Pragmatically, indentured servitude would be a great way to repay debts without declaring bankruptcy, and maybe while still being able to keep your possessions. It could also serve as an alternative currency in some situations. Of course, this would be fixed term – the period of that servitude would correspond with the debt and such.

But of course there is the morality of personal freedom, and the question of whether that always transcends debt and whether it would be right to use such a thing as a currency or tool.

This was a subject in my Ethics class today, so I just want to see what other people (maybe not college liberal arts majors) think.

Technorati Tags: currency, debts, declaring bankruptcy, ethics, indentured servitude, liberal arts majors, morality, personal freedom, possessions

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 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

I’m confused. There’s this guy named Jesus in the Bible who said ""If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."………then there’s this "mega-church" with a million mortgage who spends ,000 on live animals for a manger scene at Christmas.

How did Jesus morph into mega-church?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101019/ap_on_re_us/us_crystal_cathedral;_ylt=AnL3MIIHP0jdiJr2M_diy5KL_aF4;_ylu=X3oDMTNwcWdmZm42BGFzc2V0Ay9zL2FwLzIwMTAxMDE5L2FwX29uX3JlX3VzL3VzX2NyeXN0YWxfY2F0aGVkcmFsBGNjb2RlA21wX2VjXzhfMTAEY3BvcwMxMARwb3MDMTAEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaWVzBHNsawNjcnlzdGFsY2F0aGU-
me me me……………But how does this happen when they are reading that EXACT book you’re quoting from?

Technorati Tags: bible, christmas, crystal cathedral, heaven, jesus, live animals, manger scene, morph, mortgage, news yahoo, possessions, yahoo, ylt

I had a small business and in 2005 it failed and i had to go bankrupt on it and my home..everything , i lost it all.. I have since gotten back on my feet (i thought) ..got a good job with the state and even bought a new car since i had to drive so much for my job…Aug 1st of this year the governor cut the budget to my program and i lost my job. now I can’t make it…there are no jobs around here, there’s nothing…when is the earliest I can file for some sort of bankruptcy? I took the total wipe out the last time..this time I’m hoping I can do the one where I can restructure and keep my home, car and possessions. The economy is killing people like me. Please I hope someone out there knows if I can file for restructure sooner than 7 years and keep what I finally got built back up. Thank you
i wanted to add that i am NOT an idiot and really hate to be talked to like i am one. I am getting unemployment for now. I live in a very small town in Southern Ill and there are NO jobs…thanks to our goverment all our jobs are going to china or somewhere bedsides here. I ask my question to get a helpful answer NOT to get told I am lazy and need to find work…hate to wish bad on anyone but I just hope those of you who think I am so lazy goes thru this someday themselves..maybe then you will all be more understanding. I didn’t need made fun of ..i just ask for help in finding the right answer…thanks for nothing.
i really think THIS is partly whats wrong with the country anymore…people are heartless..always ready to put someone farther down than they already are…again thanks for nothing.
You know I am rather sorry I asked a question….I am NOT a deadbeat, I am an AMERICAN…if the economy has not hit you yet then I am happy for you…but in small town America it has it hard…I have worked all My life and will continue to work IF i can find a job.. unlike most of you I guess I just can’t afford to pull up stakes and move to ‘where the jobs are’…btw…according to the news they’d like to know where the jobs are too… I am totally ashamed to even read these answers…I hope each and every one of you who have told me ‘to get a job ‘ and not have a new car..or buy a ‘cheap ‘ house….well my answer to that is ..I bought a house..for ,000…cheap enough??? and i bought a chevy colbalt..cheap enough??? so you big knowlegable people get off your pedistal before you FALL off…your not better than me or any other American who is having problems now…I am a 56 year old woman and i live VERY modest life….so dont JUDGE me …all I wanted was some info on what choices.

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, budget, china, deadbeat, economy, good job, goverment, home car, jobs, last time, new car, possessions, small business, southern ill, unemployment