No money and overdue bills!!!

[Soontobe]

Hi

We are going through a tough time with money at the moment, and I dont know what to do. My DH only earns $460 a week and I get $200 from family assistance. All our bills are overdue contantly, and they get paid almost when the next one is due. Our car payment is always paid late, and they have said we need to pay it on time or they'll come and take it. Im so stressed about it, I cry when our pay comes because I know ill have to think about oour money troubles. I really dont know what to do, has anyone got any advise??? Its so hard I want my dd (5mths) to have a good life!!! HELP!!! Anything would be wonderful!!! Kate

[Madi]

The best advice I can offer is communicate with anyone/any company you're having payment issues with. Let them know you're having trouble, and see if you can work out payment plans. Most companies will prefer temporary reduced payments then nothing at all. I used to work for a debt collection agency (not as a collector), and it's much easier to work things out before it gets to that point.

Best of luck.

Madi.

[Harmony83]

I so know how you feel! Our bills always end up being paid when the next is due, it is so hard to keep up, just when you do start to catch up, you get bombarded with more!! I had to get an advance payment from centrelink to help catch up a bit - so you might want to look at that maybe... They take about $20 out of your payments until its paid back... Are you able to speak to the companies and get them to direct debit a certain amount out of your account each week (say $10 or something) so when your bill comes around theres either nothing left to pay or only a small amount left?? We are going to have a big garge sale soon, sell all our unwanted junk and whatever money we make will be going straight on to bills! Or if you have a few credit cards etc get a low interest loan and pay all of them out and get rid of them!! Im not very good with advice, especially since we have the same prob, but I guess the main thing is to catch up (somehow), and then make regular payments

[MilkOnTap]

I'm certainly not the queen of budgeting, but something that has helped my DH and I is debt consolidation. Do you have any extra loans etc that you could put all together? You might find that after consolidating a c/c and a loan together, your monthly payment could reduce by up to $100 - certainly better in your pocket than the banks!

[cwsmum]

I know exactly how you feel. I agree with what others have said tho, contact everyone you owe money too and work out payment plans. Before you call them, sit down with all your bills and work out how much you can pay one each one each week/fortnight. That way when you call them you have already got an idea of what you can pay and you can tell them that. Phone companies are a bit tricky, their computer systems seem to control alot, so you might end up with restrictions on your phones, like local calls only from a landlline.

This is what we pay each week
DH moblie - $100
My mobile - $20 we alternate this with paying some to energex to make that bill a little less when it comes.
Landline - $30
Car & insurance - $100
Rent - $240
DH uses his mobile for work, thats why his is so much...I hardly use mine so it's not hard to keep up with.
Anything left after we pay all of that goes on food and fuel for the car so DH can get to work.
Good luck, things will get better :hugs:

[LittleBoysRock]

When DS was born, we opened an account and put $1000 of the baby bonus money into an account linked to our everyday savings account.

Then DH and I did up our budget and worked out what we needed to put in there every fortnight in order to stay on top of the bills. I think we put $270.00 a fortnight which just covers direct debits for private health, car insurance, and money for car rego's and servicing.

It means that I NEVER have to stress about paying the bills cos I know where the money is. As soon as a bill comes in I just go online and pay it.

Just thought this might be helpful advice. Before DS was born we were in a real mess and always struggling to make ends meet, now is much better. :D

Hope you find a solution to the money woes really soon.

[Elfin]

The only other advice I can offer as there has already been plenty of great advice given, is to write down everything that you spend to see where the money is going and if there are any areas you can cut back a bit.

I know your DD is young but is there any chance you could do some part-time work even at night such as at coles as this could help a lot. YOu would have to weigh it up though.

[pinkandblue]

Hi

We always seem to have bills piling (sp?) up aswell. Since we have alot of junk around, I have been selling it on ebay and have made a few hundred dollars. Thats helped paying some of the bills and buying the kids some new clothes aswell.

