Recommended Free Tools
Start with the party that can change your bill, and act before you miss a payment. Renters should contact local rental-assistance organizations, their landlord, and 211; homeowners should call their mortgage servicer as soon as they expect difficulty. Assistance and relief are highly location- and situation-specific, so no program or loan outcome is guaranteed. The practical goal is to reduce the amount due now, prevent avoidable fees or legal escalation, and choose a sustainable housing cost for the months ahead.
First, identify what is making housing unaffordable
Housing costs are more than a headline rent or principal-and-interest payment. List every housing-related charge from the last three months so you can separate a temporary cash shortfall from a payment that is structurally too high.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Renters: base rent, required parking or storage, renter’s insurance, utility bills, late fees, and any repayment agreement for past-due rent.
- Homeowners: principal and interest, property taxes, homeowners insurance, mortgage insurance, homeowners-association dues, utilities, repairs, and any delinquent amount already added to the account.
Mark each item as fixed, variable, one-time, or past-due. Then write down take-home income, essential transportation, food, medical costs, debt payments, and available savings. This is not a test of whether you “deserve” help; it gives a landlord, agency, counselor, or servicer the facts needed to discuss options. If the problem is temporary, prioritize a bridge that gets you current. If income has fallen or the payment is unaffordable indefinitely, focus on a permanent reduction, a move, or an orderly exit rather than repeatedly delaying the same bill.
If you rent: lower the bill and prevent an eviction crisis
Contact local rental-assistance channels immediately
Rental assistance is distributed through state, tribal, county, city, and community organizations. Start with your local government’s housing or human-services office, ask trusted community organizations which programs currently accept applications, and use 211 to connect with local specialists. Availability, documentation rules, income limits, and processing times vary; an application can take several weeks, so apply before the account reaches a formal eviction stage whenever possible.
#1 Best Overall
- Compact & Portable Design: This Small Excel, Word, PowerPoint, & Windows Cheat Sheet Mouse Pad measures 11.8" x 9.8", offering a portable mouse pad. Its compact size fits in bags or laptop cases, suitable for professionals, students, or travelers.
- Multi-Software Shortcut Guide: Featuring essential shortcut keys for Excel, Word, PowerPoint, & Windows, this small mouse pad provides a quick reference for frequently used shortcuts, offering a reference designed to support workflow efficiency
- Smooth & Precise Surface: The finely-textured surface ensures precise mouse control, allowing for smooth and accurate movement during work or gaming sessions.
- Durable & Non-Slip Design: This Multi-Software Shortcut Mouse Pad features stitched edges to reduce fraying. The non-slip rubber base helps keep it securely in place, and the water-resistant fabric allows for easier maintenance.
- Clear Print Quality: Displays high-resolution printing intended to remain legible through regular use and cleaning
Have a concise packet ready: identification, household information, lease, rent ledger or notice showing the amount due, income records, and a short explanation of the hardship. Ask the agency whether it pays the landlord directly, whether it can cover arrears as well as future rent, and whether utility assistance is a separate application. Keep confirmation numbers, copies of uploads, and the name of every person you speak with.
Ask about Housing Choice Vouchers and subsidized housing
Your local public housing agency can explain how to apply for a Housing Choice Voucher. HUD’s subsidized-housing resources can help you locate other assisted-housing programs. These programs serve eligible households, but waiting lists, openings, and local rules differ. Ask whether the list is open, how preferences are applied, what documents are required, and how you must keep your contact information current. Treat a voucher or subsidized unit as a medium-term housing strategy, not a promise of immediate rent relief.
Separate utility relief from rent relief
If electricity, heating, or cooling costs are also unaffordable, contact your local Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) office. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) also directs consumers to the National Energy Assistance Referral Hotline and 211 to locate help. Utility programs may have different eligibility rules and deadlines from rental programs, so ask whether you need a separate application and whether shutoff protection is available in your location.
Rank #2
- [MULTIFUNCTIONAL]You'll get 2 pieces computer monitor memo boards that you can stick on the left and right edges of your monitor, and they're the perfect office desk organizers and accessories. Computer monitor side panels desktop organizer are suitable for home work or office,bringing convenience. Desktop memo is used to organize meeting memos, important messages, business cards, planning notes.Paste on the message board to keep track of important things and to-do items to prevent forgetting.
- [🌟HIGHLY QUALITY] The material of computer screen side note holder is transparent acrylic. Durable, simple, stylish, light weight, easy to use, not easy to fall off or break. This cute office supplies for women desk can be used for a long time. This computer desk accessories is waterproof and dirt resistance, and look simple and stylish. The transparent acrylic sticky note holder as cubicle accessories is easy to notice the context of your sticky notes.
