Quora Answer: How Do You Pay Off Debts if You are Unemployed?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “How do you pay off debts if you are unemployed?”

If you are unemployed, I assume you have no income.  In such a case, you might not have enough to see to your needs, let alone pay off any debt.  Your first priority is to secure a source of income.  In the meantime, instead of ghosting your creditors, especially banks, write to them and negotiate a delayed payment or some sort of relief.  If your situation is dire enough, consider assets you can liquidate to pay off immediate debts.  If you have none, and you cannot even feed yourself, then you have no option other than to avail yourself to the social safety net.