loans for us and what did we do? Charged everything back up. There's no way we can tell him. We want to get out from under the business he gave us but still can't afford to. The stress is killing me along with causing arguments between my hubby and I. It totally makes my BP worse. We're thinking about letting all the credit cards go and only pay essentials. Although we still wouldn't be able to get rid of business. It would however help with stress to let the bills go.

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I went over my head in debt, about 90k in credit cards alone back in the 90's. I learned bipolar and spending go hand in hand. Finally I declared bankruptcy and have never had a credit card since. My credit rating is terrible now. I can't afford to pay off the 200k in hospital bills. I figured what are they going to do, sue me? I have nothing, unless they want my blood. Just pay the essentials and to hell with the rest, the stress isn't worth it. Cut up any credit cards now and pay cash for everything. For those of us over 40, the best days are behind us. I have some knowledge of how economics work, having sold securities and having done taxes for people, and I can honestly say things are going to get much much worse. We will soon think of these years as the glory years. Our government has borrowed so much money we can barely pay off just the interest, and they have borrowed so much from Social Security with no way to pay it back. So they will up the retirement age, cut the benefits, and borrow more money to fund it. Medicade is eating up a lot of money, along with all the other entitlement programs. I know people, including myself, need the help, but the well is running dry quickly. Something has to give, and soon. If America falters it will cause a domino effect around the world and we will have a global recession or worse yet, a depression. I sincerely hope I am wrong, for my kid's and grandkid's sake. The adults have screwed this up for too long now. Well, off my high horse. Like I said, pay the necessities, electricity, gas, food, rent, insurance, and to hell with the rest. Pay the grand to an attorney to declare bankruptcy if you have to, it's worth every penny.

[Lonely46]

Forgot to add,, if you choose to not pay the credit cards, cancel your phone now and only go with a cell phone. give the number to only people you know, because the credit card companies (banks) will hound you endlessly, unless you declare bankruptcy, then, by law, they can only contact your attorney. Hopefully this helps you, let me know if I can help any other way, feel free to PM me.

[liveforfish]

Have you tried credit consolidation? There are free services in every state. That would be a good start.

[~Christina]

Pay your basic living expenses.. Cut up and get rid of all your credit cards. I have lived the last 8 years paying cash ... If I don't have cash I don't need it.

[bluemountains]

Hi Moodmuse,
We were buried under debt, too, with a house that was built cheaply and milking us dry. One day I told my husband I wouldn't do it anymore. He could either try to handle it himself, or give up with me. We gave up what we needed to give up-perhaps we'll have to declare bankrupcy soon because we have a shortsale offer on our house, but the banks seem to be refusing it.
My point is that the stress wasn't worth it. We're in a smaller, rented house, but we can actually provide decent Christmas gifts this year without going further into debt.
Don't be afraid to do what you need to do to make life better for you!
Bluemountains