how do you decide which bills to pay?

[OverVolt]

I know a guy who works at target and rides the bus for like $35/month. Transportation for less than the cost of a dumbphone.

I feel for you btw. Its a situation I can imagine myself in and I dread it.

 

[Rumpltzer]

Tell us the costs. Each bill; each amount. How much you have to work with.

 

[brianmanahan]

i would get a job so i could pay my bills

barring that, robbery!

 

[HeXen]

Roof over my head
Food
Reliable transportation to work
Electricity

In that order.
You should never live above your means, if you have more going out than comming in, better readjust your life immediately before it piles up so high you'll have bad credit the rest of you life.

i find good credit to be essential in mid life. Wait until your old before you screw it up.

 

[Fritzo]

Lots of people are in this situation...many that have never been in it before.

The cost of nearly everything has risen 30-50% in the last 7 years, while incomes have gone down. I'm in that boat...I used to live really well and now I pretty much pay the bills and that's it 🙁

 

[RockinZ28]

I thought it was something like self-employed contract work. Where you get paid when the projects are done or at certain periods throughout the contract, but much longer in between than the standard 1-2 week paycheck most are accustomed to.

My father gets paid like this, or use too anyway. And then companies will lag on actually paying when the job is done. Guess you just have to manage your expenses closely with long term budgets. Might get paid 25k or something after 3 months, but if you blow that in a month you're F'd for 2 months.

You do need a cushion to account for payment delays. So would try to build that 6 month+ living expenses fund by cutting back on unnecessary expenses for a time.

 

[brianmanahan]

Lots of people are in this situation...many that have never been in it before.

The cost of nearly everything has risen 30-50% in the last 7 years, while incomes have gone down. I'm in that boat...I used to live really well and now I pretty much pay the bills and that's it 🙁

shens, inflation was only like %3! 🙄

 

[jagec]

a home phone is cheap as fuck if you need a phone.

It's surprisingly expensive around here. I looked into getting a land line when I bought my house, and they wanted around $23/month for the most BASIC service, local-only. For something that I would use once in a never it wasn't worth it. If you're trying to save money on a phone, prepaid wireless is probably the cheapest that it can get.

 

[amdhunter]

Rent and electricity. Screw everything else.

 

[Fritzo]

shens, inflation was only like %3! 🙄

Receipt I found from 2005 from the grocery store (I think I recently posted this):

Bread: .99
hamburger: $1.29/lb
turkey: $2.99/lb
oranges: 6/$1/00
milk: $1.69/gal
canned vegetables: .69/can
ribeye steak: $3.99/lb
and gas: $2.79/gal

Today:
Bread: $2.09
hamburger: $3.69
turkey: $6.99/lb
oranges: .50 each
milk: $2.79/gal
ribeye steak: $7.99/lb
and gas: today is was $3.99/gal around here

Also the price of my family's health insurance went from $300/month to $500 a month. While the average inflation may have only been 3%, food and fuel have gone through the roof. I haven't had a raise in 4 years, so all that extra money is gone.

It's surprisingly expensive around here. I looked into getting a land line when I bought my house, and they wanted around $23/month for the most BASIC service, local-only. For something that I would use once in a never it wasn't worth it. If you're trying to save money on a phone, prepaid wireless is probably the cheapest that it can get.

yeah, same here. They used to have $8/month toll call service, but after the telco deregulation they got rid of it.

 

[wirednuts]

lol.

We'll come and TAKE YER....YER....

JUST GIVE US THE MONEY YOU OWE US.

well, they first charge you late fees then they skyrocket your APR%, but after that yea. just ignore them. the bills wont go away and eventually youll get a discount to get back on track 🙂

 

[RockinZ28]

Rent and electricity. Screw everything else.

+ internet and cable!

Seriously, when I went to turn in my cable box, there was a guy in front of me trying to bargain with them so they wouldn't shut off his cable. Was saying "But I paid $20 last week towards my balance, please don't turn it off. I have $x.xx to give you today." Pulled out some ones and some change.

Receipt I found from 2005 from the grocery store (I think I recently posted this):

Bread: .99
hamburger: $1.29/lb
turkey: $2.99/lb
oranges: 6/$1/00
milk: $1.69/gal
canned vegetables: .69/can
ribeye steak: $3.99/lb
and gas: $2.79/gal

Today:
Bread: $2.09
hamburger: $3.69
turkey: $6.99/lb
oranges: .50 each
milk: $2.79/gal
ribeye steak: $7.99/lb
and gas: today is was $3.99/gal around here

Damn, glad the wife does all the grocery shopping. Separate accounts ftw.

 

[Baked]

All of them. When you buy only the necessities, you always have enough money to pay all the bills, I know I do. No, I don't want to hear your hardships, I get enough of that everyday I'm work from my employees.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I have them all set to come out automatically and make sure to always leave enough money in the main account and they all get paid. I'm all about automation as I don't have to worry about forgetting anything.

If I was in a situation where I can't afford it, I'd cancel non essential services such as cable TV, and probably start living off Kraft Dinner.

 

[SkullWalker]

When people are living from a paycheck to a paycheck they really forget to think about future. Yes, today is today so it is more important to survive it, but be assured that future will eventually come.

I have been in similar situation a few years ago I eventually got by, but it made me think about tomorrow and future.

Dude, cancel the cable, sell the car (but DON'T sell the bike!), minimize your electricity/water consumption, but when it will take a turn for better be sure to buy an insurance for the future. For example, today in Canada your cannot go wrong with term life insurance and its rates

Planning ahead is the best way to evade any problems!
http://lsminsurance.ca/life-insurance-canada/2012/09/canadian-life-insurance-trends-in-2012

 

[Colt45]

move into this bitch

 

[Red Squirrel]

Best thing is that acts as your car too!

 

[Northern Lawn]

Best thing is that acts as your car too!

and Meth Lab.

 

[Linflas]

If I were in that situation I would pay in order:
Rent/Mortgage - have to have a roof over my head
Utilities - part of having a roof over my head and getting/staying employed
Car payment - this really depends on where you live in relation to where you work though and the potential availability of mass transit

 

[nageov3t]

I'd prioritize whatever bills are required to keep you employed, so you can keep earning money to pay the rest... mortgage/rent, water, and gas/electric (in that order)

if I were in the situation, I'd probably cancel cable/internet immediately and cancel my cellphone if it's not under contract (and switch to something cheap/pre-paid)

netflix, World of Warcraft, etc would all also be on the cancel list.

 

[waggy]

move into this bitch

I'm looking for a used one. just that size too or even smaller. just enough to hold 3-4 people. well 2 adults and 2 kids

 

[SunnyD]

I pay the necessities first: Food, shelter, utilities, immediate medical needs.
Next come the things that make it difficult to live/make money: Gas, vehicle, maintenance, clothing as needed.
Next come the things that make it difficult to obtain money (debt): Loans, credit cards, etc.
Next come luxuries: Everything else.

 

[nageov3t]

I'm looking for a used one. just that size too or even smaller. just enough to hold 3-4 people. well 2 adults and 2 kids

the kids will only get in the way of your meth production.

 

[Genx87]

Remember, they can repo a car, they can take your house, they can shut off your electricity... But nobody can repo your education. If I was in dire straights student loans are first to go.

That is probably the worst thing to do. You cant get rid of student loans in bankruptcy court. Meaning all the fees and costs associated with not paying pile on and have to be paid back. There are horror stories of people who are so far behind on their student loans they literally live in a car and cant buy anything. They will never get out from under it unless they win the lottery or die.

 

[darkewaffle]

Definitely pay my internet bill first 😀