Hello,
I am enduring my own under-employment situation due to a disability.
I am also advising a friend who is disabled through the process.
Bankruptcy is difficult for anyone making over $30k due to changes that took effect a few years ago. If you are carting around a ton of student loans, a bankruptcy will not help. You can only discharge student loans if you become disabled and get SSDI. Get a reputable lawyer and double check his/her suggestion for the debt counseling company to use if you make over $30k -- it's a much harder/longer process. (Honestly, if you can change your living situation and expenses plus the necessary employment change (maybe to part-time), it might be more advantageous to live the under $30k lifestyle until you get the bankruptcy discharged.)
You may find "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey to be a good read. He also has a podcast you can find on itunes. I would NEVER pay to use his website - daveramsey.com. He also has "Financial Peace University", a financial health program that is taught by some churches. The packet of materials is $100+. Be aware, Dave Ramsey makes a hugely nice living off these materials but he got out of his own financial problems by bankruptcy, he advises his followers against this. Personally, put a hold on "Total Money Makeover" at your library then listen to his free podcast on his website or itunes. I wouldn't spend another penny on anything else there but it is a very motivational look at financial freedom.
Another good read is "It's your money or your life" by Joe Dominguez. He can totally change your way of looking at your lifestyle, possessions and your need to slave in the working world.
Personally, you need to look at your spending habits.
1. Discressionary spending - Write down everything you spend for at least a month, three months is better.
2. Collect three months of bills and write up a budget. Look at your discressionary spending from #1 to determine how much you are spending in all areas to determine how much to budget there.
3. Reduce, cut, cut and cut some more. -- Look at your discressionary spending -- what are your bad habits? Junk food snacks from the gas station when you fill up - use pay at pump and don't go in. Expensive lunches out at work - brown bag it four days a week, splurge once a week. Expensive dry cleaning - replace wardrobe with washable used or clearance items piece by piece or try a discount dry cleaner. Books - used book store/bn.com used for reference only and library for everything else. Smoking -- cut number of cigarettes in half every week until you have kicked the habit. Expensive memberships you don't use (golf course membership, gym, professional groups, subscriptions) -- cancel them. Electronics -- don't buy new until your old item quits unless you use the equipment to earn a living and the new model is a substantial improvement. Drinks out with friends - host a byob party at home and everyone brings a dish/appetizer. Wear clothing twice and change when you get home from work. Pick some 'cleanup clothing' for yard work and dirty housework and don't ruin your good casual clothing. Do your own yard work, laundry, house work and cleaning + learn to do some repairs. Have the car serviced on schedule but beware the package deals some shops offer which include a lot of stuff you won't need and short you on the work you need done -- change shops if you need too. Eat at home; use redbox for movies; library for reading/movies/music; check out free/very cheap entertainment in your community; group errands; shop the stores that are consistently cheapest (Aldi's, Dollar Tree, thrift). Don't over a/c or heat, dress appropriately and use fans. Clothing lasts longer and you have lower utility bills if you air dry your stuff. Check out generic products.
4. Dave Ramsey -- Establish $1k baby emergency fund. Make all the cuts you can using list above + studying frugality. Start debt snowball -- Make all minimum payments plus throw all extra money at the next debt from smallest to largest. (If you have a really high interest item, consider paying this down first.)
5. Consider getting a second job for a while.