Bankruptcy?

[bleakoutlook]

I need to know what exactly the costs are with filing for bankruptcy.

Ive tried everything, and I just can't seem to dig myself out of this. I have $25,000 in debt, and no way to pay it. I'm trying to find a job, but when you don't have a car, it makes it very difficult and I cant afford the city bus. I have literally NO money...

I really don't know what to do.

Yes, I have a SO that I live with, but he doesn't have the money to give it to me or lend it to me, and he's in the military and can't take me to work and I can't drive his truck. He's going through a divorce and doesn't know how he's going to come up with that money either.

Yes, $6000 of that amount is student loans and I know that they can't be discharged. They're in forbearance for a year. Until next April I believe.

[hippytreehugger4ever]

I know lately it's gotten a lot tougher to file for bankruptcy, and probably more expensive. Do you have anything you can sell? If you could make a little bit of money off of E-Bay or something could you buy a bus pass? I know it's not much money, but you could try to get on the Pinecone Research panel. They pay $3 per survey and send you free products to try (hey, anything's better than nothing *HUGS*).

[bleakoutlook]

I would do Pinecone Research in a heartbeat, but you have to find their link online somewhere, and I have yet to find one.

I do things online such as CashCrate.com to make some extra money, but it's not steady enough to ensure that I'll have the $ every month to buy the bus pass. Also the problem with the bus pass is it doesn't run by my house or anywhere near our apartment past 4pm, and finding a job in this city thats ONLY days is damn near impossible.

[hippytreehugger4ever]

I found the link for it on this site

[Jeanna]

That varies from state to state and also what type of bankruptcy you file. If you file chapter 7 you will have to pay the lawyer and filing cost up front. Chapter 13 is usually set up so that you have to pay a little up front and then executor takes the lawyers fees out of the payment plan every month. It is really better to try not to file, maybe go to CCS first but if you have to you have to. I've been there we filed 13 back in 2001 and unfortunately we never finished the pay out because things just got so tight it was either pay the payment or eat. We are doing better now but it is still hard. Good luck.

[dolphin]

I'm so sorry things are so bad for you right now.

To find out how much it costs and what you need to do to file bankruptcy, call an attorney's office listed in your phone book. Call as many as you need to until you get a person on the phone who will give you the information. It is free and you can usually find a nice person willing to spend the time over the phone with you. You won't be talking to an attorney but the person who answers the phone or a paralegal can give you that basic information.

Each state is different as to what they allow. In Nevada you can't make more than $55,000 a year as a couple to be able to keep your home and file for chapter 7. I believe also that your home can't be worth more than $400,000, not sure on that figure. Anyway, my point is, you need to find out what the requirements and procedures are for your state. Here it costs around $1800.00 to file and that all has to be paid before you can go to court. They take payments but they still won't do anything until that's paid. Also, if you go this way, shop arround for attorneys. They do charge different rates. I found an attorney who would only charge $1200.00 to file but he is over 140 miles round trip away and that's not an option with the high gas price and lack of good transportation for us. Yep, we'll be going through this in a few months.

There is an immediate upfront cost of $50 to $60.00 that you are required to pay for Consumer Credit Counseling Service before an attorney will even accept your bankruptcy claim. This is true in ALL states. It's one of the new law requirements. They will also help you to determine what kind of bankruptcy you should file or even if you should file at all. They also help you with a budget for your future spending. They may be able to help you to work out some other option with your creditors and since you have almost a year to worry about the student loan, your current debt is significantly reduced. Just don't give up hope!

Is there any way you can get a job on the Base where your SO works so you could ride to work with him everyday? I once worked in an office as a civilian when dh was in the military but that was some years ago but I do still think you can work at a commisary or somplace like that. It's worth a try to find out, right?

Check with your neighbors to find out if any company they are working for has any openings. I know that sounds desperate but honey, from your post, you are desperate so now is not the time to become shy. If you could get on with a neighbor or friends company and pay them for gas or rides once you started working then you wouldn't have to worry about a car and in turn, you'd be helping them out also.

If you need job re-training to find a new job, be sure to check with your local Job Connect/Unemployment office. There may be a program there that you qualify for.

Do you have High Speed Internent and a computer that is newer than Windows 2000? If you do, there are several online jobs that pay well. You might be required to buy some headphones for your computer but there isn't much other upfront costs. There's even one where you take the calls/orders for places like QVC. It pays well and you pick your hours. Just some ideas.

I hope and pray that everything works out for you and soon.

[ladykemma2]

what is your profession?

[larabelle]

I'm so sorry things are so bad for you right now.
Check with your neighbors to find out if any company they are working for has any openings. I know that sounds desperate but honey, from your post, you are desperate so now is not the time to become shy. If you could get on with a neighbor or friends company and pay them for gas or rides once you started working then you wouldn't have to worry about a car and in turn, you'd be helping them out also.

I ditto this. Also check with the local churches to see if there possibly may be someone who needs a housekeeper. I know this sounds extreme however I have relatives who did this. They worked as housekeepers six days a week. They had three different couples and did two days a week of cleaning for each couple. The couples gave them in advance enough money to pay for transportation their first month of work (bus pass) and from then on they could afford it. They worked as housekeepers during the day and went to school at night. Just an idea.

[Dad_of_4]

I know it may seem hard right now, but don't do it! It will haunt you for years and not just when you go to buy a house. Most employers run credit reports now.

