In the example I gave I said get a small loan to keep the bills paid and maintain the credit rating, then as you recommend, get rid of Cable, buy clothes at a thrift store, cook at home instead of eating out. All things which I already do living on Social Security. Then the costs would come down after several months.
This has been the gov’t strategy for decades, with a resulting debt of $14 trillion. Obama wants $2 trillion more debt to last until the election - 16 months. Obviously, the election is the target, not deficit reduction. Another increase after the election is a sure thing.
Our “leaders” in WDC have had years to address the deficit & the insolvency of entitlements. Many commissions have met & produced reasonable, rational solutions. They have all been ignored by pols intent on spending our money to enrich themselves, their families, & friends, & to get reelected to continue the theft.
This country, having elected many new conservative Congressmen, has a unique opportunity to stop this theft in its tracks, by refusing to increase the debt ceiling. No other act of Congress has ever done this, & you can be sure Congress will never vote to end their self-serving spending.
If EVERY liberal in Congress promised to resign if the debt limit is increased, I still would not favor increasing it $1, for the simple reason that they are cheats, liars, & thieves, & you don't bargain with them, especially if you don't have to.
Frankly, I'd like to see a majority in the House tell Reid, McConnell, Boehner, Pelosi, & Obama that they will NEVER vote to increase the debt ceiling except in a national crisis. Tell them they might as well start cutting the deficit now or the debt ceiling will do it for them. Tell them that the voters will decide in 2012 whether they were right or wrong.
Borrowing money to pay bills only creates more debt, & puts off until tomorrow (never) what should be done today - balance the budget.