- [📋Easy to use] Office must haves cool office gadgets for desk ready to tear, easy to install and remove, not easy to leave traces. You only need to peel off the protective film on the surface of the computer side board memo, wipe off the dust on the edge of the computer monitor, and then stick the desk essentials for women office on the right or left side of the tape, and you're done. A perfect gift for your colleagues, friends or classmates and family members or relatives
- [🏢MULTI-SCENE USE] This desk supplies computer memo board can be applied to home and office, clear your office decor for women, suitable for most computer monitors, screens and cabinets, you can put it where you think, this cute office decor serve as a reminder. Stick on the computer side. It’s a good office gadgets can remind work improve office productivity. Pasted cabinets, dressers, refrigerators, walls, etc as cubicle accessories. To make life more orderly.
- [💌NOTE] The adhesive force of the computer sticky note holder is very strong. It can not be directly pasted on the computer screen. It should pasted on the black edge of the screen. Narrow edge not recommended!!! If you are not satisfied with your purchase, or if the product is damaged or broken in transit, please let us know immediately. We will promptly solve your problem.
Talk with the landlord before the balance grows
Do not assume a landlord will reduce rent, waive fees, or accept a payment plan, but a prompt, specific request is more useful than silence. Explain the amount you can pay now, the date and source of the next payment, and whether you are waiting on an assistance decision. Request any agreement in writing and ask how payments will be applied. A plan that only postpones the full balance can create a larger payment later; compare it with the cost and timing of moving to a less expensive unit.
Rental counseling may be available through housing organizations. Not every HUD-approved housing counseling agency offers rental counseling, so confirm that service before sharing documents or paying anything.
If eviction is threatened, protect your rights quickly
An eviction notice is a legal document, not merely a reminder. Deadlines and required notice language vary by state, county, and city. Contact a lawyer or legal-aid organization as soon as you receive a notice, court papers, or a lockout threat. Some people qualify for free help based on income. Ask what the notice requires, whether an answer must be filed, whether a hearing is scheduled, and whether local protections or emergency-assistance applications affect the timeline.
Rank #3
- Stay Organized with Ease: Our To Do List Notepad provides multiple sections with plenty of space to jot down all of your important tasks.A versatile office supply perfect for daily task management, helping you keep track of everything that needs to be done and prioritize effectively.
- Achieve Your Productivity Goals: Begin each day on a positive note, reminding you of your potential, strength, and the significance of staying focused on your goals. Our Daily Checklist Notepad is the ultimate tool to streamline your daily planning and elevate your productivity. With a clear and concise overview of your tasks, you can effortlessly prioritize what truly matters and make consistent strides towards achieving your goals.
- Reliable and Stylish: Our to do list planner combines functionality with durability. With a transparent PP cover, the inner pages are well-protected from dirt and wear. Additionally, the back cover is crafted with thick paperboard, offering a stable surface for your writing needs. Each notepad includes 52 pages of high-quality, 100gsm paper, which is thick and non-bleeding, resulting in a smooth and enjoyable writing experience.
- Versatile Use: This daily checklist notepad, suitable for teacher supplies and a wide range of applications, proves invaluable in various settings including work, school, and home. Whether you need to organize your daily tasks, plan a project, or create a grocery list, this notepad serves as the ideal tool. Its compact size ensures easy portability, allowing you to conveniently carry it with you throughout your day.
- Perfect Present for Anyone: Our Daily To-Do List Notepad is the perfect present for those who value organization and productivity. With its stylish design and versatility, this office desk accessory is also a practical addition to school supplies. Suitable for students, professionals, and homemakers alike, it helps keep tasks and priorities in check effortlessly.
- Keep the lease, notices, payment receipts, bank records, messages, inspection photos, and assistance-application confirmations together.
- Continue paying what you can through a traceable method unless a lawyer advises otherwise; never create a new dispute by paying cash without a receipt.
- Do not ignore a court date. Missing it can produce a judgment even when an assistance application is pending.
- Be cautious of anyone demanding money to “guarantee” that an eviction will disappear or promising legal results without reviewing your documents.
If you own a home: call the mortgage servicer before missing a payment
CFPB mortgage guidance is direct: “If you can’t pay your mortgage or are worried about missing a mortgage payment, call your mortgage servicer right away.” The servicer is the company that sends statements or collects payments, even when another institution owns or backs the loan. Waiting can reduce the time available to review loss-mitigation options and can add fees or delinquency complications.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallBefore calling, prepare a one-page hardship summary:
- What changed and when (job loss, reduced hours, illness, divorce, major repair, or another event).
