[ChihuahuaMomma]

Hi there,


I am here seeking help from my wonderful AMHD family. Now, as you most know, I recently got rid of some debt ((yay me!)) But NOW, I've seemed to have accumulated more, how this happens, don't ask me. But I am not here seeking lectures or finger wagging, but tips and advice on how to minimize, reduce, and eliminate my debt. Good advice and tips very much appreciated.

Thank you in advance lovely faces!

[Clough]

Hi, Momma!

Yeah, it's me again! Hey, do you own your own home or renting?

Thanks!

[ChihuahuaMomma]

Renting.

[Clough]

Thanks!

Who's responsible for paying what utilities, please?

[ChihuahuaMomma]

I am.

[Curlyben]

Overall it's quite straightforward.
You need to free up cash to apply to your debts.
There are a number of ways to achieve this;

• Work out a daily/weekly/monthly budget and stick to it.
• get nother job
• Reduce the amount spend on things such as groceries, utilities, socialising, etc.
• Be more savvy with your money

Now this may sound drastic, but is perfectly workable.

When it comes to groceries simply changing from a branded product to own label can save a lot and on the whole there isn't a noticeable difference.
Think to yourself, Do I REALLY Need that luxury this week/month.
Limit yourself to what you really need to live and cut down on any little treats.

When it comes to socialising, etc, you need to take a long hard look.
Do you really need to go out multiple times a week, why not save outing for more special occasions.

When it comes to clothes and other items, have you considered eBay, craiglist or thrift shops?
You'd be amazed what you can find.
Also consider selling your unwanted clutter. Do you really need dozens of pairs of shoes?

Well I think you should be getting the idea now, so time to do some work for yourself.

[Clough]

How many rooms do you have in your apartment and what would you guesstimate as being your yearly or maybe seasonally average monthly gas and electric bill, please?

[ChihuahuaMomma]

Thank you for all the advice, but this post was a last-resort kind of question. All of those things have been put in place. I have two jobs and every red cent goes to bills. I don't go shopping anymore. And there is nothing of real value to sell that I don't need on a daily basis.

[ChihuahuaMomma]

How many rooms do you have in your apartment and what would you guesstimate as being your yearly or maybe seasonally average monthly gas and electric bill, please?

One bedroom, no gas, just electric. I don't know what the yearly bill is, it's about $65 a month in the winter, and about $40 in summer.

[Clough]

I still would appreciate an answer to my question in post #7 above.

I live in a very old and big, four bedroom basically "American Foursquare" style of home. I have a full basement as well as attic. My monthly utility bill for gas and electric is only about $60.00 per month. Whenever a light doesn't need to be on, I shut it off. I'm constantly shutting the lights off. I also have dimmer switches on most of the lights in my home. If you have dimmer switches, then you save electricity by not turning the lights all the way on. Sometimes, I just use candles for lighting. When I practice the piano, I just have a single light that is faced towards the music and also on the keyboard so that I can see my hands, if I need to.

Instead of leaving water running when I do dishes or am washing myself, I shut it off when it's not immediately needed or being used.

One time when I went to the gas and electric company to inquire about my bills for a few months that had been only for $5.00 each for those months, the worker asked me, "Don't you use your utilities?"

The thing was, is that I was on a budget payment plan at the time. I had overpaid so much with the budget payment, that they were trying to catch up and were only charging me $5.00 per month!

The bottom line for me is, if it's going to cost money and isn't necessary to be used or left on, then I don't use it.

If things get really tight, then you could also ask to be put on a food basket list from a local charity or church. I have been there a number of times...

Just some tips...

[Clough]

Hi, Momma!

Thanks for answering my question that you posted before I had completed formulating my answer to you!

[ChihuahuaMomma]

LOL... no problem. I've tried that food basket thing and to see if I could get help, but apparently where I live they only do that for low-income families. I was straight told that I make too much money and I don't have kids.

[Clough]

Hmmm... Was that a public resource or one that was from a church?

[ChihuahuaMomma]

Both, it's been a few... including state benefits including food stamps and state health.

[Clough]

Okay, thanks! What did you think about some of my money saving tips concerning utilities?

[ChihuahuaMomma]

I don't use lights unless I am in the room. And I'm usually not home but 4-5 hours a day. The reason my electricity is so much is because this is an old building.

[ChihuahuaMomma]

It's not my current bills. It's debt. Accumulated bills, medical bills, debt owed to family. I can't qualify for loans because I have no credit. These things are making it impossible to make what bills I HAVE to pay every month impossible to pay, something is always deliquent.

[Clough]

How about trying a credit counselor then? Around where I live, we have a human services organization that's called Project Now. They help people to get back "on their feet" again, and deal with debts.

Perhaps there is a similar organization around where you live?

[ChihuahuaMomma]

Aren't credit counselors for credit debt?

[Clough]

To my knowledge, no. They can help you with getting your finances together and negotiate or ward off entities who are trying to collect money of any kind from you.

Please see the information that can be obtained via clicking on the following link.

credit counseling - legal definition