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That is why one of the main things to do NOW is to get out of debt. I know it sounds easier than it is, but it can be done, and it can be done without an inheritance or winning the lottery.
Decide which bills are most important (the house, etc...) or if you could get out of the expensive house and go smaller, and re-coup some time/money that way.
Pay off the cars, etc... the credit card bills, and the other loans/payments come next. Well, maybe credit card is a bit higher up - but if you STOP using the card and call the place, they will usually cut a deal with you for less than what you owe - at least they will stop charging interest on it, in most cases. But only if you stop using the card.
Choose one bill and pay double or at least half again the payment every time, until it is paid off - then move on to the next bill and do the same. (all the while paying on other bills, of course) this means you'll have to give up a lot of stuff - usually stuff we THINK we need, but really could live without.
I'm not saying this in a flip manner - I've been there. I've had to decide between toilet paper or gas for the car. I went without cable, phone, other "neccesities", etc... for a long time, just to pay off those bills. it was hard, it sucked sometimes, but it was worth it.
We owed probably about 40,000 in debt - took us about 5 years to pay it all off. (that included the mortgage, which I had had forclosure notices on before.) We had been paying on our house for almost 18 years on a 30 year loan, and it still was just near halfway paid off.
Once you begin the debt reduction - stop using credit card, stop buying on credit (taking loans, etc...) do not buy anything you have to make payments on. Period.
If you cannot pay cash, then don't buy it. Make due with something cheaper or somethign else, or do without.
Granted, we did not have high medical bills, so I cannot comment on those. I know some people have ongoing medical problems, and I would hate to be in that boat.
Also, hubby and I both had a job (I did not work for years, stayed home to raise children, which was partly why we were in that boat to begin with.) However, if trading 5 or 6 years of working for someone else would get me out of debt, I was willing to do it.
I moved here a year ago - I knew no one, but this community is different from where I used to live, the people here are pretty like-minded and willing to pitch in (and barter, and trade, and share tools, etc...). I lived at my old place for 20 years and never belonged to a community - I lived in the second biggest city in the world, but here in the country I have more "neighbors" than I ever did - and my closest neighbor is a good 1/4 mile away from me.
It is all in the mindset of the people you live near - either it is every man for himself, or it is a community.
Attitude is everything, in more ways than one - and the right attitude is what is going to get you out of debt and help you survive whatever comes your way.
Peace -
Meriah
