Cannot access my hotmail account

Hello,
I cannot access my Hotmail account. I changed the password but still it won't work. It is terrible as I have my bills etc coming through the account and I now have no idea what they are. Also if friends are trying to contact me I don't have access to reply. Could someone please let me (and obviously countless others) know what to do, as this is extremely important!! Thank you - if you reply to me through Hotmail though, how am I going to know you have replied if I cannot access the account? Please clarify.