I am 26,000 in credit card debt. My life turned around completely last year and I lost many things in my life, family, job, etc. I am not making enough on my job to pay the basics and have been using up all may savings. Now I have no savings left and am short 600 month just for basics and providing for my daughter although she doesn’t live with me. She lives with my mom who is living on ss. I need to file chapter 7 but can’t afford the fees and am not smart enough with paper work to do it myself (I’m terrible with directions). I can scrape together money for the useless credit counseling stuff (so they can figure out how I can pay 1800 bills on 700 income, lol) if I don’t buy groceries for a couple weeks but I have no way of getting 500 dollars. My employer cuts hours every week and it’s that way on all retail jobs. I can’t just get a better job and even with that, i would only have the money I need for the basics. My small tax refund will only be 30 dollars.
If I was able to get a second job (not easy with no transportation and if I work after dark, I have to take a taxi (I spend 20 dollars a week now on taxi rides when I get off at night as my neighborhood is very dangerous and I can’t move). If I can find extra work hours, it will just keep me from being homeless a couple months longer, it will not cover bankruptcy costs. I have no resources, family and friends have no money to help. Is there anywhere in Houston where I can find free legal help (not just a consultation but actual filing assistance without cost?) If I have to pay the fees, I will not be able to pay rent. At the rate I am going, I will be homeless as of July 1st providing I don’t lose my job or have any more hours cut.
They are only a week late but I am already getting calls all day during the week. No one leaves a message on my machine so I presume it’s one of my creditors. I need to file bankruptcy because if I don’t they will sue me and freeze my bank account which only contains my pay deposits which are only 700 but if they take that, I can’t pay my rent. I have nothing to sell as I lost everything I owned last year when my family through me out. They gave away and sold all my stuff. I have a 50 tv and a40 boombox that doesn’t work and a 2year old computer that runs slow.

Technorati Tags: all retail jobs, bankruptcy costs, chapter 7, consultation, couple weeks, credit card debt, credit counseling, creditors, family and friends, free legal help, groceries, lol, many things, mom, money, neighborhood, second job, ss, tax refund, taxi rides

I think the politician’s and oil companies should be ashamed of themselves how they are bankrupting the average American! Not only are the Seniors, Disabled, and poor working class hurting because of high fuel costs and groceries so are the middle class working families. Shame on them!
bigshots trying to do? Bankrupt America?

Technorati Tags: bankrupt america, fuel costs, groceries, middle class, oil companies, politician, seniors, shame, working families

I am in over my head in debt. Every month I have to "borrow" at least 0 extra dollars just to pay my bills. My husband and I recently separated. He left me to take care of all the bills. Currently I am a 4th grade teacher and make about ,000 a year. That would be a great salary if I didn’t have to pay every cent to a bill collector.

Every debt is in my name (including a car that I got in my name for him, that he now refuses to pay for because someone else put another car in their name for him–his sister). I already had a car of my own. Now I have two. He didn’t have a job at the time, so most of the major stuff that we have gotten was in my name when we got married.

I am probably about ,000 in debt with credit cards; ,000 in student loans–I know you can’t put them on bankruptcy…I plan to pay them and go back to school next summer; 00 in personal loans; ,000 in car payments (2 cars–1 is almost paid for).

I have no extra income other than the child support (5 a month for 2 small babies that I raise alone). I use the child support on them instead of on me or bills because that is what it is for.

Am I an idiot for trying to pay all these bills off monthly and have no money extra to buy groceries and gas???Should I just file bankruptcy?

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, bill collector, car payments, cars, child support, credit cards, extra income, grade teacher, groceries, job, money, personal loans, salary, small babies, student loans

I am in over my head in debt. Every month I have to "borrow" at least 0 extra dollars just to pay my bills. My husband and I recently separated. He left me to take care of all the bills. Currently I am a 4th grade teacher and make about ,000 a year. That would be a great salary if I didn’t have to pay every cent to a bill collector.

Every debt is in my name (including a car that I got in my name for him, that he now refuses to pay for because someone else put another car in their name for him–his sister). I already had a car of my own. Now I have two. He didn’t have a job at the time, so most of the major stuff that we have gotten was in my name when we got married.

I am probably about ,000 in debt with credit cards; ,000 in student loans–I know you can’t put them on bankruptcy…I plan to pay them and go back to school next summer; 00 in personal loans; ,000 in car payments (2 cars–1 is almost paid for).

I have no extra income other than the child support (5 a month for 2 small babies that I raise alone). I use the child support on them instead of on me or bills because that is what it is for.

