Vacation Dilema

[mlsj2009]

In answer to your original question, I think this is preferential payment to a creditor, in this case the air line. If it were me, and I am no lawyer or giving you advice, I would wait at least one year before filing bankruptcy if I felt I had to take the trip. I certainly would be asking my lawyer that I was fixing to spend $2000 on what he or she thinks about the issue at hand.
Obviously, you think you deserve the trip and your existing creditors don't deserve to get paid with the same money, so, OK. Your decision, Hon, but please don't blame a current creditor if they should ever find out you did such and file an AP of some type against you.
Good luck and have fun in Hawaii while you can.

I have $3000 cash set aside. $2000 of that I've allotted for the attorney. The other $1000 I was hoping to just keep there for emergencies. I know I can replenish that in a couple of months easily, but I was hoping to have it there as more of an emergency fund. I could use it on this trip if I wanted. Ideally this wouldn't have been the vacation of choice or how I would have decided to spend the money, but it was all planned by someone else who invited me last minute.

[ksgirl38]

df appears to be "speaking from" wisdom, not jealousy. It might be a bit difficult soak that in.

So... YES!!! Oh YES!! Jump on the plane right away. Don't even think about it for another second. Just go and enjoy the crap out of it! No worries about the trustee wondering why you stopped paying bills when you had $3k in your pocket and then bought a plane ticket to Hawaii (good luck with that, btw). Someone on the forum officially says, “Knock yerself out!” Indulge! Binge! Go Wild!

There… now you’ve got what you came for. Absolution from a total stranger. Feel better now, dear?

This is why I was considering postponing filing, but didn't know for how long. So how long do I have to wait? I guess this is why you are in your situation because of remarks like this.

[ksgirl38]

You say you can save $1,000 in 2 months. With a DMI of +$500/mo - it doesn't like you're a chapter 7 candidate. If you have not already, be sure and go over your expense list with your attorney to make sure its accurate and everything is accounted for. Don't want surprises at the 341, if/when you file.

Sounds like you've already decided on the trip. Ultimately you have to make the choices for your (financial) life that you feel are best.

Thanks. I'm borderline. I've cut back on the overtime this month to see if that helps. I think I was literally withi about $200. Since I stopped making the credit card payments I have about an extra $600 per month now. Although I have been spending more lately stocking up on things for after I file and trying to get rid of cash so if it wasn't for that I would have more savings now. The only large purchase I've made is a new phone and that was only $100 and documented on my bill. My contract was up anyway.

Well, I was presented with 2 opportunities this year. A bunch of friends have been trying to convince me to go on a cruise in November. It sounds fun, but the timing isn't the best. When you add the airfare to the port and additional on board fees I think it would cost me more. Then my brother sprung this Hawaii thing on me and again, timing isn't the best, but when else am I going to get this opportunity? You have to live your life sometime, but at the same time I'm not sure I want to spend the money. I'm just not used to making large purchases. I was hoping to come out with at least $3000 saved up by the time I filed. I know I could postpone filing to August and that would give me a chance to replace the funds, but I realize a trip to Hawaii looks like a huge red flag. I just hate to pass this opportunity up knowing I won't get the chance again. I know people say that I'll get another opportunity, but I seriously doubt that. Plus if I ever did it would cost me much more than just the airline ticket because then I'd have to pay for lodging and food myself where it's provided with this trip. I may give my brother some extra cash to help out with costs, but I'm still getting away much much lower than if I had to book a trip myself. I can't remember the last time I went on a vacation so I'm having a hard time with this. I know it can be budgeted in, but I get nervous making any purchase over $500. I'm really just on the fence on this one. Who wouldn't like to go to Hawaii knowing it was only going to cost you the airline fees.

[GoGoGophers]

df appears to be "speaking from" wisdom, not jealousy. It might be a bit difficult soak that in.

So... YES!!! Oh YES!! Jump on the plane right away. Don't even think about it for another second. Just go and enjoy the crap out of it! No worries about the trustee wondering why you stopped paying bills when you had $3k in your pocket and then bought a plane ticket to Hawaii (good luck with that, btw). Someone on the forum officially says, “Knock yerself out!” Indulge! Binge! Go Wild!

There… now you’ve got what you came for. Absolution from a total stranger. Feel better now, dear?

[ksgirl38]

Why?

I mean why would you freak out over this?

[SMinGA2]

You say you can save $1,000 in 2 months. With a DMI of +$500/mo - it doesn't like you're a chapter 7 candidate. If you have not already, be sure and go over your expense list with your attorney to make sure its accurate and everything is accounted for. Don't want surprises at the 341, if/when you file.

Sounds like you've already decided on the trip. Ultimately you have to make the choices for your (financial) life that you feel are best.

[ksgirl38]

We took my daughter and nieces up to drop them off at my sisters one day up one day back. I wasn't to sure how the tt would look at that when they saw that on our bank statements. I know our lawyer told us don't do anything that would make the tt look like a trip to Hawaii or Disney as that causes red flags at least here in our state.

