First Few Months after filing

[JustChillin]

I'm not even a month into filing my Chapter 13, but I have made my first mortgage payment post-petition on time, and I am paying my bills. But I am anxious and worried so much that the only relief I get is sleep.

Are the first few months after filing and living by a budget as nerve wracking for any of you as it has been for me? Does it get better as time goes on?

I am second-guessing every decision I have made ever since filing. Has anyone had this happen to them?

[HHM]

I don't know if you know, but you also need to make your first proposed chapter 13 plan payment within 30 days (possibly 45) of the date you file.

Whether it gets better is a relative. Many people have a hard time sticking with a chapter 13, but if you do, its a giant relief when you are done.

[copper2]

Second Guessing

Yes, and I filed today. I absolutely do not want to go through it. I've been second guessing for weeks with my paperwork sitting on the counter. I filed Chapter 7. I am also resting on the advice of three different people I've known for a long time who have all look at my details on paper. I also made a list for myself to read when I can't sleep: 1) How this happened 2) What was within my control 3) What was outside of my control 4) Why I felt this was the best decision at the time I had to make it. That's an important point. The black and white of it really helps me remove the anxiety. Maybe it will help you too. Good luck and peace.

[alice0427]

This won't help, but I understand your anxiety. We filed for Chapter 7 yesterday, and all I have for the next several months is anxiety. I feel like I'm waiting to be sentenced for a crime.

[WhenThePawn]

I'm not even a month into filing my Chapter 13, but I have made my first mortgage payment post-petition on time, and I am paying my bills. But I am anxious and worried so much that the only relief I get is sleep.

Are the first few months after filing and living by a budget as nerve wracking for any of you as it has been for me? Does it get better as time goes on?

I am second-guessing every decision I have made ever since filing. Has anyone had this happen to them?

Hubby and I were talking tonight about our BK and realized that a year ago today our Ch. 13 case was filed. Never in my wildest dreams did I think the words, "Happy bankruptcy, honey!" would come out of my mouth. (Gotta keep a sense of humor!)

Those first few months after filing were very nerve wracking, but still less stressful than what we were going through prior to filing. Before then, it was nonstop collection calls and us babysitting/hassling our nonprofit counseling agency because they were not paying all of our creditors or answering our questions completely. It was a horrible, sick joke that got us very late on payments that we were never late with before signing on with a credit counseling agency.

I've found the thought of BK does get less stressful as time goes on. We're pretty much living paycheck to paycheck, but we've also learned how to live without credit cards! I won't lie--I still get concerned about where we'll get money if an emergency comes up or if one of us loses our job, but at least my thoughts aren't as obsessive as they were right after we first filed.

Only two more years to go for me. Just trying to stay positive--it's one of the few things I can control! Hang in there!