I need money - free money to help pay bills

While I don't provide financial assistance to anyone, I can offer some information and advice.

If you haven't done so already, you might want to look into re-financing your mortgage at a lower rate.

if that is not possible how about a home equity loan to pay off the credit cards? then you would only have one payment. By all means cut up the credit cards - except one, for EMERGENCIES ONLY. Call the credit card companies and ask for a lower interest rate. The worst they can do is say no, it doesn't hurt to ask .

you cannot help your children until you get yourself straightened out first.

Your oldest son has been laid off - has he applied for unemployment? Social services? Is there enough room for him and his family to move in with you to alleviate his financial burden until he gets back on his feet?

Can anyone get a part time or 2nd job?

Your youngest son get always apply for additional grants or loans - if he goes to school fulltime - I think it is 16 credit hours- usualy 4 classes/semester - he can get additional funding and he may even be able to take the additional classes online. His best be would be to talk to an advisor at school. They may even have a work study progrma that can assist him financially.

AS for your credit - I don't know the extent of your debt - and you do nto need to tell me - you can try consumer credit counseling. They will put you on a payment schedule and if you miss a payment - it will defintiely mar your credit score. What I would suggest is this:

1- get all your bills together- find out EXACTLY what you owe.

2- write it all down - no cheating by skimping on the numbers! It is better to over estimate than underestimate.

3- make a budget - what MUST get paid every month ( mortgage, utilities, gorceries, etc) vs what needs to get paid minimum monthly payments only(MMPS)( credit cards. loans , etc) keep both seperate for now.

4- total up the necessities

5- total up the mmps

6-Divide them evenly between your paychecks - make sure they get paid BEFORE HTEIR DUE DATE!

 7- see if you bank has eletronic banking - you may be able to set up automatic repeating payments from your bank to your bills for free ( saves mone AND time!) only do this with bills that are the same every month! Make sure the $$$ is in the account to cover the withdrawals!!! utilites tend to fluctuate - do not include them -pay them in full every month when the bill comes in.

once all that is done- how much is left? $10- $100? Most credit counseling services will tell you to take that extra money and put it towards the high interest credit items. If you have a credit card at 15% - you would put the extra money towrd that one. Howeever, I disagree.

Personally, I prefer to pay the smaller balances off first then add the extra money toward the next smaller balance. for example:

Let's say you have 5 credit cards:

1. bal= $500 @ 5% interest - minimum payment = $20
2. bal -= $1000 @ 10% interest - minimum payment   = $30
3. bal = $1500 @ 15% interest - minimum payment = $40
4. bal = $2000 @15% interest - minimum payment = $50
5. bal = $5000 @19% interest - minimum payment = $75
6. additional money left over every month $100

month 1 pay all mmps plus an additional $100 on card #1

month 2 pay all mmps plus an additional $100 on card #1

do this until card # 1 is paid in full! @ 5 months

at month #5 - work on card # 2 BUT now you have an additional $120 every month ($100 left over +$20 mmp from card #1) so yoour payment to card # 2 would be $150

card # 2 would be paid in full in 6 months

month #11- you have paid 2 cards in full - you left over amount every month now = $150 +mmp $40 = pmt $190/month

card #3 would be paid in full in 7months

and so on....

one thing you have to remember- CASH ADVANCES - If you have cash advances on any card make sure you send a note with your payment stating: Any amount above the minimum monthly pay is to be placed on the cash advance portion of the account.

If you do not tell the company to do this, they will automatically place the entire payment on thepurchase portion of the bill -thereby collecting huge amounts of $ in interest.

Depending on the extent of your debt and your income, you could pay your debts off sooner or later. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a grant program that pays off credit card debt- the onyl thing that would get rid of that debt is bankruptcy -with the new laws I do not know how it works and it  stays on your cedit report for 7-10 years. Try to avoid it, at all costs.

Here is the link to consumer credit counseling and NACA both of which may help you.

good luck!

I am 51 yrs old work full time , I carry a high mortgage and a high credit card debit, I would like some help financially to get me back on track, I also would like to help my sons financially, my oldest son is married and has been laid off from his job this year 3 times, work is slow in his profession, my youngest son works part time and goes to school part time he still lives with me at home and helps out as much as he can I would also like to help him financially as well. 

Thank You God bless you.

Thank you, you are too kind.

Great info.  You did alot of research on behalf of this person.  I hope people on this site appreciate all the work that you go through to assist people.  I know I appreciate all that you do on their behalf.

May God bless you.

