<prompt> Human: I am the only one in my household30k before taxes with a stable income. My wife does some crafty things that bring in a variable amount each month but lately has been really slow. All my credit cards are maxed and cant continue making payments and afford food. Have had to call electric company to arrange payments to avoid getting heat cut off. The credit card companies have started calling, have ignored their calls because I dont want to start out wrong. What should I say to them when I call them. Do I have to tell then I am recording the call if I live in a one party state? I have read the section on collection agencies but didnt know if it was the same for credit cards before it goes to collections. I have 21k in a retirement account that would pay about 80 of the debt that I technically could withdraw. If I end up declaring bankruptcy would they take the retirement anyway? If they would, is it worth it to take it out before bankruptcy and avoid quite as big of a credit score hit? We were hoping to move in the next 3 years if I find a better job or so but maybe that is not realisticAssistant: Please post up a detailed run down of your accounts and bills and income like this:My monthlybi-weeklyweekly takehome pay is: XX.XX.My monthly bills are:Rent: XXElectricity: XXetc.My debts are:CC1 - XX.XX at X interest rate. Minimum payment of XX.XX.CC2 - XX.XX at X interest rate. Minimum payment of XX.XX.etc.What kind of retirement account do you have?What kind of job field are you in?Human: my biweekly takehome pay is 825My Monthly bills are as followsCar insurance around 100 a month Cell phone 115Mortgage is 725Gasoline is around 150 Groceries are whatever is left we tend to have gets spent here.ElectricityWater has been 225 latelyCredit cards balanceinterest ratemonthly payment:Chase 160015.24130Discover 550015.2490AMEX 160013.570Edward Jones 600012.99150Bank of America 50009.99085My retirement plan is a Simple PlanI am currently in the restaurant industry make the highest I can make at my current job. Trying to finish school have about a year left, but just doesnt seem realistic given my current situation. I could go back in the fall and take out extra student loans to pay off dept, is that a horrible idea?Edit: added a few bills I had forgottenEdit2: I first was looking for advice on how to handle the credit card companies to keep them from taking me to court and resulting in them taking it straight from my pay. How should I initially deal with them. Are there certain things I should mention and should not mention? Is it best to say Im trying to pay it when I get the money hoping they wont take me to court soon, or should I just flat out say I cant pay right now and I will contact them when I can?Edit3: added car insurance, and no I currently do not have health insurance  <response>: OP, these are not all your monthly bills. Do you have a cars? Do you buy gas? Insurance? Food? What did you buy to run up those credit cars bills?Id tell you to sell the house but dont know of rent would be cheaper. Do you have any equity in it? 