It takes forever to get caught back up when some unexpected expense comes around

United States
September 27, 2009 2:12pm CST
Has anything come up lately that was an unexpected expense for you that pushed back your bills?? It totally sucks!! I hate when something happens and then you have to decide what bill wont get paid because hey the car needs a new heater core. --like I care or know what a freakin heater core is but I just know that I needed it to drive my car and the expense was over 300.00 for it with all the labor costs!!! so of course that meant the bills that were due out last week got pushed back to this week and now next weeks bills will be pushed back too.... and it will be forever until we can get caught up!!!! I wish I could find something online that would give me a small monthly salary that is more than 10.00 a month --I mean I need every dollar I make online, but I just wish I could help out so much more than I do now!! has this happen to you lately...or this year?? are you caught back up yet?
1 person likes this
16 responses
@malamar (779)
• Canada
27 Sep 09
It seems like there is always something waiting around the next corner when you least expect it, doesn't it? The old two steps forward, and one step back. I always try to keep my rainy day fund topped up in case these things to arise. I know in these tough times every penny counts, but I have become a master at budgeting and can squeeze an extra nickel out of every dollar. Even buying a cup of coffee each day at your local coffee shop can really add up. Have you tried any of the writing sites yet, they can be start producing fairly quickly with a little effort. Otherwise, just hang in there, I am sure something will come up for you. Don't give up hope, that will really drag you down. Good luck to you.
• United States
27 Sep 09
I need to start a rainy day fund... I really do, we live paycheck to paycheck obviously and I so want to start saving soon so that this doesnt happen to us anymore!! I have not really looked into them yet, as my summer I really lacked in my computer time and I am making up for it starting this month. I might have to see what those are all about and if I could really start making some money at those. thanks for the suggestion!! I wont give up hope, I am always trying to think positive and that you never know what the next day may bring... today may be a bad one but tomorrow may be the best day of our lives!! thanks for the response and have a great night!!
• United States
28 Sep 09
Yes me too! I lost my job when my company closed, like a lot of people, back in February. I am grateful that I have been able to get unemployment but keeping up on bills and medical costs is a nightmare. I am hoping to get a job now it is 'Christmas temp' season as I have a lot of retail experience.
• United States
28 Sep 09
Yes, it is almost great to have the holiday season here just to see a few openings at some places for the season shopping... I hope you find something!!! thanks for the response and have a great day!!
• United States
29 Sep 09
thanks, will keep looking!
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
29 Sep 09
I do totally know how it is. We have to get my van fixed. It is a handicap van and has a ramp. The door will not close all the way, even manually. the electric part will not close it at all. We are expecting over $500 to fix it and have no idea where we are going to come up with it. My washer is going out, but as long as you go in and reset the cycles as they are going through it will do it. I just want to scream. Good luck to you!!
1 person likes this
@leoling (173)
• Singapore
28 Sep 09
That's why you need financial planning. Get a financial book to help you. Some tips for you hope can help you. Every month separate you income into 3 parts, one to saving account, one for investing, one for expenses for the month. Saving account: Have a habit of saving is good. This include for unexpected expense as well. Investing basket: Learn to let the money work for you and don't work for money for entire life. Start small amount when learning. *Put money in bank and let it grow interest is not a good way of money work for you. Because when u calculate the inflation rate and interest rate you will know why. Expenses basket: Calculate all the expenses that you think you will spend for the month. Including bills or these.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Sep 09
that is exactly what we use to do when I worked in the office field, before I got laid off after 9/11 -2001 after the terrorist attacks and our economy went down really fast!! then after that I couldnt find work and then I became pregnant and a full time mom and we decided it was better for me to stay home --not that the economy around here ever picked back up... actually it is even worse now than it was back then... we here in Michigan are at 15% unemployemnt the largest ever in history -- so until things pick back up and the economy turns around here we live paycheck to paycheck... so I am trying to earn a little more by using the internet. thanks for the suggestions, I really appreciate them and we will eventually get back to a better point than we are now!! I have to stay positive about that!! thanks for the response and have a great day!
• Malaysia
28 Sep 09
Yes, once you are in arrears on bills, the just backed up and you fear the worse. This is especially for utilities that may occasion a cut in supply if you do not pay on time. The second type of worrisome bills are those to do with statutory payments. Delay your quit rent and assessment and you may have people coming in to seal your property for purposes of auctioning it off to get their dues. Then you have those nasty credit cards charging you interest and late payments from one end to another and there is no end to this. Not settling your overdraft usage will also attract interest rate. And do not forget insurance premiums, road tax and your cellular phone bills. All this will put you back months before you can finally settled them.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Sep 09
It can get very depressing when you think of it, we just take one bill at a time and work on getting them all paid.. eventually!! thanks for the response and have a great day!