Am I an idiot for trying to pay all these bills off monthly and have no money extra to buy groceries and gas???Should I just file bankruptcy?

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, bill collector, car payments, cars, child support, credit cards, extra income, grade teacher, groceries, job, money, personal loans, salary, small babies, student loans

I was laid off in February of 2009 and have not been able to find a good job since. I have been without medical insurance for almost 3 years and have to pay out of pocket for a required medication costing roughly 0 per month. I have moved back into my mother’s house (I’m 26) and I am overdrawn on my bank accounts every week just from paying off my car, my storage (I moved home from another state since I could no longer afford rent,) my medicine, groceries, and then attempting to make payments on my debt. I have spoken with a credit counseling organization (MMI) and they have offered me a plan by which I would pay them about 0 per month. This plan would entail 0 per month for debt payment, 5 for car payment, 5 for my student loan, 0 for medicine and 5 for storage of all of my possessions. This is 95 per month. It does not include food. It does not include emergency preparation. And it is also 0 over my monthly income.

Issue #1: I need a new job. On average, I apply for 20-30 jobs PER DAY. I have been told that, since the economy went bust, EVERYONE checks the credit of a potential employee. Obviously my current poor credit is enough to render me unhireable. If I declare bankruptcy, how much worse can (will?) my job hunting situation be? I currently temp at a front desk for just 30 hrs a week, no benefits.

Issue #2: I need to be able to move out of my mother’s house. She is very kind to have opened her home to me when I am in such need, and I try very hard to stay out of her way, but she makes it very clear that it’s a huge burden on her to have me around (I know she is right, but it makes it no easier). She is also 100% against me declaring bankruptcy, not only for the impact it will have on my life but for the stigma it will bear on hers. I need to be able to have my own place again. But, my current credit is so poor AND declaring bankruptcy would remain for 10 years on my credit report, that no one would possibly rent to me. Which is less devastating to a potential landlord? Terrible credit and a ridiculous debt-to-income ratio, or a recent bankruptcy claim?

Issue #3: My car is currently worth about k less than what I still owe. I have tried to sell it back to the dealership, they charged me k and even when I left the car with them, they immediately called me back to pick it up because apparently something in the undercarriage was repaired wrong (oh and getting my k back was a real hoot, let me tell you.) It has already been repo-ed once and I had to pay money I didn’t have to get it back. I have tried selling in private forums, I have tried refinancing, I don’t know what else I can do. No one will buy a car worth almost ten grand less than they’re paying. I want very much to keep it, but I can’t afford it. And yes, simply letting it go would COST ME MONEY. Dave Ramsay says, "sell the car." What would Dave Ramsay suggest in this situation?

Issue #4: I have no savings. If I declare bankruptcy, I will be living off of my income alone (my savings deteriorated during my time when I was unemployed, after which my debt increased exponentially. HOWEVER. If I declare bankruptcy and can divide my piffle paycheck so that at least SOME of it can go towards savings, then at the end of ten years when the bankruptcy falls off my credit report I will have something, instead of nothing. Or just…more of the nothing I have right now.

Issue #5: I can’t pay these bills. (see the price outline in the first paragraph.) Won’t these companies just sue me anyway, if I don’t declare?

Look. I love and respect my mother (who is not a financier.) I do not want to make her sad because her daughter went bankrupt before the age of 30. But let’s be realistic here. How much worse could my situation POSSIBLY GET if I declare, file for Chapter 7 and get my debts forgiven so that I may begin to rebuild.

I would very much appreciate ANY input, on a REALISTIC, REASONABLE alternative to me filing for bankruptcy. I have listened to "Financial University" by Dave Ramsey about 1000x and I’ve read Suze Orman’s books and seen her show.

It would bring me so much comfort, and I would so appreciate it, if my peers on yahoo who have experience or knowledge with this kind of thing could reach out and give me their honest, informed opinions.

Technorati Tags: 3 years, bust, car payment, credit counseling, debt payment, declaring bankruptcy, emergency preparation, front desk, good job, groceries, issue 1, job hunting, landlord, medical insurance, mmi, new job, poor credit, possessions, stigma, student loan

I am 25 years old. I am a full time College student (I go to school with the help of financial aid). I live in Chicago, IL if it matters. I am ,000.00 in debt, mostly due to interest and overlimit fees. I have a car that I pay 0.00 a month for which will be paid off in 2 months. However, I only make 0 a month. That 0 includes my gas bill, electric, cell phone, car payment, insurance, groceries, ect. What should I do? What are my best options? I can only pay about 0 a month towards my debt? Should I file bankruptcy?
Sorry, I forgot to mention that I haven’t paid any of my creditors in almost 2 years. Also I was summoned by a sheriff yesterday, I am being sued by a collection agency (for an HSBC cc) in the amount of 00.00. I have court tuesday morning.

