Bills. One of the worst things about being an adult.

We all have them, and we all have to pay them. But what happens when the unthinkable occurs? What happens when, for some reason, you just don’t have the money to cover your bills?

Well, consider this a survival guide.

1. Don’t Hide Away

The most important thing you can do when you realise that you aren’t going to be able to make your bill payments is to face reality. This means you can’t avoid the final notice letters, the warnings, and the general fear that’s associated with being ‘in the red’. We know it’s hard, but don’t hide away under the covers and pretend it isn’t happening. Unfortunately, that won’t get you anywhere.

2. Compile All The Bills

Once you’ve faced reality, it’s time to take a decisive action. To make sure you don’t forget anything, jot down a quick list of all your services, from electricity to water to mobile phones and internet, and all your debts, from car payments to student loans. Get every single bill together that you need to pay in a big pile and start to compile them so you know exactly how much you have to pay. You can do this using a spreadsheet, or with pen and paper if you prefer. Now, it’s important to make sure you include any past due amounts, as well as any late fees. Add all the totals together and you’ll have what you need to pay. Don’t stress, let’s deal with that now.

3. Chat To The Companies

Now you’ve got your big total. It’s scary, but not the end of the world. Your next job is to call all the companies you owe money too. Yep, call your power company, internet provider, the lot. Explain your situation and be honest about what is going on. Ask if there’s anything they’re able to do to help you out. Some companies may be able to offer you an extension or something else to ease your financial strain. We will all have times in our life when various circumstances mean we cannot cover our bills, and many companies understand this. If they are not able to offer anything, at least you tried.

4. Brainstorming Money Making

The sad fact is when you’ve got a lot of money going out, you also need to have a lot of money going in. If your current incomings, from employment or otherwise, aren’t enough to cover your bills, you’re going to need to get creative. Take a look around your house and think about anything that you might be able to sell. These items, while they don’t seem like they’re worth much to you, can be sold for profit. Also, think about any other jobs you could take on to make money using your own skills. Could you clean, do laundry, garden or even babysit for some extra money?

5. Prioritise Your Payments

When the money starts flowing in again and you’ve got the debtors off your neck, at least for the time being, it’s time to make sure those payments get paid in the right order. Take some time to properly prioritise your payments based both on what is due and what is necessary. The most important bills to pay are of course utilities like electricity, water and gas. The next ones are secured debts like your car repayments or your mortgage, which you’ll want to pay to avoid repossession of those collateral items. After that, come the credit cards and the other debts, things that need to be paid but do not carry the same consequences for non-payment.

6. Improve Your Budget

So you’ve emerged from the other side… almost. If you’re anything like most people, you’ve probably been super stressed and anxious about not being able to pay your bills, and you don’t want it to happen again. This is where your trusty budget comes in. If you have an old one, scrap it because it obviously isn’t working. Draw up a new one that takes into account both your survival needs, like food and utilities, and your financial responsibilities, like car payments and mortgages. Try to set aside money on a weekly basis to pay bills, even if they come up monthly or even quarterly, to avoid having the stress of unpaid bills in the future.