@tvb2009 (237)
• Singapore
28 Sep 09
It never really happen on me yet. Because i normally spend on what i need. But when it comes by, really have to take it as it is. I am looking to make money online too.
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• United States
29 Sep 09
there are some sites out there, but nothing that I have found to bring in a steady income or a small salary amount as of yet... just a few sites that I work on everyday that adds up at the end of the month. thanks for the response and have a great day!
@Mickie30 (2626)
28 Sep 09
Tell me about it I am trying to do the same at the moment and everyone seems to be adding on expenses. I keep trying to catch up with my babk, but get cauight up and got pushed back like you then go over drawn and they charge more. Last month they charged us 100 GBP for going over drawn.
• United States
28 Sep 09
ok, been there done that!!! a couple yrs ago we had to close out the account because of all the overdrafts and we started paying bills with money orders...it worked out and we got caught up again and did that for about a yr... so now we have a bank acct again but there are still a few things I keep paying with money orders because it worked out so well that way. I hope you do get caught up... that is a pain that I think alot of us are going through!!! thanks for the response and have a great day!
@horsesrule (1957)
• United States
28 Sep 09
I know, it's a total pain and even worse, sometimes we don't ever get caught up or at least, we don't. So there are times that we have to not have things. Such as I had to get rid of my car completely because there was no way to afford it. I did move in with my adult daughter and she has a car but still, being an adult and not having your own car is the pitts. Then the air conditioner went out in my daughters car and we can't fix it and it is so hot here. I told my daughter that we need to move to the beach and live there but there again, it's that money thing!
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Sep 09
I swear sometimes its like the cars just know when we are totally strapped out and hey that is the time they break!!!! ugh!!! and unfortunately here it is turning colder so it was something I couldnt go without, but at least now that is done and I can start trying to get back on track again --for now it seems!! thanks for the response and good luck with your situation!! have a great day!
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
28 Sep 09
you are so right. we dont have medical coverage so any time meds are needed we have to pay out of pocket and this past week was my turn. it is mostly because of the fact that my hubby lost his job a month ago and we are really struggling even though i am working!
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Sep 09
yep, same here, hubby is working but he doesnt have insurance with his company so the kids and I have it through the state and he doesnt have it at all for now.. until we can get back on our feet and get a policy for the family again. --totally sucks!! yep, medical bills can add up too!! thanks for the response and have a great day!!
@weasel81 (2496)
• Australia
28 Sep 09
tell me about it, nice to see other have the same problem. i had it back in may with car rego due and road worthy, cost nearly an extra $1,000 to fix the car. i had the money for rego and thought the car was ok but no!!! it needed new tyres (they were just under the limit) a new fuel tank there was a small hole and only going to get worse in the tank. then i needed the c.v. joint on the left side fixed oh and brake pads. i was not happy. to top it all off i had to use the credit card and it needed money, as my partner hadn't been paid for a few weeks so that got set back. i'm still catching up on it all, my tax money didn't go far nor achieve much. so i'm very slowly catching up on things and will get on top of it soon.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Sep 09
oh yeah, that is one thing nice about here at mylot...we find that we are not the only ones dealing with these situations and somehow makes us feel a little better to be not the only ones in these tough times!! I hope something comes up that helps out and you get caught up... sounds like my car!! and unfortunately we had put it off as long as we could... now that it is fixed we just have to struggle a bit and get caught back up for now!! thanks for the response and have a great night!!
@hotsummer (13835)
• Philippines
27 Sep 09
i don't know if it is really good thing to say i don't pay any bills just because it is not me who pays it by my family. i mean parents and other siblings who can pay . this if for our house i am single so i still live in my house i grew up. that is just the way it is i think in most countries isn't it. that family member staying in their family as long as possible. i don't have work but i do work a lot as i have lots of responsibilities. like just now, we just finished cleaning the house after one day flood that damages so many cities including my city. it was not easy work. so i am out of work but i do a lot of work everyday still at home unpaid. but i don't worry about those bills. but i don't have money though, but the online earning i get is quite nice though not big as it gives me my own money to spend as i don't ask money from any one.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Sep 09
I am sorry to hear about the flooding but I am glad that you were able to get it cleaned up. I can only imagine the damage done and that is always so sad to hear of. I think that is great that you are at least making the small online earnings and getting something for yourself... I was lacking my computer time in the summer due to being so busy but I am working at rebuilding up my earnings starting this month and I am now even looking for more ways to increase those earnings. thanks for the response and take it easy after cleaning up after a mess like that... have a great night!
