I'm on the financial paring down, but I disagree with some of your approaches for reasons I'll explain:
Pay secured debts, i.e. the mortgage. FIRST. Pay service bills you can't survive without (water, power, phone) but pare them back to minimum levels. Cancel any services you can survive without (i.e. cell phone . . . get a pager). Then buy food only in bulk, set a grocery budget and stick to it. I recommend nonperishable foods from Costco. Spend only enough on gas to get to and from work.
I am not getting rid of the cell phone. I have a plan where Warren and I can call each other for free. It is way cheaper than calling his house from my house. It's also a matter of safety. I can't call 911 on a pager.
Besides, I already cut my cellular phone bill by hundreds of dollars a month by switching to digital.
I already buy what I can in bulk. If I rarely use an item, buying it in bulk is silly.
Mom has already offered to pay next month's mortgage, so I've got another month in which to scramble. This may be enough.
Call unsecured creditors (credit cards) and tell them you're working, haven't gotten paid and are now broke. Ask them if you can send them $20 or even $5 to show good faith, and tell them you'll keep them informed.
I only have one credit card, and they know my situation.
CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT.
Why? The only thing that's depositing right now is the radio station, and it's always been reliable. What's not paying me is an agency from which I was to receive a check yesterday or, at the latest, today.
As for gas, I keep my trips down, stack them, and walk when I can. Since I mostly telecommute, I can go over a week without having to fill the tank. Most of what's in my wallet, though, is for gasoline Just In Case, as they say.
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Date: 2003-01-31 11:19 am (UTC)Pay secured debts, i.e. the mortgage. FIRST. Pay service bills you can't survive without (water, power, phone) but pare them back to minimum levels. Cancel any services you can survive without (i.e. cell phone . . . get a pager). Then buy food only in bulk, set a grocery budget and stick to it. I recommend nonperishable foods from Costco. Spend only enough on gas to get to and from work.
I am not getting rid of the cell phone. I have a plan where Warren and I can call each other for free. It is way cheaper than calling his house from my house. It's also a matter of safety. I can't call 911 on a pager.
Besides, I already cut my cellular phone bill by hundreds of dollars a month by switching to digital.
I already buy what I can in bulk. If I rarely use an item, buying it in bulk is silly.
Mom has already offered to pay next month's mortgage, so I've got another month in which to scramble. This may be enough.
Call unsecured creditors (credit cards) and tell them you're working, haven't gotten paid and are now broke. Ask them if you can send them $20 or even $5 to show good faith, and tell them you'll keep them informed.
I only have one credit card, and they know my situation.
CANCEL DIRECT DEPOSIT.
Why? The only thing that's depositing right now is the radio station, and it's always been reliable. What's not paying me is an agency from which I was to receive a check yesterday or, at the latest, today.
As for gas, I keep my trips down, stack them, and walk when I can. Since I mostly telecommute, I can go over a week without having to fill the tank. Most of what's in my wallet, though, is for gasoline Just In Case, as they say.