CFPB Your Money, Your Goals
Public money-management toolkit; bills, goals and organizing finances.
Money
Where do I begin with the money side of recovery?
Bills may have piled up while you were using. A court fine, rent arrears or the cost of a DUI can sit alongside ordinary groceries and utilities. This topic starts with understanding what you owe and where to find information, without assuming a financial product is the answer.
Your life
Understand costs and obligations.
These guides cover immediate bills, public assistance, debt help and costs connected to recovery. When considering a service, check its fees, total costs and obligations. Describing a service here does not mean it suits your circumstances; seek qualified help for decisions that depend on your situation.
Free to read
Guides for this topic.
Choose a question below. Every guide opens without an account.
Bills, benefits & breathing room
Guide · 3 min read
What should I do when I cannot pay every bill?
List the money available, the bills due and the consequences of missing each one.
Guide · 4 min read
How can I make a cash-flow plan when my income changes?
Plan around when money is likely to arrive and when essential costs are due, using cautious estimates for uncertain income.
Guide · 3 min read
How can I build some financial breathing room?
Start by identifying the expense or timing problem that most often destabilizes your month, then work on an arrangement that reduces that pressure.
Guide · 3 min read
Where can I look for help when budgeting is not enough?
Look for assistance matched to the unmet need—food, housing, utilities, healthcare or income—and check the rules with the program that administers it.
Guide · 4 min read
How can I set clear money boundaries with family or supporters?
Agree on what help is being offered, whether repayment is expected and what access or conditions come with it.
Guide · 3 min read
How can I put my money paperwork in one usable place?
Create one private place for current bills, income records and urgent notices, with a short list showing the next action for each.
Understanding debt & credit
Guide · 5 min read
How do credit counseling, debt management, consolidation and settlement differ?
Credit counseling reviews your finances and options.
Guide · 3 min read
What should I organize first when a debt collector contacts me?
Save the communication, verify who is contacting you and request the information needed to identify the debt before sharing sensitive financial details or agreeing to pay.
Guide · 3 min read
What should I check before agreeing to a debt-management plan?
Get the complete proposal in writing and compare it with your actual income, essential costs and debts outside the plan.
Guide · 3 min read
How can I compare a consolidation offer beyond its monthly payment?
Compare the amount borrowed, fees, interest, repayment length, total scheduled cost and any property placed at risk.
Guide · 5 min read
Why do medical bills, student loans and tax debts need different approaches?
They come from different systems with different records, assistance options and deadlines.
Guide · 3 min read
How can I read a credit report and question an error?
Obtain the report through an authorized route, identify the exact item you think is wrong and gather documents that support a correction.
Guide · 3 min read
How can I prepare for a bankruptcy consultation?
Gather a reasonably complete account of debts, income, expenses, assets and urgent legal notices, then ask a qualified bankruptcy lawyer to explain the options and consequences.
Costs left by substance use
Guide · 3 min read
How can I understand court fines, fees and restitution I owe?
Get the current written balance and order, identify each type of charge and confirm the payment schedule and responsible office.
Guide · 3 min read
How can I plan for the costs of a DUI beyond the fine?
Build a cost list from your actual court and licensing documents, then add the practical effects on transport, work and care responsibilities.
Guide · 3 min read
How can I deal with bills and arrears that built up while I was using?
Start with the current consequences and verified amounts, then work backward only as needed to understand each account.
Beyond SoberSphere
Public resources for this topic.
These links open the publisher’s website. No SoberSphere account is needed. Each organization sets its own access rules and costs.
CFPB debt-service comparison
Free explanation of counseling, consolidation, settlement and repair.
CFPB debt collection
Public rights information, response resources and complaint entry point.
USAGov benefit finder
Free navigation by life event to government benefit information.
Member Benefits — in development