Budget after a layoff: what did you cut first? - any advice?

My income dropped to unemployment benefits and my bills have not changed. I am nervous about the credit card minimums. Did any lender work with you?

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.

Ask your utility about hardship programmes. Mine knocked a bit off my bill for several months.