What should you do if there’s no money for a credit card bill?

There may come a time when you can’t afford to pay a credit card payment. Maybe you lost your job, underestimated your expenses or struggled with other issues in your life. Whatever the reason is, remember that you do have some options.

First, try getting together some extra money by selling off a few items. Maybe you have clothes you don’t need or can provide a service, like mowing the lawn for an elderly neighbor, that would make up the money needed to make the payment.

If you can’t make any extra money and have tried, then you may want to call the company and say you can’t make the payment this month but that you’d like to make it next month. Or, if you have to make the payment later than usual, tell the company what you can pay now and ask if you can pay the remainder later in the month. Your credit card company may be able to extend your due date or give you a waiver for the month.

Remember to make your payment a priority. After you work out a plan with your company, try to make sure to pay that bill as soon as you have the money to do so. Normally, even if the bill is late, it won’t be reported to the credit bureau for at least 30 days.

If you find you are always struggling with debt, you may be in a position where you need extra help. Your attorney can help you find ways out of debt, so you can have financial stability in your life.

Source: Nerd Wallet, “What Should You Do If You Can’t Make Your Credit Card Payments?,” Lindsay Konsko, accessed June 09, 2016