When you can’t pay everything, this is how you decide what to do first.
These guides walk you through bill triage, talking to companies, and doing damage control. No judgment, just structure for when your brain is screaming “it’s too much”.
A simple priority list for survival months, plus a printable you can use to map out who gets paid, who gets a call, and what has to wait.
- • Survival order: housing, utilities, meds, food, transport, essential debts, everything else.
- • How to reduce panic by seeing it laid out on one page.
- • When to consider getting outside help (debt charities, legal advice).
Step-by-step scripts you can literally read off the page when you call your landlord, utility company, or lender.
- • Asking for payment plans or due date changes.
- • Requesting hardship options or fee waivers.
- • What to write in emails if phone calls are too much.
What those letters mean in plain English, and what to do if you’re getting shutoff or eviction threats.
- • Which letters can’t be ignored.
- • Basic rights & red flags to watch for.
- • Scripts for asking for more time.
A simple way to see your whole month at a glance so there are fewer surprise “oh god that’s due today” moments.
- • Printable monthly bill calendar.
- • Checklist for auto-pay vs manual pay.
- • Tips for syncing with your payday schedule.
When you’re frozen, this guide walks you through one tiny next step: one bill, one call, or one email.
- • A short grounding exercise you can do at your desk.
- • A “one thing today” decision flow.
- • A tiny win tracker so you remember you’re trying.