Sometimes you can sit down with your budget, go through everything, cut where you can, and still come up short.

There just is not enough money to make everything fit.

I see this more often than people probably realize. Someone may be working, paying their bills, cutting back, and trying hard to make good decisions, but the numbers still don't work.

That can be incredibly frustrating.

A budget is a great tool, but it can only do so much. It can help you see where your money is going, but it cannot create extra income when your basic expenses and debt payments are already more than you can handle.

Sometimes people come in thinking they must be doing something wrong.

But when I look at the numbers with them, that is not always the case.

Maybe they have already cut back on groceries, canceled subscriptions, stopped eating out, considered a second job and put off anything that is not necessary. There may not be much left to cut.

That is when I think it is important to stop looking only at the budget and start looking at the whole situation.

Then look at what is left for credit cards and other debt.

If those payments take up a large part of your income, it can make everything else feel impossible. High interest rates can make it even harder because you may make payments every month and barely see the balances move.

It is also worth checking to see if there are community resources that can help. Sometimes people feel uncomfortable asking for help, but if programs are available for food, utilities, rent, transportation, medical expenses, or other basic needs, they may give you a little breathing room.

For some people, a debt management program with our agency can help by lowering credit card interest rates and combining payments into one monthly payment.

For others, even a reduced payment may still be too much.

And sometimes, if the budget truly does not work, bankruptcy may need to be considered.

That does not mean bankruptcy is the right answer for everyone, but I do think it is important to be realistic. If you don't have enough money to cover basic living expenses and debt payments, it’s important to look at all of your options.

A free credit counseling session can help you look at your income, expenses, debts, and payments and figure out what may make sense for your situation.

Sometimes we find a few changes that can help. Sometimes community resources can make a difference. Sometimes a debt management program is a good option. And sometimes another path needs to be considered.

If you have gone through your budget over and over and still cannot make it work, do not assume you are failing.

Sometimes the numbers just do not work.

Written by

Lisa Ohnemus

Director and Certified Credit Counselor

Consumer Credit of Des Moines