I am not going to do it

@GardenGerty (160978)
United States
March 28, 2020 8:20am CST
With everything shut down due to the virus, there are many goods and services that are offering to extend their due date. They are NOT forgiving a bill, but they are letting you pay late. We are not going to do that. We would just owe them eventually anyway. I still have income for a while. Our bills, if anything, are lower. I will pay. Or I will pay with the stimulus, or income tax. No point in putting off the inevitable. I owe an electric bill. I will continue to owe an electric bill. I will continue to use electricity. Best pay the bill if I can. See what I mean? I have to tag my cars, I will. Now some banks are offering to refinance loans, lower interest, etc. upon request. If I had a bank loan I would do that, because it would benefit me in the long run, and I would not end up owing double in one month. I do not have a mortgage, or a bank loan, so that is off the table for me. Just my personal opinion, in my personal situation. Is the virus a game changer for your bills? I know I am lucky, I am still being paid.
35 people like this
35 responses
@florelway (23286)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
28 Mar 20
If I can pay it now I'd rather do it than doubling my payment in the future.
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
Exactly. I have the money so I will pay now.
3 people like this
@JhovanPH (2672)
• Philippines
28 Mar 20
@GardenGerty ypu are so lucky to have that money.. God bless
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@JhovanPH My employer is paying me even though we are not working.
2 people like this
• United States
28 Mar 20
My bills are all paid on time. Thankful to have an income to be able to do so.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
I hope to have something else coming in for the summer when the school checks stop, but right now we can pay it all and we will.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@florelway Yes, that is important.
2 people like this
@florelway (23286)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
29 Mar 20
At this time of crisis we should count all our blessings.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154130)
• Canada
28 Mar 20
Will pay my bills like usual.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
Yes, if nothing has changed about your income, it is the wise thing to do, in my opinion.
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
@amadeo You are always so generous.
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
28 Mar 20
I will be splitting mine to people who needs it.I do not need it
1 person likes this
@porwest (92624)
• United States
29 Mar 20
I am with you on this. Luckily I am still working, and so is the wife, and so for now there's no loss of income. Plus we have substantial savings to rely on. You are absolutely right. The bills don't disappear. They just double and triple. I'd rather just continue to conduct business as usual. No sense in trying to dig and deeper holes unnecessarily.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
We have deep enough medical debt, we would not need to dig deeper. I had wondered if you were still traveling.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@porwest Do you like being home more?
1 person likes this
@porwest (92624)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@GardenGerty Nope. They put us on hold until further notice.
1 person likes this
@ZedSmart (19786)
• Philippines
28 Mar 20
My thought is the extension does not help us anyway. What's the difference when you still pay it later? It should be waived if they really want to help. One month uncollected payment is not a big loss I think.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
If they were waiving payments, I might take advantage. Or if I had a mortgage to refinance, but I do not.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
28 Mar 20
I fully agree. If one has the means to pay, it makes no sense to take on unnecessary debt. I have been advising my son, who is still working (from home, while sick with the virus) enjoy the fact that your student loans are not accruing interest but make sure to keep the payments up. It will reduce the principle much faster that way. No matter what, they will expect the money eventually. Pay while you can. On the other hand, if you cannot pay without risking your ability to put food on the table, absolutely take advantage and pray that after this is over things will look much differently and money will be flowing again.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
Exactly right. My daughter and son in law still have loans. They are hoping to get them paid off soon. I hope this helps.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
@cperry2 My kiddos have been out of school quite some time, but it is the interest that has eaten them alive.I know of ways they could have made bigger dents in it, but it is not my business, they did not ask me. They are getting ready to put their house on the market, and if it sells for as much as the experts say, they were going to pay the last of their loans off leaving them with only whatever mortgage they take out for a new home as debt. No credit card debts or vehicle debts at this time.
1 person likes this
@cperry2 (5608)
• Newport, Oregon
28 Mar 20
@GardenGerty It will help some. The biggest thing one pays for in the end is interest. My son recently graduated with his Ph.D. I do not know how big his debt is but I know it is well over six figures. Every month of interest forbearance is a good sum of money by the time one gets to the end of it.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25381)
• United States
28 Mar 20
None of the companies, including my apartment complex, so I am possibly going to be evicted! And even if I don't get evicted my lease will be up in August and I have to give them notice by June 10th that I will be moving out.That will not be possible for me.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
Maybe if we get the incentive in time you can bail yourself out.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@dfollin Congress is giving us a payment of about 1200 per person and it should arrive in about three weeks. I am not sure about people on disability but I do believe they will also get it.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25381)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@GardenGerty I don't understand what you are saying.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
28 Mar 20
Nothing changes for us, we are both retired and we receive our pension from the Government and we will continue to receive it as usual.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
We both have our social security payments coming in, and my job.is paying me, so I should just proceed as normal.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@LadyDuck Yes, ours too.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472060)
• Switzerland
29 Mar 20
@GardenGerty Nothing changes for our online earnings, the pension is automatically credited to our bank account.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jun 20
I still keep paying my bills, I am not taking up the extensions they offered for 3 months, because you have to pay that and would be more difficult. I am thankful ,that I am able to continue to pay the bills
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
18 Jun 20
That is exactly how it seems to me.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jun 20
@GardenGerty and I bet they are sorry they offered that because people are for the most part not going to catch up. They say people received stimulus checks but didn’t have to pay bills , so most didn’t. That would have been a priority for me.