You have 3000.00 saved 2 for the attorney and 1 for emergencies for me that is not enough of savings. What if something happens to your cars or the plumbing in your homes goes or the fridge breaks down you won't have anything to pay to get them replaced or fix just a thought
Pam

Car isn't that old and checked out a couple of weeks ago. I'll still have money left over. I rent so no home repairs. Give me a good reason.

[pamkev]

We took my daughter and nieces up to drop them off at my sisters one day up one day back. I wasn't to sure how the tt would look at that when they saw that on our bank statements. I know our lawyer told us don't do anything that would make the tt look like a trip to Hawaii or Disney as that causes red flags at least here in our state.

You have 3000.00 saved 2 for the attorney and 1 for emergencies for me that is not enough of savings. What if something happens to your cars or the plumbing in your homes goes or the fridge breaks down you won't have anything to pay to get them replaced or fix just a thought
Pam

[Freddy03]

I have $3000 cash set aside. $2000 of that I've allotted for the attorney. The other $1000 I was hoping to just keep there for emergencies. I know I can replenish that in a couple of months easily, but I was hoping to have it there as more of an emergency fund. I could use it on this trip if I wanted. Ideally this wouldn't have been the vacation of choice or how I would have decided to spend the money, but it was all planned by someone else who invited me last minute.

Why are you looking for answers here? You seem to have it all figured out.

[ksgirl38]

Well, you sound like my dd..... Doesn't understand and refuses to do so. This is not confusing at all. You cannot afford it, you can't afford to pay your bills and are looking to file BK to get out from under that load. You are also refusing to believe that when one opportunity door is closed another won't open. The only reason you have any money saved is because you stopped paying your bills and are running from creditors calling. Why doesn't that weigh heavily on you? Most responsible people can't sleep when they can't pay their obligations and wouldn't think of blowing 1000 bucks on a vacation.

That's the thing, I can afford it. Actually the $3000 I had before I stopped paying the bills.

So are you speaking from jealousy?

[df04527]

Well, you sound like my dd..... Doesn't understand and refuses to do so. This is not confusing at all. You cannot afford it, you can't afford to pay your bills and are looking to file BK to get out from under that load. You are also refusing to believe that when one opportunity door is closed another won't open. The only reason you have any money saved is because you stopped paying your bills and are running from creditors calling. Why doesn't that weigh heavily on you? Most responsible people can't sleep when they can't pay their obligations and wouldn't think of blowing 1000 bucks on a vacation.

[ksgirl38]

I agree with the above posters. I was freaking out about a hotel stay for one night in Boston no way would I do Hawaii.

Pam

Why?

[ksgirl38]

You cannot afford it period. Maybe use the time for some real reflection on your situation because we are not sure you understand that if you do not change your way of thinking (ie: I want to go, I must have it, I need to go, etc) it will do no geed to file bankruptcy. Yes, you may get rid of some annoying debt BUT you are headed right back into debt land and spending more than you have because of your attitude.

There are people here that have made real sacrifices and suffered through having to give up the roof over their head literally and you are worried about missing a trip somewhere. You seem to have a job, many on this board do not, you seem to have a place to live, many on this board do not, you seem to be a bit entitled and believe you deserve this stuff so why sacrifice attitude and its getting a little old truthfully. Sorry if you want validation that you deserve this almost "free" trip (at least in your mind you have justified it in that category) but you have other things to deal with right now and you should. Part of filing is being responsible and taking ownership of the situation. Take care of your business and be accountable for your mistakes, it will change your attitude. You seem to be a nice person who is a little misguided but its not too late to get on the right track and learn from your situation. Good Luck!

I have $3000 cash set aside. $2000 of that I've allotted for the attorney. The other $1000 I was hoping to just keep there for emergencies. I know I can replenish that in a couple of months easily, but I was hoping to have it there as more of an emergency fund. I could use it on this trip if I wanted. Ideally this wouldn't have been the vacation of choice or how I would have decided to spend the money, but it was all planned by someone else who invited me last minute.

[ksgirl38]

Yes, read your own words:





Of course you'd like to go. But, I think you already know what you should do.

I'm just afraid to pass this opportunity up. Maybe everyone else gets offered things like this all the time, but I'm afraid to pass it up because I'm sure I won't get the chance again.

I do have the money, even after the money I set away for filing, but I guess I'm afraid to blow it all. I was hoping to have it there if I needed it. Emergency fund kind of thing.

I know it's not the best situation, but when else do you get offered a trip to Hawaii that will cost you under $1000 total? Unfortunately in life sometimes you have to grab opportunities when you get the chance. I'm just afraid of passing it up and regretting it later. I'm so confused.

[ksgirl38]

You have to buy food no matter where you are.
Just sayin' .
Souvenirs can be shells from the beach.

Maybe a meal at the airport while on a layover, but otherwise we'll be cooking the entire time. The person that invited me has small kids and they are still at that point where it's too much of a hassle to take them to a restaurant.