TIPS FOR WHEN MONEY IS TIGHT:

1. Evaluate your resources and prioritize your bills:

 

• Open your bills and keep in contact with utilities and creditors. Often, you can make payment arrangements or partial payments for a period of time. Keeping in contact with utilities and creditors can help you avoid problems in the future.
• Make realistic payment arrangements. If you make a payment arrangement and break it, it's often harder to make another arrangement in the future.
• Prioritize bills. For example, it's often suggested that rent or mortgage bills should be the top priority. Use the resources below to help determine your financial priorities.

 

 

2. Create a budget:

For debt and budgeting suggestions, see the following websites:

AFL-CIO "When The Paycheck Stops" GUIDE - This site has some good information on budgeting, saving, and dealing with financial instability, all from a union member's perspective:

http://www.aflcio.org/issues/jobseconomy/unemployment/handbook/

 

A budget template (which doesn't replace advice of a debt counselor) can be found at: http://www.debtworkout.com/whopay.html

 

A budget organizer may be a helpful start: http://www.buying-new-home.com/course16_printer.php

 

Seek the services of a credit or debt counselor. Here are some options:

Lutheran Social Services: Financial Counseling Services/Consumer Credit Counseling Services/Get Checking. (888) 577-2227: 8:30 am - 5 pm Monday -Friday. Some programs have evening hours Monday - Thursday by appointment. Eligibility varies with service provided.

Auriton Solutions: Credit and Debt Management
(651) 631-8000, City: Roseville; Hours: 7 am - 8pm Monday -Thursday, 7 am - 5 pm Friday, 9 am - 3 pm Saturday.

3. To help stretch your budget, seek outside resources and ways to reduce spending (including using the following resources).

 

Bridge to Benefits: Use the online screening tool, www.bridgetobenefits.org , to see if you qualify for any number of emergency assistance programs.

Fare for All: this reduced-cost food program is offered at several locations and can help reduce your grocery budget while offering nutritious food. www.fareforall.org

Food Shelves: There are several food shelves around the Twin Cities that can help you with groceries. Food Shelf eligibility is governed by where you live. Call United Way 2-1-1 for a food shelf in your area.

 

 

 

 

ENERGY RESOURCES:

 

UNITED WAY 2-1-1

The POWER On program is designed to make electric bills more affordable and to encourage customers to make consistent payments. The program provides Xcel electric bill discounts to low and fixed income Minnesotans who receive Energy Assistance

To apply for the POWER On program, you must first receive Energy Assistance. Find out if you are eligible for Energy Assistance by calling the Energy Assistance number if you want to be sure you qualify: Energy Assistance Hotline 1-800-657-3710

After you receive Energy Assistance, you can apply for POWER On. Your eligibility and monthly discount will be based on your income and your electric costs. This program is on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Download the application for POWER On from the United Way website: www.211unitedway.org or call the Energy Cents Coalition at (651) 774-9010 or 1 (888) 774-9010 (toll-free) or United Way 2-1-1 by dialing 2-1-1 or (651) 291-0211

 

 

COUNTY ASSISTANCE
To see if you qualify for county assistance, contact the county in which you live. Also, to qualify for some non-profit assistance programs, you may have to be formally turned down by the county, so it can benefit you either way to determine if you're eligible. Call United Way 2-1-1 for contact information, or use the web sites listed below:

ANOKA: http://www.co.anoka.mn.us

RAMSEY: http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us

DAKOTA: http://www.co.dakota.mn.us

CARVER: http://www.co.carver.mn.us

WRIGHT: http://www.co.wright.mn.us

HENNEPIN: http://www.co.hennepin.mn.us

SCOTT: http://www.co.scott.mn.us