Hi Sassy,

For the immediate necessities,  go to food pantries and churches. They shoud be able to help with food , sometimes toiletries, and sometimes minimal financial assistance. She can find local assistance by calling 3-1-1 in her area or visit the PIKE county website

Apply for social services. BUT do NOT ask for a home visit. Considering the utilities are shut off, Social services may determine the home is unfit to live in and make them move. If you feel they are safe there, then leave things as they are. In my experience Social services very RARELY does home visits - don't invite trouble.
Depending on her circumstances, that will determine what she qualifies for. They have food stamps, financial assistance, heating/cooling assistance, medicaid, etc. All this can be found on their website, but she has to meet their requirements in order to qualify. 

You said she is sick and cannot work. She can apply for social security disability (SSD) or Supplement Security income (SSI) Both can be done online. This can often take quite a while to get. Make sure she files for social services first. Then she can file for SSD or SSI - right away - it can sometimes take up to 3 years or more to be approved. 

Red bird mission is in her area  and should be able to assist with necessities as well. Go to them first. If they cannot help her, ask them who can. Most are usually quite helpful. 

I am also including the link for  HUD for Kentucky - if she doesn't want to stay where she is, or cannot afford to, she can apply for subsidized housing in her area - or nearby. The subsidized rent is based on income - so the lower her income, the lower her rent.  

Before I forget, she may also qualify for LIFELINE - phone assistance 

For most people finding help is difficult, most have never been in this situation before. It is overwhelming, scary and often VERY CONFUSING. People, complete strangers, ask a lot of questions. The best she can do is be truthful and ask a lot of questions herself. Get as much information as possible. I would call Red Bird mission tomorrow first thing , then call social services - right after. It is friday, so she might be able to atleast get in to red bird, then set up an appointment for social services. If she can, have her get started on her SSD/SSI application. She can do it either online and save it in portions (I think) or have them mail her an application. She will need to have her birth certificate, social security card, proof of address ( usually utility bills)- for utility assistance she will need the shut off notices. if she is married she will need all her husband's information as well as her marriage certificate. If there are any children - their birth certificates and social security cards as well. And be prepared to fill out a LOT of paperwork. If she has any questions - ASK -do not leave anything blank. If she doesn't know the answer, ask someone, if it doesn't apply to her put in:  N/A

 I hope this helps! If you have any questions, let me know. 

SASSY57 HERE,

I WOULD LOVE TO FIND HELP FOR TWO VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE TO ME. ADAM AND BEVERLY MAY, THEY HAVE NO INCOME, THEIR ELECTRIC HAS BEEN OFF FOR TWO YEARS. BEVERLY IS MY FIRST COUSIN AND I KNOW SHE IS VERY SICK AND CAN'T WORK, HER FATHER DIED THREE YEARS AGO AND HER MOM DIED A YEAR AND A HALF. SHE WAS LEFT A BEAUTIFUL HOME, BUT SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO ANYTHING BECAUSE HER FATHER WOULDN'T LET HER. NOW THEY ARE STAYING IN A HOME WITH NO ELECTRIC, OR FOOD AND I KNOW THEY BOTH NEED CLOTHES. I ONLY WISH I COULD HELP THEM. CAN YOU TELL ME HOW SHE CAN GET A HOME VISIT FROM SOCIAL SERVICES, TO EXPLAIN WHAT KIND OF HELP THEY CAN GET. I WOULD BE SO GREATIFUL. GOD BLESS YOU.

Well here goes another story that has probbaly been told a thousand times. I am a married  (18 years) mother of three 15,11, and almost 1 year, I had a great paying job my husband working in July of 2006 we moved into our first home September of 2006 I got laid off found out I was pregnant while using birth control. October my husband swerved to miss a deer totaled our van. Born May 9th was our third child very healthy and happy after the entire pregnancy I worried myself sick with such financial burden. I went back to work for less than half my wage before and we have accured so much debt during my time off. Not to mention I work third shift and my husband works first so we don't have to have a baby sitter. If we had about $6000.00 we could get a fresh start and live off our new wage. It is feasiable but being so far behind like we are and making hasty decissions along the way has us scarred we will loose everything. We waited so long to get our first home and now it has not been the best experience due to all the heart ache. They say money is the root to all evil, I believe it to be true when you don't have enough to provide for your family. God only gives you what you can handle well I am sure I am at the end of the rope. Any help would be put to good use. We are and always have been hard working honest people who have gotten into a rut soon to be a sink hole......

lots of love and hope

shawna

i have in my family now,want file bankrupty but it cost 1200.00 paid down now owe 988.00 .cannt pay cheak cashing places or med bills need help dont on where to go or where trune next help.rlcafuller_35@yahoo.com?