I have been married almost 3 years. I have 2 children under 2 yrs old. My husband has a pill problem and is a thief. He has stolen my money so many times I have had to file bankruptcy. I can’t have credit cards, a checking account, or anything. My husband always begs me to come back and I do because I love him. Earlier this year, he stole the last 0 I had and bought pills and wrecked my car. We couldn’t even pay the utilities on our house. (well, I couldn’t pay them, my husband doesn’t have a job.) So he moved in with his dad and I moved in with mine. Recently after we moved in with our dads, I found out I was pregnant. My husband got kicked out of his dads house for stealing and being on pills. He had nowhere to go so I let him stay with me to help me with our newborn daughter. Last week he was on pills again and stole some money from my dad and me so my dad kicked him out. Every time this happens he says he is done with the pills and it won’t happen again. I always take him back and this time I said he cannot stay with my dad and I. We have a house that I am still making payments on but since he doesn’t have a job I can’t pay for the house, utilities, and groceries by myself. Thats why I’m living with my dad so my kids will have water and heat. He is now telling me that he is completely done with pills. His mom is going to put him in therapy and he is going to apply for jobs and possibly go to the army. I do love him and that would be fine but I’m afraid I can’t trust him. My parents are begging me to get a divorce. But even if I do I know I will still see him alot because of the kids and that will be hard for me. When we got married I knew he already had 1 kid which was fine but since we got married he found out he has another and next month he is getting a DNA test for another, which that is really hard for me to deal with. I know he didn’t cheat on me. But if he does get a job, all his money will go to child support for these other kids? He has been put in jail more than once for back child support and is also being questioned for some residential break ins. I am afraid if I leave him I won’t find anyone else and if I did find someone else my husband would make it hell for me. I’m sure it sounds like a no brainer I wish I could turn off my feelings but I really do love this guy too much. I just wanted an outside opinion from someone that doesn’t know us. Thanks in advance
I do not have a drug problem, and when he is on drugs I do keep the kids away from him.

Technorati Tags: 3 years, army, bankruptcy, checking account, child support, credit cards, dad, dads, divorce, dna test, groceries, job, jobs, mom, money, newborn daughter, parents, pills, thief, water and heat

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 in a situation where I can no longer pay my credit cards. I have paid them in a timely fashion for the past 17 years but can longer handle even the smallest payment. I am sending them each 5 dolllars a month and that is money that I really could use for groceries. My interest rates kept raising although I paid early each month thus I had less buying power and I did depend on the cards to buy necessities along with a few extras. My cards are a few months deliquent and they are sending me bills for three months back payments and my interest rates have gone to 29.99% and thus my minumum payments are higher. They are not going to get this money so why do they ad in on? I want to file bankruptcy but dont’ have the money to do so. Dont’ they realize that if I can’t pay 150 dollars I can’t 300 dollars?

Technorati Tags: 17 years, bankruptcy, credit cards, deliquent, groceries, interest rates, money, necessities, three months, timely fashion

My parents have filed bankruptcy and it wont be up for 2 more years. I start college this fall, but we don’t qualify for state or federal grants because "we make too much money". What the FASFA people don’t realize is the payment they make monthly to the bankruptcy court. My parents are so poor they have to borrow money from me that I make at my part time job, just to buy groceries. I wont be able to work much when school starts and I was wondering if anyone knew of some scholarships (no matter how little, every bit helps) or grants so that paying for books and related expenses wouldn’t be such a hassle. Tuition is free until i leave my community college (I have %75 bright futures). I just need help paying for books, supplies, and possibly gas. Can anyone help?
No loans whatsoever. I need grants or scholarships.

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy court, bright futures, federal grants, groceries, hassle, loans, much money, parents, part time job, quot, scholarships

My husband and I are currently living in an apartment and have been here for 6 months now. We have always paid our rent on time. We are now considering Ch. 7 bankruptcy and I want to know how that would affect our current lease? Do they typically run another credit report when they offer you a new lease? I’m worried about them finding out about our bankruptcy and kicking us out, but I’m told that most apartment complexes don’t run your credit again after they do so at the original lease signing so they wouldn’t know about the bankruptcy unless you told them.