Technorati Tags: car payment, cell phone, creditors, financial aid, full time, groceries, insurance, overlimit fees, should i file bankruptcy, time college student, tuesday morning

I was laid off in February of 2009 and have not been able to find a good job since. I have been without medical insurance for almost 3 years and have to pay out of pocket for a required medication costing roughly 0 per month. I have moved back into my mother’s house (I’m 26) and I am overdrawn on my bank accounts every week just from paying off my car, my storage (I moved home from another state since I could no longer afford rent,) my medicine, groceries, and then attempting to make payments on my debt. I have spoken with a credit counseling organization (MMI) and they have offered me a plan by which I would pay them about 0 per month. This plan would entail 0 per month for debt payment, 5 for car payment, 5 for my student loan, 0 for medicine and 5 for storage of all of my possessions. This is 95 per month. It does not include food. It does not include emergency preparation. And it is also 0 over my monthly income.

Issue #1: I need a new job. On average, I apply for 20-30 jobs PER DAY. I have been told that, since the economy went bust, EVERYONE checks the credit of a potential employee. Obviously my current poor credit is enough to render me unhireable. If I declare bankruptcy, how much worse can (will?) my job hunting situation be? I currently temp at a front desk for just 30 hrs a week, no benefits.

Issue #2: I need to be able to move out of my mother’s house. She is very kind to have opened her home to me when I am in such need, and I try very hard to stay out of her way, but she makes it very clear that it’s a huge burden on her to have me around (I know she is right, but it makes it no easier). She is also 100% against me declaring bankruptcy, not only for the impact it will have on my life but for the stigma it will bear on hers. I need to be able to have my own place again. But, my current credit is so poor AND declaring bankruptcy would remain for 10 years on my credit report, that no one would possibly rent to me. Which is less devastating to a potential landlord? Terrible credit and a ridiculous debt-to-income ratio, or a recent bankruptcy claim?

Issue #3: My car is currently worth about k less on what I still owe. I have tried to sell it back to the dealership, they charged me k and even when I left the car with them, they immediately called me back to pick it up because apparently something in the undercarriage was repaired wrong (oh and getting my k back was a real hoot, let me tell you.) It has already been repo-ed once and I had to pay money I didn’t have to get it back. I have tried selling in private forums, I have tried refinancing, I don’t know what else I can do. No one will buy a car worth almost ten grand less than they’re paying. I want very much to keep it, but I can’t afford it. And yes, simply letting it go would COST ME MONEY. Dave Ramsay says, "sell the car." What would Dave Ramsay suggest in this situation?

Issue #4: I have no savings. If I declare bankruptcy, I will be living off of my income alone (my savings deteriorated during my time when I was unemployed, after which my debt increased exponentially. HOWEVER. If I declare bankruptcy and can divide my piffle paycheck so that at least SOME of it can go towards savings, then at the end of ten years when the bankruptcy falls off my credit report I will have something, instead of nothing. Or just…more of the nothing I have right now.

Issue #5: I can’t pay these bills. (see the price outline in the first paragraph.) Won’t these companies just sue me anyway, if I don’t declare?

Look. I love and respect my mother (who is not a financier.) I do not want to make her sad because her daughter went bankrupt before the age of 30. But let’s be realistic here. How much worse could my situation POSSIBLY GET if I declare, file for Chapter 7 and get my debts forgiven so that I may begin to rebuild.

I would very much appreciate ANY input, on a REALISTIC, REASONABLE alternative to me filing for bankruptcy. I have listened to "Financial University" by Dave Ramsey about 1000x and I’ve read Suze Orman’s books and seen her show.

It would bring me so much comfort, and I would so appreciate it, if my peers on yahoo who have experience or knowledge with this kind of thing could reach out and give me their honest, informed opinions.

Technorati Tags: 3 years, bust, car payment, credit counseling, debt payment, declaring bankruptcy, emergency preparation, front desk, good job, groceries, issue 1, job hunting, landlord, medical insurance, mmi, new job, poor credit, possessions, stigma, student loan

My kitty, who is less than 8 weeks old, stopped breathing today. I found him in his cat bed, non-responsive to any type of contact and researched how to do cat CPR and resuscitated him successfully about a half hour ago.

