how do I handle bills when I feel overwhelmed?

Answer 1

one at a time.

Answer 2

I get overwhelmed with bills also. If your bank account is not constantly overdrawn or near empty, I suggest automating as many bills as you can. This way there is less to handle with your hands and eyes, which eases a lot of the stress. The bills I have automated are the phone bill, gas bill, electric, dental, rent, and cable, and even have one credit card that is automatically paid each month.

If you are overwhelmed because the $$ coming in is less than what you are paying out, I suggest getting help through legitimate places that help you with managing your debts. Be careful, though, some of the places are just in business to get your money and make promises they can't keep. I came across information once of legitmate businesses that help you manage your debt. I'll check around for it again. if I can find the website that gives that info, I'll post another message here.

I guess I can't post again, I'll have to add to my previous info.
Here is a link to AOL debt info. You don't have to have an AOL account to look at this.
http://money.aol.com/creditdebt/debt

Below is a link to not-for-profit debt couseling:
http://www.dmcccorp.org/

Answer 3

Is the problem that you don't have the money to cover all your bills or is the problem that you don't have the time to sit and actually write out your bills?

If it's the second, then you might benefit from having your bills paid automatically. Some companies offer this as an option.

If it's about the money, then you could really benefit from a budget. I know it sounds like hell, but it's a sure way of getting your bills paid and at the same time getting the little things in life that you want. It's hell to spend all your money on bills and not get any fun things in your daily life.

Answer 4

you have to creat a balance sheet of your income\spending..

list all your monthly expences: (if it's weekly, times it by 4)
food
transportation
rent
utilites
entertainment
etc...
By doing this you can see what you don't really need.. you can take it a step further and for example, you might have cable with the super premium 20 HBO package which costs you only $10 a month extra... well if you look at it over 12 months, its really costing you $120... so think about how many bills you can pay with $120.. its like getting free cell phone service for 2 months.. get it?

Next, income, add up how much you and hubby make per month then subtract expences.. you should be making more than you are spending.. if you are not then you are in big trouble.. cut back on little things that add up big..

another example.. you buy lunch at work.. $8 a day B-fast a work $4 a day.. in a month (20 days) thats $240!! a month!!

so guess what.. bring things in from home at least a few times a week.. the savings will pay for bills.. it's almost like found money.. have fun!

Answer 5

ORGANIZE. sit down and think about where the money should go ... bills you need to survive ie. car payment, food, utilities, rent, gas money ... then look at the bills that are "extra" ie. credit cards, loans, cell phone. try and cut as many as you can. cancel your cell phone, cut up your credit cards so you won't use them ...

Some companies will meet with you and consolidate all your bills with you. this will cost you more in the long run though - they will probably charge a high interest rate.

when I start feeling overwhelmed from bills, i stop and take a break ... i'll go talk to someone or go for a walk. I'll come back with a clear head to tackle the pile of bills.

Answer 6

If it's a money issue:

Make minimum payments on all but the lowest one, on the lowest one, pay as much as you can. Kill one bill, and move to the next.

If it's an organizaional issue:

Write out the check right away, put in the the envelope and put a stamp on it, even if you're not ready to pay it. Then, get a DAILY planner, and put the bill in the page for the day you want it to get out. When you flip to the page of the day, mail out any bills you placed there. The bills will be paid on time, and you won't need to worry about when each needs to go out.

Go out and buy a copy of the book "The Riches Man in Babylon." It's an easy read and will really help get you on track.

Good luck.

Answer 7

Start with the ones you have to pay, like rent, insurance, electric.

Then when it comes to things like telephone, cable... see if there is a smaller plan to use that is cheaper. At least for a while, until some of the other things are caught up.

Then on things like credit cards, loans. Make sure you are making your minimum payment. Start with the smallest owed and try paying extra until it is payed off. Then put all of that money on the next one...so on and so one. If you have to use a credit card...only use one and figure out which one has the lowest interest rate.

It sucks...but you have to budget yourself.
I've done this and paid my car off a year earlier and have about 200 left on one card. You can do it.

And occassionally treat yourself... just don't go overboard.

Good luck!

Answer 8

Pay off the smallest debt you have first. This will make you feel a little less overwhelmed. Once you do this, pay off the next smallest, working your way up to the house, car, or student loan payments that are most likely the highest.

Note: This will take quite a while to do. If you are serious about getting out of debt, you must be prepared to sacrifice something you like.

Answer 9

Make a budget for yourself on paper. Putting your monthly income and bills on paper seems to help out a great deal in getting your thoughts together and planning what you can spend, save, etc.

My husband recently left and I am struggling a bit. It's hard with the Holidays coming up, plus one of my children's birthdays this month.

I make sure I stick to my paper budget, as closely as possible. I pay my bills AS SOON AS I GET PAID. That way, I'm not tempted to spend money, if I get depressed. I can't spend what I don't have.

If you find that your incoming is less than your outgoing, then try to figure out what you can give up or spend less on.

Answer 10

You need to create a budget for yourself. Write down all of your bills and pay the smallest to the largest off. This may take a while, but do not get discouraged. Make sure that you do not splurge on anything that is not in your budget. Once you get caught up on everything, then you can do some things to reward yourself for the discipline that you had in order to get caught up on your bills.

Answer 11

Well, maybe it's time for a budget of your spending/payments.. To make sure things get paid in a timely fashion.. Or to cut back on certain expenses... Like internet,cable or gourmet coffee...

If you are truly overwhelmed then contact a debt relief service and see if they can help you or file bankruptcy or one/both of you get a second job to make the payments every month...

good luck