Could you use your connections to get a bank loan - even at 18% or even at 30% , even at 40%, it would be much better than the pay day loans. I just know that those payday loans can become a cycle you can never get out of. Someone at work's husband was using the payday loans for his gambling problems - and when I went to the place with her - I believe the interest rates were like 500% - which I had to assume there are no longer usuary laws in the this country.

Better to have been late with the utilities and have them shut off then get into that trap. Can you not get a 2nd job - I know I have worked 2nd jobs lots in my life - because I had a debt and couldn't stand it. I had a car payment, and had to pay it off. Course I got a car that was only worth $8,000. I had a mortgage and had to pay it off. The job that paid my car off so fast was working in a bakery packaging cinnamon rolls - I am not too proud to do that for $6.00 an hour - but I am proud of having no debt, and I don't make close to $60,000. I worked at UPS, and I am female and was not a UPS employee so didn't make $18/hr, I worked at a Department Store to make extra principal payments on my mortgage.

Can you ask your girlfriend if you can move in with her for just utility payments for a few months - rent free so that you can get things under control. Your credit card and your student loans, your balances are not that high. What is the balance on those PayDay loans?