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Mar 20
I will just pay my regular bills. But I will file my taxes later if I can't get to my tax preparer in early April.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
We have software to pay our taxes, just need hubby to feel like it.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
29 Mar 20
@GardenGerty I have a human wh helps me out. But she just had surgery and is also unusually vulnerable to illness. We'll see what happens. If I wind up in jail I will to make the best of it.
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
28 Mar 20
Like you, we are going to continue to pay bills as normal unless ... they say you won't owe it at all. I'm sure they're not going to do that. Staying normal as possible as much as we can is best for our mental health. I agree with you.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
For me it is easier in the long run.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@GrannyGee Being behind is an awful feeling.
1 person likes this
@GrannyGee (3517)
• Louisburg, North Carolina
29 Mar 20
@GardenGerty For us, it is too. We are going to have to anyway ... so, I don't want us to be behind.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67080)
• United States
29 Mar 20
Nope. Has nothing to do with ours. We're all paid up. Though up until last week we hadnt paid on our electricity since October. Now its all paid. As well as internet, phones, car payments and insurance. Just have rent here on the 1st to pay.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
You guys are in good shape then.
1 person likes this
@Courtlynn (67080)
• United States
30 Mar 20
@GardenGerty yes we are.
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
29 Mar 20
@GardenGerty I hate the virus.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
It is making us very unsettled.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130213)
• Israel
30 Mar 20
@GardenGerty Very true. I do not want to go out these days. There are too many people at the store and I am not concentrating on what I need to get but on getting out of there as fast as I can.
• United States
28 Mar 20
I'm like you, I'll still pay my bills. We went down to the mailbox yesterday and I sent out my mail as I normally do. But I'm not falling for the putting off paying bills. One fun thing though, my mohair supplier for my teddy bears has offered a challenge. They offered a special "Corona Virus" kit which has the stuff to make a voo doo doll of sorts that represents the virus that we can stick pins in. When the various bear artists finish their designs they are to send pictures to the supplier (if I remember right the supplier is going to post them on her site....I was still rattled from the amorous advances from the tom turkeys on the way home when I read the offer). Any how it's going to be fun, and the stimulus is going towards repaying Bill for a loan and then for buying some mohair for making teddy bears. That's the nice thing about keeping the bills paid! You can treat yourself to things you enjoy. Thankfully the virus hasn't changed my life that much. I just get to do some reminiscing about some of the oddball things that happened when I was growing up, and my turning on some Tom Turkeys yesterday.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
Other than my job not existing any more, not much has changed. I am just on summer mode three months early. The good thing is I can keep hubby home and out of restaurants and shopping for no real reason.
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@BearArtistLady Hubby had some medical issues right before the virus hit us all. He needs to have some exploratory done, but we all, doctors, hubby, and I want to wait until some of this passes. I know he is discouraged about that and I am a little discouraged but will get past it. He is finding old westerns to watch and some series as well, like Hart to Hart.
• United States
29 Mar 20
@GardenGerty I think Bill is coming down with the Corona Virus blues. He said he isn't feeling too well but nothing hurts and he isn't running a fever or have a sore throat. It amounts to he's bored senseless. I'm going through our taped programs and finding the comedies for him to watch. We currently have the episode of WKRP that has the Turkey Giveaway...and the epic statement "As God is my witness I thought that turkeys could fly". (That still makes me loose it!!!)
1 person likes this
@betlynfrnds (4069)
• United States
29 Mar 20
That's a very good plan. My husband and I are on track with our expenses and have no worries at all. We're self-employed with a nice cushion financially speaking and can easily afford a slow down or even a shut down. Our bills will be on time and paid in full.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
That is always a good feeling. I am glad you can keep up, being self employed. What is it that you do?
1 person likes this
• United States
3 Apr 20
@GardenGerty Thank you Heather. We sell window treatments, blinds, shutters and motorized shades. We bought the business about 11 years ago when the economy was on a downturn. It was intended to supplement our income but has very successfully taken off. Even with Covid - 19 we are still able to do a little work even though I'm leary of going anywhere at all. We have slowed down considerably.
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
29 Mar 20
I agree. No sense in delaying payments if you can afford them.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
I would much rather do that.
1 person likes this
@DianneN (247184)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@Dena91 (16686)
• United States
28 Mar 20
Not really a game changer for us either. Basically we owe for electricity, water and SlingTV. Cars and home have been paid off. We are thankful.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
Gas, Electric, and Water/trash/sewer but some of those were offering deferred payments. I would not do that.
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (16686)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@GardenGerty Oky, haven't heard about any companies here in our area offering the deferred payments yet. But like you we still wouldn't.
• Agra, India
28 Mar 20
The bills will always come up whether the virus is here or not.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
Exactly right.
1 person likes this
• Agra, India
2 Apr 20
@GardenGerty and soon they will be so tough to be handled.
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
29 Mar 20
For me, no. I'll pay online with my phone. I found out how to get docs and print out at UPS which is thankfully open. Only snag might be renewing my State I Don't... they're closed. But my renewal isn't till October.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
29 Mar 20
Hopefully all things will clear up long before October.
1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
29 Mar 20
@GardenGerty Me too. Every night I go to bed wishing tomorrow it'll be over.
1 person likes this
@JhovanPH (2672)
• Philippines
28 Mar 20
People have different opinions but what I know for sure that their are many programs that lessen our pay as long a sthis virus still exist.. And there are also people that has no income at all
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160978)
• United States
28 Mar 20
For people with no income at all any relief would be a blessing.
1 person likes this
@JhovanPH (2672)
• Philippines
28 Mar 20
@GardenGerty yes! Definitely, they are just waiting for the government to work and give them
1 person likes this