Natalie

[Tisme]

i have started to get VERY overwhelmed since no. 3 was on his way but found that by changing over to the Vodafone mega cap i have a little extra in the pocket.

[Seekrit]

We're just starting to pay bills before they come in. We arranged a few payment plans with some places to clear a few debts $50/w for a while, they're now paid off and we're continuing to pay those places at $25/w so when the bill DOES come in either it's over paid or only little owing.

Internet banking helps for this!

We also prioritise our bills. We can live without the phone and the internet, but we can't live without the electricity and food. So we pay those first, then the car, THEN we worry about our luxuries.
It's stressfull but just last week I recieved a bonus in my pay and was about to clear 3 bills in one hit which was just :smiliedance: :smiliedance:

We'd also have more money if I (AND HE!) stopped spending money on crap. :o

[Kells]

HI,
We have ours set up on i/net banking to pay gas, electricity, car loans, credit card, phones, council rates each fortnight (say $50 - $100 each one) and although we have very limited funds at the end of this, at least the bills are paid.

[Me]

As the others have all said setting up direct debits are a good idea - but have them come out of your account the day the pays go in - that way the money is gone before you even knew it existed - helps to not have to think about when these payments are coming out and how much you have to leave there to cover them = less stressing about the bills for you!

Good luck - we all go there at one time or another and it will get better - it is just a matter of catching up so that you can stay on top

[brizbabe]

Another way to direct Debit is to ask Centrelink about Centrepay. You can arrange to have (from memory) $20 a fortnight paid directly to various organisations such as energy / phone / gas even some child care centres have signed up as Centrepay organisations.

I do this myself-every little bit helps.

[Brooksy]

Have you thought about changing some of your bills to monthly payments instead of yearly

We just changed my car insurance to monthly payment along with our rates payment so we don't have to save up for these payments. The rates payment is a killer especially just before xmas.

[sashamumma]

Hi Kate, I know what you are going through. I don't have a car to stress about. I'm slowly getting our bills paid off. What I'm doing now is pay bills first and food next. I gave myself a time frame of 2 months to get rid of the bills. So we can be debt free!

[brooke]

hey kate
I just wanted to say try not to stress too much.. I know easier said than done
some of the girls on here have given some great advice!
Debt conolidation may not be an option if you always pay your bills late because the banks wont let you
defiently call the people you owe money too... if you explain your position they will normally be pretty understanding!
BIG HUG!:hugs: It is always stressful when money is tight but I have learnt to to cry or stress about it because in the end that isnt going to help!

[Bubble*Crazy]

I'm a self-confessed shocker when it comes to the family budget... (my own worse enemy! :laughing: )
But, one thing I found a killer was the monthly mobile bill (like your it was constantly high) .... just in case you haven't checked it out definately try and find a "cap" plan where you pay, say $50 month for the access, but it gives you up to $500 calls (depending on the provider). It's made such a difference and so much easier to budget for as you don't get any nasty surprises.

[MilkOnTap]

Another way to direct Debit is to ask Centrelink about Centrepay. You can arrange to have (from memory) $20 a fortnight paid directly to various organisations such as energy / phone / gas even some child care centres have signed up as Centrepay organisations.I do this myself-every little bit helps.
This sounds like a good idea - do they do this before or after tax?

[brizbabe]

Not sure what you mean by before or after tax-the payment (FTB) you get from FAO is a TAX benefit-all payments are gross.:o

[Hectic House]

Have you looked into other benefits you are entitled too. Apart from FBT A and B there is parenting payment and rent assistance. Contact Cetrelink and see what is available to you. Good luck and check out the budgeting forums for some great advise on the grocery budgets etc.

Let us know how things are going, as I'm sure everyone is thinking of you.

[jessgray]

if you are set up for online services on centerlink site u can do centapay over the net :)

[jessgray]

can anyone tell me if optus and orgin energy do centapy and if they do whast the reference number fo rit :)