What you need to do is call all your creditors and let them know what is going on. Be honest with them. Most do not want to send you to collections or see you file bankruptcy. They lose and so do you when this happens.

What you need to do is reach out for a helping hand. Contact the unemployment office, local churches, friends, anyone you know. I have seen people in much deeper holes dig there way out. While $25,000 may seem like a lot, it is not that much compared to the mark bankruptcy will leave. If your SO is in the military offer to wash and press his friends uniforms. When i was in the Navy I always had mine done by a friends wife. They needed the money and I hated doing it. One wife was doing laundry for 6 guys and making $130 using the laundry mat. Neat thing was she did all the washing in one evening while he watched the kids. Be creative military guys will pay well for doing housework type jobs. If some live in the barracks, offer a house keeping service. You can ride in with SO and work while he does.

[bumplett]

Those are GREAT ideas Dad!

Also, you can use Craigslist to sell items quickly (instead of ebay) - and Craigslist has an area with "gigs" - these could be housecleaning, babysitting, etc.

[McD]

I know it may seem hard right now, but don't do it! It will haunt you for years and not just when you go to buy a house. Most employers run credit reports now.

What you need to do is call all your creditors and let them know what is going on. Be honest with them. Most do not want to send you to collections or see you file bankruptcy. They lose and so do you when this happens.

What you need to do is reach out for a helping hand. Contact the unemployment office, local churches, friends, anyone you know. I have seen people in much deeper holes dig there way out. While $25,000 may seem like a lot, it is not that much compared to the mark bankruptcy will leave. If your SO is in the military offer to wash and press his friends uniforms. When i was in the Navy I always had mine done by a friends wife. They needed the money and I hated doing it. One wife was doing laundry for 6 guys and making $130 using the laundry mat. Neat thing was she did all the washing in one evening while he watched the kids. Be creative military guys will pay well for doing housework type jobs. If some live in the barracks, offer a house keeping service. You can ride in with SO and work while he does.

Army has switched to ACU's which are designed to be wash and wear--no ironing is allowed b/c it messes with the camoflouging techn and makes it more visible when using night vision.

[McD]

I know it may seem hard right now, but don't do it! It will haunt you for years and not just when you go to buy a house. Most employers run credit reports now.

What you need to do is call all your creditors and let them know what is going on. Be honest with them. Most do not want to send you to collections or see you file bankruptcy. They lose and so do you when this happens.

What you need to do is reach out for a helping hand. Contact the unemployment office, local churches, friends, anyone you know. I have seen people in much deeper holes dig there way out. While $25,000 may seem like a lot, it is not that much compared to the mark bankruptcy will leave. If your SO is in the military offer to wash and press his friends uniforms. When i was in the Navy I always had mine done by a friends wife. They needed the money and I hated doing it. One wife was doing laundry for 6 guys and making $130 using the laundry mat. Neat thing was she did all the washing in one evening while he watched the kids. Be creative military guys will pay well for doing housework type jobs. If some live in the barracks, offer a house keeping service. You can ride in with SO and work while he does.

Army has switched to ACU's which are designed to be wash and wear--no ironing is allowed b/c it messes with the camoflouging techn and makes it more visible when using night vision.

[Dad_of_4]

Army has switched to ACU's which are designed to be wash and wear--no ironing is allowed b/c it messes with the camoflouging techn and makes it more visible when using night vision.

What about dress uniforms? That makes it even better no ironing just washing.

[dianne9106]

Army has switched to ACU's which are designed to be wash and wear--no ironing is allowed b/c it messes with the camoflouging techn and makes it more visible when using night vision.

You can still lightly press them but no starch, as long as the heat does not get hotter than an electric dryer (we don't have one - so I have to press DH's). If her SO is any other branch except the Army and the Marines, then she can do their uniforms. When we were stationed in England, I had my own ironing service. Navy folks paid me to spray starch and press their BDU's.

Yep, things are looking pretty bleak - but you need to dig down deep and find something within inside of you. I have been where you are minus having a good SO 11 years ago. Find any kind of work you can and do what you have to do. You may need to move into some temporary accommodations in town so you can find some work. Possibly look for a church that offers lodging or shelter - anything until you can get on feet. If that is out of the question, then you can take the bus in the morning and your SO can come and pick up in the evenings. Hang in there!
Dianne

[Palooka]

Okay, I am going to throw this out from the other side. I know this person, lets say sorta a family member that has filed bankruptcy, twice. First was during her first marriage, the second was exactly seven years later when she was single. (when she could file again by law)

This was before Bush passed the law to make it harder to file, so I know trying for bankruptcy now is different. This person had a ton of doctor bills and also a shopping habbit. Not sure of the total amount of debt.

I never saw this person lacking getting any kind of help after. It was almost like credit people offered her things to build her credit up again and that is what she did. She rented several different places and even bought a couple new cars after during the years. I am sure her intrest rate was crazy, but she never seemed to suffer from this. She now owns a house that is way big. She is remarried so I am sure her new husband helped her out. I guess it does depend on the state though.

Just throwing it out there that this person still was able to build credit afterwards with a clean slate.

I remember along time ago on a Suze Orman show that she said that if you owe more to debt than what you make in one year (not including your house) You already are bankrupt. Like no catching up...

But who knows....Just saying....