@Rainegurl (2156)
• Philippines
28 Sep 09
Hi, bookreadermom It seems that I can never get my savings account higher than the maintaining balance these days. There are always unexpected expenses coming! There was my husband's shortage in his collection at work (nope, he did not steal the money, someone else did but apparently he has to pay for it--long long story), then I got some minor health issue and I had to go to the doctor, then my husband's brother getting married (yep, we cannot just stand there and not help financially, apparently) The list goes on and on... It's my grocery budget that gets affected most of the time. So, instead of paying for our groceries in cash, I swipe my magical credit card...which faithfully accrues and my account and interest are rising. Sigh Have a nice day to all of us, anyway.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Sep 09
oh yeah, been there done that one too!!! I can say that we havent had a credit card in almost 10 yrs because that is what started our downfall with our credit and financial problems... that is why it is so hard when the car breaks down and you have to decide who gets paid and who doesnt until the car gets fixed... at least if we get behind now, it isnt with a credit card company --thank goodness!!! thanks for the response, good luck getting caught up and have a great day!
@angelajoy (1825)
• Philippines
28 Sep 09
I'm in a worse situation right now. My finances are really in a mess, and I've been depriving myself of lots of things just so I could pay these debts. So like you, I am looking for a good way to earn money online. Mylotting helps, but it's nowhere near enough to cover my expenses.
1 person likes this
• United States
28 Sep 09
oh yeah, the 10.00 here from mylot is only a bonus, and helps put gas in my car ...but doesnt help pay the bills!! Not that I can stay away from here... and hey, every dollar counts these days!! good luck with your situation and I hope you find something (and me too) soon!!! thanks for the resposne and have a great day!
@schentil (98)
• India
28 Sep 09
hi, this is really unfortunate for people who spend according to their strict budget. If this kind of unexpected expenses come to these people they will have to adjust with some other important item on their budget. I really hate these type of expenses to handle. I had one expense like you had last week, which really made me go mad. I got my computer had some problem with its ram so I had to replace with a new one. So we have to keep some extra bucks when such situations arises in our pocket in order to tackle the problem.
1 person likes this
• United States
29 Sep 09
sometimes when things like this occur we have to focus on the positive and learn from them... like you said, now in the future set aside money for when something like this happens again!! --glad you were able to get new ram!! thanks for the response and have a great day!!
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
27 Sep 09
hi bookreadermom08 even me here in this retirement center have had unexpected bills that threw my finances for a loop. for example my hmo did not pay all of the cost of an ambulance trip leaving me with a fifty dollar bill , and it did not pay allof'a whole afternoon and eve spent in the E.R. that cost another fifty then my med copay had to be paid but that was a pretty small bill. but now I know I won't have those two bills again, and now that I can make 32 or 33 dollars a month on mylot by being on a lot, I can pay my internet bill from mylot earnings.that is a big help,.also I will get at least ten dollars from mysurvey.com.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Sep 09
oh good for you that you can now be on mylot alot more and get the money from there, that is great news!!! sorry about the expense that wasnt paid though, I understand --there are times when things just have to get put off because of unexpected things. someday I hope to have that rainy day fund filled up so that we dont have to do this very often anymore and that is why I am also on the computer more to find ways of making extra money. thanks for the response and have a great night!
@angelsmummy (1696)
27 Sep 09
Hi, I know what you mean. When I woke up this morning I put my tumble dryer on and then this burning smell came out of it! I now need to make as much money as possible to pay for a new one. I need one as my neighbour steals any washing I put on the line and I cannot afford to keep buying new clothes as she has stolen it! I dont need much more but I am trying my damned hardest to get one asap because its going to cost me a fortune in gas to dry my clothes on the radiators and cost me so much time too! Time that I dont have spare! I cannot not pay bills as they all need to be paid unfortunatly I just have to save up.
1 person likes this
• United States
27 Sep 09
oh good luck with getting a new dryer...that is horrible about your neighbor, oh my gosh!! I know, luckily I can say that the bills that are getting paid late this month for us are simple ones, like utility bills, so they will just be doubled next month but unfortunately my car had to be fixed. thanks for the response and good luck getting some extra money very soon!! have a great night!