Most people have to deal with the inability to pay their credit card bills at least once or twice in their lives. This should tell you that not being able to pay your credit card bill is nothing to be ashamed of. Of course, if this is the first time you've encountered this kind of distress, it can be quite frightening. Here are some suggestions if the bill is due and you don't know how you are going to pay it:



-Your first plan should be to contact the credit card company and ask if you can pay a smaller amount this month. When you are truly strapped for money, and if you have been a good about paying your bills so far, the company will more than likely be glad to work out an arrangement with you. If you haven't been so good about making your payments on time though, the company might not be as lenient.

-Take a look at what you are currently spending and ask yourself if there might be something you can live without for the next month or so and then put that money toward your credit card balance instead. A good example of this is buying generic brands of groceries instead of name brands.

-Can you sell anything? A lot of people have found rummage sales and eBay to be fantastic ways of finding some cash when the credit card bill comes due. Take a look around you. There are probably a few things lying around the house that you can list on an auction site or put out for sale. You may have to be creative, but it can be done.

-Might any of your friends be able to loan you money? While asking one friend for the entire sum of your bill might not go over well, asking a few friends for smaller amounts might do the trick. Just remember that, if you take this option, paying back your friends will have to be your number one priority!

-Figure out a household budget. If your expenses are so tight that you cannot afford your credit card bill, it is time to take a strict look at your finances. There are probably quite a few areas that you can squeeze or tighten. Remember, your credit rating is more important than going out to eat!

These are just five ideas to use when your credit card bill is due and you discover that you can't pay it. You'll probably be able to think of many more ways to come up with money and rescue your credit score!