I kind of live check to check and don’t have enough in savings to just make a double payment somewhere to catch up.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I can switch my payment routine to avoid the continuous late fees?

Thanks,
Chris

Do you have things around that you could sell on Craig's list? What about a temporary side job? (It's the season when a lot of merchants hire extra help). Would taking in a roommate be feasible?

In addition to raising some cash, take a hard look at expenditures. Are there some that wouldn't kill you to go without for a short while?

Once you've successfully changed your routine, think about all the money you'll be saving in those (ouch) late fees. You can start setting aside a little for an emergency fund. Once you have an emergency fund, you can start saving/investing for your future. It only gets better.

Good luck!

quirk's post reminded me. My electric co allows me to pay on a budget payment plan where they average out the cost (I pay more in summer and less in winter). That helps me in planning my budget. Can you do something similar with some of your regular bills?

I realize that around Christmas is a difficult time to make the suggestion thAt I'm about to come up with.

What's the possibility of checking your other bills on the 15th when you pay your mortgage, and pay either one of them that you can afford at the time, or, preferably, one where your penalty is higher than the others?

If you can do this for a few months, possibly you can have moved enough of them over that will permit you to make your mortgage payment at the other date.

Do you have a membership in a Credit Union? Are there any near you which you might be eligible to join?

After a time, they might be willing to lend you enough to make the extra payment, with you repaying them over a period of a few months ... out of the money that you'd be saving in penalties no longer paid.

Would the financial institution that you use now be willing to make you a small loan to cover the extra payment?

May there be a relative or friend who could afford to help out for a while and be willing to do so?

Good wishes as you explore various possibilities.

ole joyful