Life Events/Financial Planning

Financial Crisis and Debt

When money stops covering what matters most.

A financial crisis builds until basic needs feel out of reach. It reshapes what you eat, how you sleep, and how every notice lands. Holding things together through that pressure takes real strength. Getting help to sort what's urgent from what can wait is a smart move, not a last resort.

8 guides

27 actions

Start this journey — $10/mo Offer this to your team

Your plan includes

8 guides. 27 concrete actions.

Each guide focuses on one area of this life event. Inside each guide, the AI walks you through specific actions with deliverables, deadlines, and resources.

Grounding and Immediate Triage

Lower the panic enough to see clearly. Name what is happening, sort the noise from the real threats, and find enough emotional footing to start making decisions instead of reacting.

Acknowledge the emotional reality of crisisSeparate real threats from background noiseSet this week's survival priorities

3 actions

Essential Needs Protection

Protect housing, food, utilities, transportation, and medication before anything else. These are the non-negotiable foundations that keep life functional while the rest gets sorted.

Assess housing stability and riskSecure food, medication, and healthcare accessProtect utilities and prevent shutoffsMaintain transportation to work and essentials

4 actions

Notices, Deadlines, and Legal Risk

Surface every letter, notice, court date, shutoff warning, and deadline that carries real consequences. Knowing what is actually time-sensitive prevents the wrong things from slipping through.

Open and sort all pending mail and noticesBuild a deadline and consequence mapIdentify legally enforceable threats vs. collector pressure

3 actions

Debt Triage and Hardship Options

Sort every creditor, collector, and obligation by real consequence. Map out payment plans, hardship programs, negotiation paths, and relief options that match the actual situation.

Build a complete debt inventoryRank obligations by real consequenceResearch hardship programs and negotiation optionsBuild a realistic payment allocation plan

4 actions

Predatory Borrowing and Fee-Spiral Interruption

Identify and stop moves that make the crisis worse. Payday loans, title loans, cash advances, overdraft cycling, and high-fee borrowing can turn a bad month into a years-long trap.

Identify current predatory or high-cost obligationsStop the bleed on active fee spiralsMap alternatives to high-cost borrowing

3 actions

Household Truth-Telling and Supporter Roles

When a partner, family member, or close supporter is involved, align on the real numbers, the real limits, and who is responsible for what. Financial crisis distorts household dynamics fast.

Prepare for an honest financial disclosureDefine household financial roles and boundariesRecognize and interrupt rescue dynamics

3 actions

Formal Help and Rights

When the situation involves court action, housing threats, major collections, or signs of insolvency, bring in professional support. Credit counseling, legal aid, and bankruptcy review each serve different needs.

Understand consumer protection rightsAssess whether nonprofit credit counseling fitsEvaluate whether legal aid or bankruptcy review is warrantedVet and engage professional help safely

4 actions

Stabilization and Recovery Path

Shift from acute survival to a workable short-horizon plan. Build the habits, systems, and safety margins that prevent the next crisis from hitting as hard.

Assess where the crisis has stabilizedBuild a 90-day financial recovery planSet up early warning systems and review cadence

3 actions

Ready to navigate financial crisis and debt?

Answer a few questions about your situation. Gaite builds a personalized plan with the guides and actions most relevant to you.

Personal plans start at $10/month. Family plans $25/month for up to 5 members. Cancel anytime.

Get started — $10/mo Offer this to your team