<prompt> Human: Ive fucked up big time regarding all of my finances for several years and now Im just realizing how much its biting me in the ass. I havent filed my tax return in the past two years due to them seizing my 2010 refund. They have yet to start garnishing my wages. Ive completely ignored everything and I realize its time to catch up. Ive spent the past month or so reading about repairing my credit and getting back on track, but I need some help in where to start.Current take home salary varies from 3400-3800month. I budget using the 3400 value and anything extra is a bonus.Savings is at 6K in an emergency fund and 1.5K in a separate account.I do have a 401K valued at 11K. Id rather not touch this.I dont have many current bills car a few small ones, but that is due to change soon as I need to find a new place to live. My estimated cost for purchasing new used things that I will need for a new place to live is at 2.5K. An exact breakdown of my monthly bills:-Car - Im in trouble with this one and screwed myself. Its worth 13.5K NADA guide, but I owe 15.4K on the loan. The car also needs about 2K in maintenance work. It has a ridiculous interest rate of 11.4 due to my poor credit. Current monthly payment is 370, insurance is 290 due to past transgressions, and gas is 120. I normally pay at least 50month more than minimum on the car payment. I realize this is a huge money pit and I need to find a new situation for transportation. I currently live in CT and public transportation unfortunately isnt an option.-And other miscellaneous monthly bills total no more than 30.For the future, I have to plan on budgeting a minimum of 550month for rent and utilities. Im having a lot of difficulty finding places in the area for that price, but Im continuing my search. Most places Im finding are averaging 750-850month.Past due loans all student loans are all in default and where I have already prioritized working with creditors, collection agencies, and the government in order to rehab the loans. Heres a breakdown of those:Collection Agency, 1,496, remains on record until 0516Collection Agency, 2,530, remains on record until 0516Collection Agency, 5,006, remains on record until 0516Collection Agency, 7,866, remains on record until 0516Sallie Mae, 1,046, claimed filed with government, on record until 0715Sallie Mae, 1,579, claimed filed with government, on record until 0715Sallie Mae, 3,500, claimed filed with government, on record until 0715Sallie Mae, charged-off, 11,472 written off, 8,002 past due, on record until 1114Sallie Mae, 5,500, claimed filed with government, on record until 0715My question is where should I begin? My gut tells me to cash out some of the emergency fund, repair the car, and pay down the loan significantly so that I can trade it in and get a used, more economical vehicle. After that is squared away, then its time to start firing off letters and getting the past due loans into order. Also, should I just plan on leaving the loan that is expiring off my report on 1114 be? Work on all the other loans until those fall off naturally? Ive heard its impossible to escape from student loan debt and the last thing I need is to think Im in the clear only to have them sue me years later. I plan on starting with the federal loans as they dont need a judgement to garnish my wages.Also, if this is the incorrect subreddit, I offer my apologies. Perhaps a better one can be suggested?  <response>: Is it possible to put any of the outstanding student loans on hardship deferral, or is it past that point? I think your gut instinct is correct - you must must! get out of the car situation. Between payments and insurance and gas, you are getting killed. Have you aggressively shopped insurance rates lately? Would moving into a lower-value and lower-flash car help with the rates? If you get those things sorted out, you could be living on 1500month. That would allow you to pay upwards of 2k per month on your loans, which is a very good tool to have. EDIT: Forgot the most important point, your very first priority should be to see a CPA or tax attorney and get your amended returns in for 2011 and 2012. The IRS cant arrest you for owing back taxes, but they can for not filing returns. You are risking a criminal charge rather than just an annoying debtor. 