Before I post my question please take note: I’M LIVING BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. If you even think about posting a disparaging comment about how I’m being inhumane, understand that I took my girlfriend’s cat to the vet’s office multiple times and we got raped out of money that we desperately needed only for the vet to put one measly SPLINT on our cat and give him antibiotics that did virtually nothing and acted as placebos. So with my cat I have to be my cat’s vet, for the sake of not going BANKRUPT.

All I’m asking of anyone who has any type of veterinary experience (and is willing to provide advice, pro bono- FOR A CHANGE)- is: what would help my cat start breathing again normally? He’s resting in his pet bed currently. He was breathing hard and shaking every other few seconds shortly after being resuscitated but he’s somewhat calm now. I’m planning on a sleepless night in order to ensure that he doesn’t stop breathing again and/or die.

Respectful answers ONLY. Again, I can’t afford to take him to the vet. I’m not RICH and don’t have money for groceries, let alone ANOTHER ,000 for vet bills.
I think it’s safe to assume that you’re not a veterinarian OR a vet tech since you have no clue what the hell you’re talking about. Condescension isn’t an answer, nor is it appreciated. I am unemployed and my internet and bills/rent in general are paid for by what little money I get monthly from unemployment, all the while I try to attain some type of employment in order to avoid homelessness. I bought my pc before I became unemployed, so do kindly go f*** yourself for insinuating something like that. I adopted this cat recently from some douchebag who raised him and his brothers and sisters outdoors. I didn’t think that anything would come of it because my girlfriend and I combed the kitty for fleas and made sure he was (at least so we thought) a healthy guy. He was in my office, laying in his pet bed, out of it and I STILL am vexed as to why.

Aside from this abrasive albeit obnoxious jerk of a woman, does anyone else have any type of HELPFUL advice? PLEASE?
@The Cake Girl: Cats are expensive? REALLY? Should I scan and post the vet bills online that I paid alongside my girlfriend for HER cat which comes up to a grand total of 00 (+). That was money I had backed up in case I couldn’t find a job by the way. So you and your predecessor can both go to hell. I knew cats were expensive, I just didn’t foresee all the godforsaken emergencies we’ve been through within the scope of our first five months of owning pets

@Josh: We called a vet already and they weren’t helpful at all. Aside from wanting to setup an appointment to rape us out of money (because like any proper American medical office- THAT’S WHAT THEY SPECIALIZE IN), they refused to get a vet on the line to give us some kind of helpful answer.

Thank you for at least being kind enough not to insult me @Josh. The two women who preceded you didn’t read the description beneath my question where I tried to emphasize to the umpteenth degree THAT I’M POOR. Tact, people, tact.

Technorati Tags: antibiotics, brothers and sisters, cat bed, clue, condescension, cpr, douchebag, girlfriend, groceries, half hour, homelessness, living below the poverty line, measly, multiple times, pet bed, sleepless night, splint, vet bills, veterinarian, veterinary experience

PLEASE READ THIS DETAIL! I really need advice…
Just today while my mom and I were in the car, we just came from the grocery store and were talking. We talked about how the people on section aid and government aid were able to get SO MUCH food, dress better than us, and even sometimes live better than us. We live in a nice city bungalow home in a nice neighborhood next door to a University, but I’ve noticed that getting groceries every month is a struggle with all the bills that needed to be paid and any other additional thing I might need for school, etc.
My mom has a job that pays quite well per hour, but they tax her A LOT. She is taxed for senior citizens (because in the past her job took out money from the previous employees pension check so now the current workers HAVE to take out money for their wrong doing), taxed for city, state, pension, and the optional dental and doctor insurance (but who wants to live without those necessary things!?). So by the time she receives her first check, it ALL goes to the mortgage bill for the house. Her second check goes to house hold bills (light, gas, water, telephone, cellphone, car, etc.) Leaving us with very little money to live off on. She has tried receiving some kind of government aid to help pay for the gas and light bill, but they said she was making too much money…which isn’t true AT ALL. They’re not looking at how much she’s being taxed and how much she has to pay for bills.

