Step Ten is about recognizing which unexpected bills or notices CANNOT BE IGNORED. If you receive a bill or a notice from any of the following, it CANNOT BE IGNORED!

If you receive a letter from the IRS saying that you owe back taxes, it CANNOT BE IGNORED. If you filed your taxes with a spouse and signed the tax return, even if you did not know or understand that you (and your spouse) owed back taxes, a letter from the IRS saying that you are responsible CANNOT BE IGNORED. The IRS has the ability to track you by your social security number and take any money that you might have to help pay those taxes. Recently, the IRS has created a "Spousal Relief" process that will help you to get your name off of those taxes, but you must contact them and apply. Call the number on the IRS letter and someone will tell you how to apply for relief.

If you receive a letter from the Immigration Service (INS) saying they are going to deport you, it CANNOT BE IGNORED. Sometimes when an immigrant woman tries to get away from a violent partner, he will report her to the INS to "punish" her. If this is your situation, you can get help with this. Contact a local battered women's shelter, women's support service, or Legal Aid society and ask them for help. They will know who can help you.

If you receive a tax statement from a state or local government, it CANNOT BE IGNORED. If you owe an unpaid property tax on your house, the town can sell your house on the courthouse steps to collect the back taxes. You must talk to the proper federal, state, or local office about ALL TAXES that you cannot pay. They will work with you as long as you don't try to hide from them.

If you are leasing or buying a car and you can't make the monthly payment, it CANNOT BE IGNORED. If you know that you are not going to be able to afford the car, then talk to them about turning it in, or trading it for a cheaper model. If you try to hide, they will find you and take your car. You will still owe the payments, even though you no longer have the car.

If you have a lot of unpaid parking tickets that you cannot pay and you receive a notice that the town is going to find and tow your car, it CANNOT BE IGNORED. Go to court and tell the judge that you cannot pay right now. He or she will help you arrange to pay a lesser amount, or to pay them off a little at a time. If you ignore the notice and your car is towed, you will owe for the tickets, the towing, and the storage fee.

If you live in a townhouse or condo that has a monthly or annual maintenance fee, and you receive a notice that they are going to sell your place to pay back fees, it CANNOT BE IGNORED. Most townhouse or condo associations have written guidelines for dealing with unpaid fees that you agreed to when you moved in. Try to work out a payment plan on your own. If you can't solve the problem, phone a lawyer and ask her to work out a plan. You will have to pay her a small fee to help you, but it will keep you from losing your housing.

If you have carefully followed these ten Steps, you are probably no longer in a money crisis. Step Eleven, if followed, will help you to avoid another one.