12,000 debt @ $12/hr in Illinois

[ValleYum]

Happy Fresh Start to you!

[TheBajan]

congrats! It's good to hear back from you!

[12000debt]

Zero debt@$12/hour in Illinois.

Got my discharge papers today.

Many thanks to this forum.

[12000debt]

On recommendation from a friend I saw a lawyer today.

Snooping around this forum certainly made me an educated participant............thanks to all of you.

Hired on the spot.........paid in full (reasonable, IMHO).

I got homework this weekend.

Again, thanks to everyone here.

I'll be in touch.

[BankruptinNJ]

I share a 2 bedroom apartment with a long-time friend. She and I each pay 1/2 of costs.

I own 2 vehicles........both 20+ years old. Other than that, I own zilch.

I have a couple vices.........smoking and gambling. I used credit cards to fund about $300 last year into an ADW account. Nothing serious, just a little pleasure venture.

Both are huge money-wasters . . . get help for both of them. Not only for the money, but for your physical and mental health.

[lotsahats]

In my very humble opinion, you'd be better off filing C7. $12,000 might seem like a pittly amount, but if you can only afford a minimal payment, you won't get it paid off in the foreseeable future.

Plus, there is no point to settlement, unless ALL of your creditors are willing to work with you, which is not always the case. Why give Creditor A $1,000, if the only way to get Creditor B off your back is with bankruptcy? Just the thought of trying to negotiate with ten different creditors makes me dizzy.

That's just my two cents.

[LadyInTheRed]

Do something with animals instead.

Yes, volunteer at an animal shelter or rescue organization.

Being heavy into animal charity started me to debt.

Easily over 60% my debt went to charity.

Just keep your money in your pocket!

[12000debt]

Can you live on your cash income? Guess you will have to, soon.
A clean quick bankruptcy (from a starting point of being on-time with everyone) will get your credit back in 1-2 years.
If you stop paying and drag it out it will take longer, and stress you out.
I agree the gambling is a stupid hobby, and believe me I've been there done that.
Used to be I couldn't walk out of a casino with money in my pocket...any money.
It was a side effect of a drug I was taking (rx from a doctor of course).
But living a cash life without looking over your shoulder is a much happier stress free life.
I tried GA...but in the end I had to fix the problem in my life that was causing the gambling...are you bored? unhappy?
Do something with animals instead.

Thank you, and.........thanks to everyove who post their experiences.

I'll keep in touch.

[catleg]

Can you live on your cash income? Guess you will have to, soon.
A clean quick bankruptcy (from a starting point of being on-time with everyone) will get your credit back in 1-2 years.
If you stop paying and drag it out it will take longer, and stress you out.
I agree the gambling is a stupid hobby, and believe me I've been there done that.
Used to be I couldn't walk out of a casino with money in my pocket...any money.
It was a side effect of a drug I was taking (rx from a doctor of course).
But living a cash life without looking over your shoulder is a much happier stress free life.
I tried GA...but in the end I had to fix the problem in my life that was causing the gambling...are you bored? unhappy?
Do something with animals instead.

[12000debt]

Easily over 60% my debt went to charity. The remainder is basic help over the years......gas/electricity/phone/auto insurance/auto repairs etc.

No vacations.........simply no frills.

[HHM]

Your debt to income is 50% (roughly $24K in annual income, and $12K debt), this is a no brainer, file BK-7. You need every extra penny to live and save. No point wasting it on paying debt.

[12000debt]

They will NEVER work with you if you keep paying them. You have to STOP paying in order to get their attention.
With a dozen cc's, settling might be difficult.
Good luck.

Thanks. I kinda felt that way.

All the time I get, "At this time we cannot.............".

[keepsmiling]

They will NEVER work with you if you keep paying them. You have to STOP paying in order to get their attention.
With a dozen cc's, settling might be difficult.
Good luck.

[12000debt]

The interest rates are outrageous. I've gone paperless on all accounts.......they don't have to send me squat. I'm always on time. Yet, I get no breaks from them whatsoever.

I'm not Donald Trump.........so they have no reason to work with me.

[12000debt]

12,000 doesn't seem like a lot of file bankruptcy over. Gosh I'd try to settle like KeepSmiling is saying. Get into a gambling program and cut up the cc's.

I don't know much about credit cards. I had only 1 for $300 when I filed. I've lived a cash only life. So this is just a question really, not an actual suggestion. With a 700 score, is it worth it to open a new account and transfer all the debt to just one card? Then the payment would be lower?

I agree 12,000 seems like a tedious amount, but at $12/hour wages......it isn't. And, in reality, these companies WILL NOT work with you. They say you have to be tenacious when dealing with 'em.............Well, when they say there's nothing they can do............nothing will be lowered. I've tried. I'm stuck.

It's amazing I've got a 700 score. I've only been late once in years due to a paperless conversion snafu on my part on 1 account.

My next due date on a card is 4/4. I have to make a decision very soon. Once I'm late, that'll start a cascade of events.

I've made $2,600 so far this year. Last year I made $17,000. The job market sucks.

I have $2,000 in my BOA savings account. I owe them more than that on their CC. That's the money I'll use to pay a lawyer.