Anyway, my mom got upset and told me, "Once the job lets me go (they are firing her on my birthday because of the ‘financial crisis’) I will blow up my credit card and pay off the house, the car, and some of your college tuition for 2 years. After that, I will file for bankruptcy because I’m tired of doing the right thing, but get nothing for it. I’m always getting screwed over. We have to work REALLY hard to get just what we need when people on section aid and government aid don’t have to work as hard to get what they need or WANT." I explained to her that her credit score was PHENOMENAL and she shouldn’t make that decision because she worked YEARS to have such a great score. But she said she didn’t care. She was tired of it. She said it wasn’t going to affect me in any kind of way so why should I care? …I got really sad and wanted to cry to think that she wanted to give up like that and even think negatively like that, but could you blame her? My mom has always made the right decisions financially. She bought her first house when she was 18 and has NEVER missed a payment on it. We lived there until I turned 12 and moved to another house with a better neighborhood so…i don’t know what’s gotten into her.
What should I do? Is it in my right to tell her to make a better decision? I’m a senior in high school so what can i do?! I don’t want my mom to stoop so low….please, help me. Serious answers, plz. :’(

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, bungalow, college tuition, credit card, doctor insurance, doing the right thing, financial crisis, gas water, government aid, groceries, grocery store, insurance, mom, mortgage bill, nice city, nice neighborhood, pension check, senior citizens, state pension, struggle

This debt is for a credit card that I have had for 22 years. Prior to now I have always paid off my balance each month in full.

Last September I was in a terrible car accident, I was in the hospital for over one month, and have since had 4 reconstruction surgeries on my legs. I lost my job, and my husband barely makes enough to pay our mortgage and keep the utilities paid each month. We had to use the card to pay for some of my doctor visits, medicine, groceries, etc now the card had about 00.00 on it. My doctor says that I will probably never be able to work again due to the extent of my injuries, and I should file for SSR. We have been unable to make any payments on this card.

Yesterday I received a notice from the CC company wanting to settle the debt. Has anyone ever settled a debt? How should I proceed? Will the CC company want a lump sum, or will they take a minimum payment each month. Honestly I do not want our credit ruined, as we had perfect credit, but I would only be able to make a very small monthly payment, does anyone know if they will accept the payment?

Technorati Tags: 22 years, car accident, cc company, credit card, doctor visits, extent, groceries, job, last september, legs, lump sum, medicine, minimum payment, mortgage, reconstruction surgeries

I am a 27 year old who has a great job, yet has found himself in trouble with STUPID payday loans. I have a finance degree and cannot believe i have found myself facing this taboo topic of bankruptcy. Though i make good money, i cannot pay off these loans nor my bills. i feel bankruptcy will enable me to afford the simple things…i.e groceries. i have a meeting next week, i feel its my only choice…yes, my debt is consolidated and thats not helping…and creditors still call my work

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, creditors, finance degree, groceries, job, money, payday loans, taboo topic

I don’t want to file bankrupcy, but I have been unable to find a decent job for the past 8 months. I’ve had to use my credit cards for things like groceries and gas. I can no longer make my minimum payments, although I can pay a small portion. Further, I have been accepted to graduate school but I might not be able to afford it unless I file for bankruptcy or only pay a portion of my minimum payments. I have researched bankrupcty and the alternatives, but it seems so hard to get objective advice. Most information sources have a vested interest in the topic. Some claim that a bankrupcty will make it impossible to obtain future credit and prevent you from getting a job. Others claim it’s not so hard to get credit cards or loans. I know a bankruptcy won’t be fun, and I feel terrible to be considering it, but I’m wondering whether it’s really as bad as everyone thinks it is. Can anyone give me some advice or direct me towards an objective source of information? Thank you.

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, credit cards, decent job, getting a job, groceries, information sources, loans, minimum payments, objective advice, objective source, small portion, source of information, vested interest

Brief background: Moved from one state to another for a job, which was lost. Income has dropped to about 50% of what it was. We’ve gone through our savings to try and pay things. Bring home pay now covers ONLY new house payment, utilities, groceries, life insurance, and government student loan. Have previously surrendered 2nd vehicle, (1st vehicle is paid in full). Old house in old state foreclosed on and being sold tomorrow. Credit cards remaining unpaid and sent for collections, etc.

My question is this: should bankruptcy proceedings begin or should we continue as is? What, if anything, can our creditors do to us (other than trash our credit – which has already happened). We live in Texas. I would appreciate any suggestions. However please refrain from replies such as "get a job", because we are both working full time jobs and have cut ALL unnecessary spending. We dread the thought of bankruptcy, but see no other alternative.
We’ve done the credit counseling, etc., and the funds are simply not there.

Can they garnish wages for debt in Texas?

Thanks for the replies so far – I appreciate it.
The one vehicle we have is paid in full and is a 1999 Ford Ranger – not new. Excellent comments everyone – thanks!

Technorati Tags: 1999 ford ranger, bankruptcy proceedings, collections, credit cards, credit counseling, creditors, dread, ford, ford ranger, full time, government student loan, groceries, insurance, job, life insurance, texas thanks, time jobs, trash, wages