bummed with Ramsey

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2004
bummed with Ramsey
5
Wed, 11-24-2004 - 7:31am
OK so I got The Total Money Make over...and I have read most of it...but I got discouraged. Before we can even start the baby steps we need to clean up all our current bills and make the "current". Ok this is where I need the help????/ I am back to screaming!!! It is like a small box and I can't get out and no-one can hear me!!!! BLAH!
Avatar for endomagazine
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-09-2004
Wed, 11-24-2004 - 9:07am

Hello,


If you are having trouble paying your current bills, you may want to contact each company and ask to set up a payment plan. In the past, when I've recived a medical bill that I cannot pay all at once, such as a recent $700 one, rather than putting it on a credit card and paying through the nose on interest, I called the clinic and asked to set up a payment plan. In general, if you let them know that you *want* to pay for the bill, but may need to break it up into smaller chunks, they will accept it. After all, they want the payment.


You can contact your utility companies and ask if they have a managed plan. Some natural gas and electric utilities will offer you a plan where you pay the same amount every month. Usually they will take your usage history and estimate your average usage for the year. Then, the plan divides up the total usage / charges by 12 and charges you for the average usage price each month.


In my case, my water and gas bill are both on managed plans. If my usage ends up being 'higher' than what the company estimated, I pay the overage once a year. If my usage is 'lower' than what the company estimated, I receive a refund.


Since my husband and I get paid twice a month on Fridays, I divided my mortgage payment in half, and pay it every two weeks using an online billpay service. So half the mortgage payment is deducted just after we get paid. This makes it easier to pay bills on the first of the month, because I'm not using up most of our paycheck just to pay that once a month payment. Sure, I'm still paying the same amount, just staggered a little.


Sincerely,
Lindsey Schocke

Geeks on Tap: Mission Accomplished

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2004
Wed, 11-24-2004 - 9:25am
Thanks for the help...I have done that and I think I can do it and make things current. Baby steps right? So focus on what needs to be paid to make current and work from there. I did get the envelope system too so this will help!!
Diane
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2004
Wed, 11-24-2004 - 9:38am
It's not a quick fix. I haven't read that particular book, but all of them are just plans or frameworks to guide you. You have to do all the little stuff to figure out who will get paid, how and when. And it takes time, it will not happen overnight. Just stay focused on the goal and you will get there.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-10-2004
Wed, 11-24-2004 - 11:01am

Hugs!

 

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-01-2004
Wed, 11-24-2004 - 3:27pm
I know all that...but there is no guide in the book for this stage of debt. I was hoping...I know the map work I just need to stay on the route...so side tracking!!