New and stressed!

[sammieky]

Hi all - been lurking awhile and my stress limit has finally been reached so here I am! I was initially told I could file chapter 7 - then 13 - and today I receive a letter from my attorney stating I can file chapter 7! Ok - i don't really care at this point which I can file - I just want some relief!! The last straw was when they took my car on Sunday - I'm at my limit and am going nuts!!

I am so tired of worrying about money and paying bills I could scream. The only thing that keeps me sane at this point is coming here and seeing that I am not alone in this madness. Anyway - I just needed to vent for now and when I'm calm will post more.

[Bryan16]

I am so tired of worrying about money and paying bills I could scream.

That is exactly how I felt before I filed. It took me 2 years to finally decide it was time to file. It wasn't a decision I made overnight. I looked for every possible way to pay off my debts, but the more I waited the worse my credit would get. After I filed I knew I had made the right decision, as I was so far under there was no way I could get out. The three months between the filing date and your discharge you really think about the future and how you can make wise financial decisions. I have already mapped out my goals and what I will need to do to achieve them with minimal or no credit. I have made so many poor financial decisions in my past, and at a very young age. Filing BK was actually the smartest move I've made thus far. Not only to start fresh, but to make me realize all the poor decisions I have made that got me here in the first place. It really is like a new start.

Best of luck to you. I am new (as far as posting) but have been around for over a year now. With the help of this forum, I made the choice to file pro se.

[CityGirl]

Sammieky,

Welcome to the forum!!
What is it that you do for work? Are you below the income level for your state?

Hi all - been lurking awhile and my stress limit has finally been reached so here I am! I was initially told I could file chapter 7 - then 13 - and today I receive a letter from my attorney stating I can file chapter 7! Ok - i don't really care at this point which I can file - I just want some relief!! The last straw was when they took my car on Sunday - I'm at my limit and am going nuts!!

I am so tired of worrying about money and paying bills I could scream. The only thing that keeps me sane at this point is coming here and seeing that I am not alone in this madness. Anyway - I just needed to vent for now and when I'm calm will post more.

[sara4]

Hi Sammieky,

We have all at one time or another throughout our bk been where you are right now and even though I'm sure you've heard it a zillion times too many know that it will all work out for the best in the end. Just hang on and do like most of us and come here to vent, explore your options, and get great advice and all for FREE with only the hope that once your bk discharges and closes you come back to help others!!! I know things seem impossible right now, but know that THEY DO GET BETTER!!! Check out what Citygirl had to say and others in earlier threads, it might not fix everything but there's really some great advice on this forum!!! I'll be checking back with you so hang on and know [SIZE="4"]"It's always darkest before dawn, but you'll eventually see your way though this!!!"
Sara4

[guzzie]

welcome and good luck....you will get through this.....guzzie

[cathywhite4495]

Welcome! I share your feelings - it seems impossible at times but it does get better. Or so I've been told BK was a hard choice for me to make but it will be worth it when it's all over and I can do things the right way. Like Bryan, I made some not-so-smart decisions and I have learned and will do things differently this time around.
Hang in there!

[sammieky]

Thanks so much for your replies to my venting - I'm glad to know I"m not alone but at the same time hate it that you guys are going through the same stuff!! It just is awful.

As for what I do for work - I work at the local university in the surgery department. We do research with cancer patients and I have to say that I do make decent money. I'm a single parent - of 2 now 20 and 18. At the time this started I had just had a brand new home built for us (2004) and thing were going fine --- that is until December 04 when my then 17 year old daughter decided to try and kill herself -- lets just say that really shakes your foundation and makes it hard to see beyond the moment. I let everything go to try and help her -- once she was doing ok - i went into a deep depression, just emotionally and physically exhausted. I tried once I got straight to fix thing - I worked 2 full time jobs - 7:30a to 3:30p at one job and then 4p to midnite at the other. That lasted about 6 months until I just couldn't physically do it -- and although I tried my best to fix this mess and I know I did - I still feel so angry and so ashamed.

Working two full time jobs I think put me toward a 13 - now my attorney says a 7. I really don't care - like I said - I just want some relief and to feel like me again.

Again, thank you all for responding it means so much to me that somebody cares. The best to you all!

[Cassiopeia]

I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter, sammieky.

Glad you found this board...we'll support you and lend an ear.

I hear ya about feeling "angry and ashamed." I was that and more. It's a wonder I didn't get sick myself from my financial problems. I let them go on FAR too long before I filed.

Things will get better for you, I know they will!

[6ftladycop]

Welcome Sammieky....we have all been there and I,m new myself..

Sammieky,

Like the other poster said and you will probably hear a million more times, hang in there....it seems stressful now, but its going to feel better and better and better once you get closer to your discharge. I did wonder why your lawyer said chapter 7, then chapter 13, then chapter 7 again. I am sure others here are wondering as well. Maybe something to do with your income. In any case, it will be fine. Stay calm, stay focused and my advice since I am new and just made this mistake is:

Please order your credit reports from the big 3 credit companies(Experian, Trans Union and Equifax). Those things have information on there about you that even you probably did not know. When I read all three of my credit reports, I could not believe how much information these people have on us. And of course you can use this information to your advantage. These reports help out in many ways when filing bankruptcy.

Also, find every (and I mean every)address related to any credit card, personal loan, student loan, mortage company, medical billing company, payday loan, credit union, vehicle finance company, online credit accounts, furniture company, rent to own centers, leasing company, and any other places that you may have gotten money or credit from. When you get ready to file your petition, have this information because you want to make sure that each and everybody that you owe or have a debt with that is dischareable gets discharged. Some others here may have additional info, but those addresses so as to make sure each person is informed about your bankruptcy is so very very important.

[sammieky]

LadyCop - my taking that second full time job for 6 months (sept thru feb07) threw me into a 13 - but I think that now enough time has passed that I qualify again for a 7. Hope that helps clarify my situation and confusion!!!

Just as an FYI to all - my daughter is now 20 and doing very well. Working a full time job - going to school and she made me a grandma for the first time. She seems happy and settled - which means more to me than anything to do with bankrupcty stuff!!! If I can make it through her ordeal - I can make it through anything!!!

SAMMIE

[JRScott]

We all get to that point of feeling overwhelmed. We've all been mad looking back on all the choices and we've all felt ashamed. We'll help you best we can

It is probably the change in income, with 2 full time jobs you'd be well over the medium income in most states, with just one you probably fall under it .

Good Luck to You

[6ftladycop]

Working a Second Job and Bankruptcy

LadyCop - my taking that second full time job for 6 months (sept thru feb07) threw me into a 13 - but I think that now enough time has passed that I qualify again for a 7. Hope that helps clarify my situation and confusion!!!

I was working 16hrs a weekend, not full time and I also wondered it this would put me in a chapter 13 but the job only paid minimum wage and I took it for money after using my regular paycheck to pay all the bills and even then, that still was not enough, but thanks for the information and good luck.

[B12]

Sammi..........you have your priorities straight, the rest is cake.

[sammieky]

Hi all - thanks for the replies and support! I am not so stressed today - I talked to my attorney and that calmed me down. Of course - being able to vent to you guys and know I'm not alone helped too!

I am officially filing chapter 7 - as soon as I can come up with the remaining $800! Hopefully I will have that the middle of next week and can get this underway.

Now I guess I just have to learn the meaning of the word "patience"!!!

[desperation]

Best of luck to you sammieky. It does take a lot of patience and time to get through this. Hang in there. If it helps than think of this as a business decision....because by and large that is what it is.