I’m not happy at all about having to file bankruptcy, but I see no other option. A bit of background: My husband and I both have excellent credit scores (over 700) and we’ve always paid our bills on time. We have no problem paying back our debt, as that’s what we obligated to do. But I was laid off last year, have so far been unable to find a job, and my unemployment runs out in a few weeks. (unless Congress extends it and we know how that song and dance goes) We even moved to Washington from California when my husband got offered a job and I still have found nothing. My husband’s job is very good and steady, but if we have to live on his income alone until I am able to find a job, we would only really be able to afford our living expenses. Like many other couples, we need two incomes. I’ve considered and done a lot of research on debt counseling or Ch. 13 instead, but our monthly payment amount would have to be small, probably no more than 0/month, for us to be able to comfortably afford our rent, utilities, groceries, gas, etc. I don’t think a payment amount that low is possible, considering our combined debt is about ,000. (all unsecured credit cards) I keep coming back to Ch. 7 being the best option. I could consider filing Ch. 7 on my own if I’m able to, as all my debts are in my name and acquired before we got married a few weeks ago, and he could enter debt counseling for his debt. But again, his payment would have to be very low for us to be able to pay our living expenses on only his income. Discharging all of our debt and getting a fresh start seems like the best option. Does anyone have any advice?
In response to a previous answer, I was single when I was laid off and began receiving unemployment in May 2009. I just got married a few weeks ago.

Technorati Tags: apartment complexes, bankruptcy, ch 7, congress, couples, credit report, credit scores, debt counseling, debts, groceries, incomes, job, living expenses, new lease, song and dance, unemployment, unsecured credit cards

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

While my husband was not working due to medical reasons,I did something I said I never wanted to do. We have two school age children at home,money was a real problem for us for about two years. I reluctently took on using credit cards for groceries,clothing and Christmas for the children. My husband was denied disability benefits and bills in the meantime got way out of control. even with the income he has now,the mortgage,electric,insurance,etc. eat up every thing he gets.I am only able to work a parttime low wage job in my area.The cards are all in my name and there doesn’t seem to be any other way out.Is there someone out there who can help me online to find the help I need?

Technorati Tags: christmas, disability benefits, electric insurance, groceries, home money, insurance, medical reasons, school age children, using credit cards, wage job

At what point should I throw in the towel and just call it quits? here is my situation in a nut shell. I am losing valuable equity in home everyday and my mtg payment has increased to equal 55% of my income. Meaning the other 45% is all I have to live on. Well the rest of my expenses considered I am about short each month. This is before other neccesities such as groceries and gas etc. So for the last 5-6 months I have been putting all those expenses on credit cards. I am now about maxed out. I am considering filing for forclosure and then bankruptcy but I really dont want to do that. My options are to
A. Stay in home and tough it out.
1. get another job that pays higher than current (I am trying)
2. get a 2nd part time job (been looking)
or B. File Forclosure/Bankruptcy
1. Move into a Condo or rental property I can afford
Your help is greatly appreciated. I also have a wife who works a little but doesnt make enough to really be a help.

Technorati Tags: b file, bankruptcy, credit cards, forclosure, groceries, neccesities, nut shell, part time job, rental property

My husband has been in the hospital 5 times since February. We do not have medical Insurance because of many reasons. When he was in the hospital the only way the family could survive without his income was to put everything from groceries to CIPS on the credit cards because we had no income coming in. Now that he is back to good health and we are both working we still don’t make enough to pay off all these bills. We tried filing for state aid to help with the medical but we were denied. The medical bills alone are over 40 thousand and the credit cards are probably around another 10 thousand. What should we do? If we file will we loose our house and car too? I would like to just erase the medical and credit card debt but keep some other small loans that we have. Is this possible?
and if we do file, what will that do to our credit? Will be not be able to get a loan for a long time?

Technorati Tags: credit card debt, credit cards, good health, groceries, insurance, loans, long time, medical bills, medical insurance

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. 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). 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; 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?
That is all you get in MS for 2 kids based on his income and he has a pretty decent factory job (around here that is the best you’ll get with no degree).

