Simple budget for a tight month

My income is now a fraction of what it was as a medical assistant and I am trying to cover the essentials. I am in Detroit, in case local advice matters. The rent is fixed and the car payment is high. Did lenders work with you?

Check for energy assistance programmes. I got a credit that covered two bills.

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.