- Whether the problem is temporary, expected to improve on a known date, or ongoing.
- Monthly gross and net income, essential expenses, cash and other assets, and current housing payment.
- What payment you can make now and what payment might be sustainable after a change.
Ask for the servicer’s loss-mitigation department and request the complete application checklist. Record the date, representative, reference number, documents requested, and submission method. Continue opening statements and responding to written requests while the review is underway.
Rank #4
- 【Adjustable & Ergonomic】：This laptop stand can be adjusted to a comfortable height and angle according to your actual needs, letting you fix posture and reduce your neck fatigue, back pain and eye strain. Very comfortable for working in home, office and outdoor.
- 【Sturdy & Protective】 ：Made of sturdy metal, it can support up to 17.6 lbs (8kg) weight on top; With 2 rubber mats on the hook and anti-skid silicone pads on top & bottom, it can secure your laptop in place and maximum protect your device from scratches and sliding. Moreover, smooth edges will never hurt your hands.
- 【Heat Dissipation】 ：The top of the laptop stand is designed with multiple ventilation holes. The open design offers greater ventilation and more airflow to cool your laptop during operation other than it just lays flat on the table.
- 【Portable & Foldable】：The foldable design allows you to easily slip it in your backpack. Ideal for people who travel for business a lot.
- 【Broad Compatibility】：Our desktop book stand is compatible with all laptops from 10-15.6 inches, such as MacBook Air/ Pro, Google Pixelbook, Dell XPS, HP, ASUS, Lenovo ThinkPad, Acer, Chromebook and Microsoft Surface, etc.Be your ideal companion in Home, Office & Outdoor.
Mortgage options to discuss with the servicer
Each option has different eligibility rules, costs, and consequences. Loan backing, investor requirements, occupancy, income, equity, and the type of hardship can affect what is available. Ask for a written estimate before accepting a change.
| Option | How it may help | Questions to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Refinance | Replaces the existing loan and may lower the rate or payment when the borrower qualifies. | What are the interest rate, closing costs, new term, total interest, and break-even period? Will a lower payment come from extending the loan? |
| Loan modification | Changes one or more existing loan terms, potentially reducing the required payment or spreading repayment over a longer period. | Which terms change, how much is added to principal, what fees or interest accrue, and how does the new payment compare over the full term? |
| Repayment plan | Spreads missed amounts over future payments while the regular payment resumes. | How much is added each month, when does the plan end, and can the household afford the higher temporary payment? |
| Forbearance | Temporarily pauses or reduces payments during an approved hardship period. | How is unpaid principal, interest, escrow, or fees repaid? Is a lump sum required, and what payment is due when forbearance ends? |
| Short sale | Allows a sale for less than the mortgage balance when the servicer approves it. | Who pays selling costs, how is any deficiency handled, what happens to the sale timeline, and what tax or credit consequences should be reviewed? |
| Deed-in-lieu of foreclosure | Transfers the property to the lender under an approved agreement instead of completing foreclosure. | What conditions apply, how will relocation work, whether a deficiency is waived, and how will liens or other borrowers be handled? |
“Lower payment” does not automatically mean lower cost. A modification or refinance can extend the term and increase total interest; forbearance can create a substantial amount due later; and a short sale or deed-in-lieu means leaving the home. Compare immediate payment, total repayment, fees and interest, effect on ownership, eligibility, processing time, and the end-of-relief payment before choosing.
Questions to ask about forbearance and any temporary plan
Temporary relief is safe only when you understand the repayment mechanics. Ask the servicer to answer these questions in writing:
Best Value
- Twin-Ball Design : Hiacry gel pen features a double ball conical tip that reduces writing resistance and provides a stable and smooth writing experience. 0.7mm quick drying black ink ensures no jumping, leakage or seepage.
- Quick-Dry Long Lasting Ink：0.7mm black ink can slide effortlessly, dry immediately, & is not easily dirty. It has a high-capacity reservoir (up to 1300 meters), which is very suitable for left-handed & right-handed users.
- Sleek Design for Journaling & Planning: Engineered with a low center of gravity and precision tip for steady ink flow, these journaling pens excel at note-taking, sketching, planning, and more. They combine stylish pens with top-tier performance.
- Rolling Ball Design：The pocket clip with roll ball design can be easily attached to notebook pockets and binders, in addition, the fidget on the pen clip is also a small toy for your daily thinking to relieve stress.
