Always communicate with your credit card company, mortgage holder, car loaner, and or utility if you are unable to make a payment on time or unable to make a minimum payment. It is likely the debt company will allow some leeway when you are honest with your situation. Then, always keep your word and keep the promises that you make. The debt collector will likely give you a ‘grace period’ for you to make your next payment. Even if you make a minimum payment, bill collectors welcome a smaller payment rather than no payment at all. Another tool is to combine all credit card payments to s single, zero percent credit card to give you a few months to a year without interest. This will provide ample time to make payments. Avoid adding new debt to your current debt. Before you know it – you will succeed in paying off a few debts.
Rev. Dr. Donna Taylor is the Pastor of Andrew Chapel, United Methodist Church on the Northern Neck in Montross, VA. Rev. Dr. Taylor promotes best practices for financial literacy and financial empowerment in the church and leads workshops throughout Northern Virginia. Currently, she serves as the Chair of the District Finance Committee. In May 2015, Rev. Dr. Taylor received her Doctor of Ministry from Virginia University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, VA. Rev. Dr. Donna Taylor is married to Dr. David Taylor, who is also the Director of our church-based free clinic. They have two adult children and three grandchildren. In her leisure time, Rev. Dr. Taylor enjoys traveling, jogging, weightlifting, swimming, yoga, and interior decorating. In May 2015, Rev. Dr. Taylor received her Doctor of Ministry from Virginia University of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, Virginia. Rev. Dr. Taylor was born and raised in New York City and recently discovered her ancestral roots in Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. Rev. Dr. Donna Taylor is married to David Taylor and they have a son and a daughter. Their daughter is a educator and son is an Active-Duty Senior Seaman in the Navy married with three children. In her leisure time, she enjoys traveling, reading, swimming, writing poetry, crocheting and spending time with her family.