Gladys Coward of GreenPath Financial Wellness shares insights about how to prioritize bills in the midst of financial challenges.

News 4 WOAI San Antonio, Texas focuses on consumer information as part of their regular broadcast.   The news outlet recently shared a consumer segment on what to consider when paying bills during the pandemic.

News 4 turned to GreenPath because of the services we provide as a national nonprofit, offering financial counseling and services to empower people to lead financially healthy lives.

Together with our affiliates including resources in San Antonio, we have assisted millions of people with debt and credit management, homeownership and home buyer education, foreclosure prevention and student loan counseling.

This is a time when many of us would benefit from helpful information to manage unexpected financial challenges. As part of the interview, GreenPath shared tips to manage and prioritize expenses.

When people assess their basic needs, they are using the hierarchy of needs and account for those expenses in terms of those that are most important for our health and safety.

Prioritizing what we need can allow us to feel in control of our situation and have the money available to meet those needs even during uncertain times.

Gladys spoke about the following priorities:

• Housing– It is important to ensure it is secured. Many states and lenders are taking steps to provide support for homeowners, including suspension of evictions and foreclosures, as well as payment deferments.
• Heat/Cooling/ Electricity– Again, these expenses are necessary for safety and comfort. Many utilities announced they will not proceed with shutoffs and some have taken steps to turn utilities back on. Assistance is also available in some areas for this. People should check with their local utility company and/or municipality to see what is offered.
• Medications and Food – These are expenses that are necessary to keep healthy and are a high priority budget item.

Take the First Step

The consumer broadcast segment concluded with the importance of teaming with a helpful resource, especially if it is a challenge to meet monthly expenses.

Know you are not alone – caring counselors from GreenPath can help you set a plan to communicate promptly with your creditors to explain the situation and request some assistance.

Figuring out your financial priorities is an essential aspect of money management. It’s helpful to work with a nonprofit, reputable debt counseling agency. GreenPath debt and credit counselors are NFCC-certified, caring and nonjudgmental. We will help you understand your financial situation and make a plan to meet your goals.

Request a Call with an Expert

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