- Comfortable Non-Slip Grip：The ergonomic pen barrel has a soft rubberized coating for a comfortable, non-slip grip, so you won't get fatigued even after long hours of writing.
- What exact payments are paused or reduced, and for which dates?
- Does interest continue to accrue? Are late charges, escrow shortages, or other fees added?
- Will the missed amount be due as a lump sum, added to the loan balance, spread over future payments, or handled by another arrangement?
- What will the first payment after the relief period be, and when is it due?
- What documents or check-ins are required before the plan ends?
- What should you do if income has not recovered by the end date?
Set a reminder well before the plan expires. Recontact the servicer if the original hardship continues; do not wait for a new delinquency notice.
Use HUD-approved housing counseling without paying a rescue company
A HUD-approved housing counselor can help organize your finances, explain mortgage options, and communicate with the servicer. CFPB describes foreclosure-prevention counseling as free and says counselors cannot promise that you will keep the home. Confirm that the agency is HUD-approved and that the service you need is foreclosure prevention or mortgage counseling. Ask how documents are transmitted and whether any optional service carries a fee.
Never pay an upfront fee to a foreclosure-rescue company. CFPB warns that “You don’t have to pay anyone to help you avoid foreclosure.” A demand for money before services, a guarantee that foreclosure will be stopped, instructions to stop speaking with the servicer, or pressure to sign over the deed are serious warning signs. You can contact the servicer yourself and use a HUD-approved counselor to understand the response.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Choose the right path by comparing the trade-offs
Use a written comparison rather than choosing the option with the smallest advertised payment. For renters, include program timing and coverage; for homeowners, include the loan’s long-term cost and ownership outcome.
| Decision factor | Renters should check | Homeowners should check |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate cash need | Amount of rent, fees, and utilities due now; whether assistance can cover arrears. | Payment currently due, delinquent amount, escrow shortage, and fees. |
| Eligibility | Location, household income, lease status, hardship, and program-specific documents. | Loan type and backing, hardship, income, assets, equity, and occupancy. |
| Timing | Application processing, waiting-list status, landlord deadlines, and court dates. | Review time, trial-payment requirements, forbearance end date, and foreclosure milestones. |
| Future payment | New rent, repayment-plan amount, moving costs, and utility burden. | Modified payment, repayment-plan surcharge, post-forbearance amount, and escrow changes. |
| Total cost and exit | Fees, accumulated arrears, lease-break costs, deposit, and moving expenses. | Total interest, closing or modification costs, deficiency risk, credit impact, and whether you keep the home. |
For any option, write down the best-case and worst-case monthly payment, the date each payment starts, and the action required if the arrangement fails. If the payment remains unaffordable after assistance, a less expensive home may be the financially safer choice than repeatedly accumulating arrears.
A practical 48-hour and 30-day action plan
In the next 48 hours
- Calculate the exact amount due, the date it is due, and the amount you can pay without sacrificing food, medicine, or essential transportation.
- Gather your lease or mortgage statement, income records, bank information, notices, and a short hardship explanation.
- Renters: call 211 and local housing or human-services offices; contact the landlord. Homeowners: call the mortgage servicer and request loss-mitigation assistance.
- If utilities are unaffordable, contact the local LIHEAP office and ask 211 for current programs.
- If an eviction notice, foreclosure notice, or court document exists, contact legal aid or a qualified attorney immediately and calendar every deadline.
During the next 30 days
- Submit complete applications and keep proof of delivery. Respond promptly to requests for missing documents.
- Compare written offers by payment, total repayment, fees, timing, and what happens when temporary relief ends.
- Cut or renegotiate nonhousing expenses only after protecting essentials; a small subscription reduction cannot fix a permanently unaffordable housing payment.
- Build a forward-looking housing budget using the payment that will actually be due after assistance, a repayment plan, or a move.
- Follow up on a fixed schedule—weekly for urgent notices and at least before any promised decision or relief end date.
What not to assume
- An online list means a program is open, funded, or available in your county.
- Applying guarantees approval or stops an eviction or foreclosure deadline.
- A landlord must lower rent or accept partial payments.
- A servicer must approve a refinance, modification, forbearance, short sale, or deed-in-lieu.
- A temporarily reduced payment is cheaper overall.
- A company asking for an upfront fee can deliver a better result than your landlord, servicer, counselor, or legal-aid office.
Confirm current program status and local legal rights with the responsible agency or a qualified professional. Keep communicating, document every step, and make the decision that leaves the household with a payment it can sustain after the immediate emergency passes.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →
