Let budget discipline become a habit
Once you get in the rhythm of budgeting, you become disciplined – keeping within the boundaries of it. Honestly, it’s easier than you might think.
Your absolute expenditures are savings, rent/mortgage, heat, light, food, health, insurances.
Notice that cable, eating out, entertainment, incidentals, etc are not there. Until you get a handle on budgeting — these can be shaved down considerably, or eliminated. You will survive this. It just takes some discipline, which will become a good habit. Try it.
Any outstanding credit card debt should be paid off as quickly as possible. By paying just the ‘minimum due’ at month’s end, will not suffice, because each month a portion of the following bill will be interest added on to the prior purchases, and so that cycle has begun and will continue unless and until there is a zero balance. Until then you will find yourself always owing – and sadly, it’s just added debt. You didn’t buy it. You have nothing to show for it. It’s ‘fees’ – interest and or late fees. A total waste of money… money you worked for, and are now handing over to the bank. Why are you doing this to yourself?
Until your bill shows a zero balance, do not use your credit card(s).