Cut up your credit cards and start paying off your bills. If you can't pay some bills, call them and let them know you're having problems and give them something, any amount on the money you owe them. Cut out most expenses you don't need, I.E. cable TV, cell phones, only one car or use public transportation, no eating out, bring lunch from home, eat lots of beans and rice, sell off anything you don't need now and use money to payoff bills. No drinking, smoking or movies, cut out soft drinks. Drink tap water.
I hope you do have a job and if so, volunteer for overtime and explain to your supervisor about your situation.

Don't give up, you can make it. Most of us have been in your shoes at some point in our lives. You will make it, think positive. Please keep us posted about your progress. Bon chance mon ami, T

I haven't done it, but I know enough about it to tell you to be careful who you go to. A lot of the ones you see advertised are a scam who don't do anything more than threaten the credit card companies with bankruptcy. There are good ones out there but you'll have to work harder to find them. Most of those are non-profits who will help you to put together budgets and payment plans. One thing you can do is call the credit card company and ask for lower interest rates. What I've done is look for those transfer offers with low interest rates. I've transferred around most of my debt to those low interest rates so I'm no longer drowning in the interest payments.

I hope this helps. We're not debt free yet but we can see we're making progress now.

I had a customer who was "counselled" by one of those places.
She obediently handed them the agreed-on amount each month, even taking a 2nd job to generate more money, & the interest & late charges on her credit cards was supposed to be waived, with all the money going toward reducing the principal.

When she got her end-of-year statement for tax purposes, her balance was almost the same as it had been when she started.

The interest & fees were eating up her remittances.

*Then* she investigated & learned that the "consumer counselling" service was actually working for the credit card companies, preventing or stalling people from filing bankruptcy; they were just collecting as much money from her as they could.

You might call your local Bar Association & ask if they have a Lawyer Referral Service.

They refer you to an attorney who specializes in whatever problem you have, & you pay a token amount for a half hour consultation.

Best luck.

From what I have read, there are a lot of scam artists out there, so be very careful. 'Non-profit' does not necessarily mean they are ok--anyone can set themselves up as a non-profit--it just means the organization is non-profit--the people running it can be pulling huge salaries and commisions based on what they can squeeze out of you.

This page might be helpful...

Here is a link that might be useful: US gov't list of 'approved' counselors

Try your Chamber of Commerce, and then double check with your Better Business Bureau.

The good ones are great, and can really help you. They are trusted by the companies and once you pay for a few months, many companies drop the interest, and you can get out of debt faster. If you need them, there is nothing fast about it, but it does work. You simply must make many sacrifices.

Also you should know that it is a part of your credit, and can remain for about 7 years. Some lenders may regard it like bankruptcy, and if you default, they drop you.

Bankruptcy may just ruin your credit, and not pay much of anything. The two jobs sounds like it would work.

Let us know how it goes. Whatever you choose it will be rough, but don't forget that you have some human rights, and you have a right to be respected.

My SIL is a bankruptcy attorney. Business is good. Last Sunday he had 9 new appointments. He is very good at explaining things to people so that they can clearly understand their options.

If one does have to declare bankruptcy then you are pretty well on high risk auto insurance forever, like with a DWI.

I complain a lot about the Troll, but she does do well at managing our meager resources. One medical problem could change everything even though we have "good" medical insurance. We have survived, 6 way by-pass & prostate cancer co-pays and various bills not covered by insurance. After we retire and go on Medicare, I am afeared we will be SOL. I plan on working until I drop.

Good luck.

Ok first of all you just fell into my lap on this one.

I do collections and counseling, have done it for 9 years.
The consolidation is crap, you can do it yourself.

First thing you do is run a credit report on you and your spouse.
On the credit reports back page there is a complete list of all the companies that hold your accounts.
There is a address and a phone number for each.
Go thru your credit report and start working your way thru you know your financial situation better than I do. Pick an account mulitply it by 36% call the company up and tell them you will pay this much. YOU CALL THEM! Dont let them tell you they wont take payments because they will. Tell them that you ended up having to make sacrifices. If you dont like who your talking to call back and get someone else. If they are rude to you tell them about the Federal Debt Protection Act..(look it up and read it)
IF you need further help email me.
Angela