Wow! Had to jump in on this one. First, let me say that YES I am having a tough time making ends meet? I take full responsibility for this as I made the debt. I have always lived above my means. They say admitting something is the first step to recovery. There, I've said it.
Up until last summer I had no trouble paying all of my bills and then lost my job (I'm in the mortgage industry...need I say more?) I've blown through all of my savings trying to keep credit cards paid and now I'm out of money and getting phone calls every day from the credit card people. I have been sending out my resume religiously but haven't secured another job yet.
One of my credit card companies has offered me a "hard-ship program" but I can't afford to even do that right now. I would sell my car and drive a rust-bucket but I'm upside down on it so I'm pretty much up craps creek right now. Not sure what I am going to do, but I have to face the music.
Most Americans that I know have a "have it now, pay for it later" mentality. That's why we are in so much trouble.
I will find a way out of the mess that I have created but it will take some time. Once I am out, I plan on NEVER getting into debt again. I'm learning to live on less and have seriously downsized my lifestyle.
Congrats to all you "frugal" ones...wish I had been like you!