I don’t own a home. I rent. Yes he ran up the cards by refusing to give me money to pay the bills, so I had to use the cards.

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, car payments, cars, child support, credit cards, extra income, factory job, grade teacher, groceries, money, personal loans, 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. 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). 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; 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?
I would love to open up my own family daycare but don’t know how to do it. I only want to keep 5-6 kids so that I won’t have to hire anyone and so that I can keep afloat.
I used those credit cards to pay bills and buy groceries and necessities because he would always cry "I’m broke!" and had a very good paying job. He never wanted to give money He told me I had to ask for it.

Yes I have two cars. No one will buy the new one ( a malibu maxx) because I am upside down in it and I want to keep the older one because it is a Camry and I will have paid it off in May of next year.

I live in Mississippi so that is all you get for two kids.

Technorati Tags: bankruptcy, camry, car payments, child support, credit cards, extra income, family daycare, good paying job, grade teacher, groceries, malibu maxx, mississippi, money, necessities, personal loans, small babies, student loans, two cars

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

I have a family, we don’t charge anything anymore. Been paying on these bills for several years. Make good wages, all goes to credit card payments. Have about 120 bucks a week for groceries, gas, entertainment. I’m gonna whine here a bit so bear with me, I have made bad decision with my finances, put money into our house that is now maybe worth what we owe on it….Is that any different than the banks making bad decisions? You know, the whole bailout thing. Where’s mine? Or at least a low interest government loan.
Madoff, i agree with your comments. My house is not the issue.I give 65k for it with some land. My wife and i make that much per year. I don’t think i’m house poor. We all make bad decisions in our life. And i would be glad to pay my debtors back. But i can’t do it with 20% interest.

Technorati Tags: 120 bucks, bad decision, bad decisions, bailout, banks, credit card payments, debtors, government loan, groceries, money, wages, whine

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 make ,000/year and have ,000 in debt (credit cards, loans). According to the ch. 7 means test, I have 5/mo. of disposable income to pay to my creditors (my current payments are ,450/mo.). I’m not behind on any payments, but I have been struggling for months now to stay afloat and often have to rob Peter to pay Paul, using the credit cards that I have been trying to pay down to pay other bills or groceries. I’m hesitant to file a ch. 13 right now because I’m 5 months pregnant and my financial situation will change drastically in 4 months. I clearly pass the means test when I add in a dependent, showing a -0 of disposable income/mo. Before I found out I was pregnant (which was unplanned), I was planning to take on a second job and freelance assignments (I’m an Editor) to help me get ahead. But that’s not going to happen now, obviously. Should I file a ch.13 now and convert to a 7 after my baby is born, or should I just wait until my baby is born and file a 7?
Additionally, I’m not married, but I will have some financial support from the baby’s father. And please, no one answer with judgmental advice–I’m a responsible person who fell on some hard times a few years ago when I was working solely as a freelancer, was disabled for a couple of months due to an injury, and had a death in the family. This is a LAST resort, but after stressing and being depressed about this for months now, I have to do what I can to make sure I can provide for my child. I would rather work 2 full-time jobs (I have done this in the past) than file for bankruptcy, but this isn’t realistic when I’m going to be the primary caregiver for my child. Thank you.
Thanks for your response. I have had credit counseling and a phone consultation with an attorney who figured that I currently qualified for a 13, but he did not take into consideration me having an additional dependent in 4 months and having to then pay ,000/month for childcare soon after my child’s birth. From what I have read on the U.S. Trustee’s site, a person can convert from a 13 to a 7 if circumstances change that makes it impossible for them to stick with the agreed upon payment plan. My issue is it doesn’t seem to make sense to begin a 13 now, maybe get into one or two payments, then have to back out of it so soon because my financial situation changes. And then I would have to pay even more money to convert the filing. I hope this makes sense. Thanks.

Technorati Tags: 4 months, 5 months, caregiver, ch 7, childcare, credit counseling, creditors, death in the family, debt credit, disposable income, financial situation, freelance assignments, freelancer, groceries, last resort, means test, phone consultation, responsible person, second job, time jobs

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 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!

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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

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