Guides for tight weeks
Plain language, no shaming, no selling. Rules of thumb that say where they stop and who to ask next. Each one is written to be read on a phone in five to eight minutes.
Start here
Which bills to pay first when you can't pay them all
Pay by consequence, not by size. The five-tier order, what goes inside a tier, and why partial payments are risky.
When there's nothing left after essentials
The first two calls, help by kind of bill, money you may be leaving on the table, and the scams that target this exact moment.
How to ask for a payment plan
Word-for-word scripts for utilities, credit cards, hospitals, landlords, car lenders, phone companies, tax agencies, and collectors.
By kind of bill
Can't pay the electric or gas bill?
How shutoffs actually work, protections many states have, LIHEAP and hardship funds, and what to say when you call.
Behind on rent
Eviction is a court process with steps. What to do the week rent is late, how to read a notice, and where free help is.
Do medical bills affect your credit in 2026?
Less than they used to — but the protections are voluntary bureau policy, not law. What's true now and where medical bills rank.
Understanding the bill
Tools that go with these
Which bill should I pay first?
Rank your bills and see what your spendable amount covers.
Essentials-first budget
Protect food, medicine, and transportation, then see what's left.
Late fee cost calculator
What paying late really costs, and which of two bills is cheaper to delay.
Every guide gives rules of thumb and says where they stop. Consequences of nonpayment depend on your state, your contract, and the biller. Not financial or legal advice. If you're a consumer-finance or legal-aid professional and see something we should fix, please tell us.