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January 23, 2007, 8:14 pm PST

Debt

Quote From: toolbeltdiva

I was always taught failure was not an option. But I was divorced about 10 years ago. My ex husband was suppose to pay for half of the child support but little did I know I would be footing the bill in more than one way. To survive on my $30K a year job, & a parttime waitressing job and support 2 children on my own while paying attroney fees to gain custody of my children and fighting a losing battles with the courts to enforce the laws in Massachusetts I stacked up 32K in credit card charges because I had to pay the attorneys first. After 6 years and several attempt to try and keep my head above water to try and work with the card companies to help just make the 600 PER MONTH payment a month I realized I was not getting anywhere. Yeah my credit score was 750 but I working 2 jobs trying to just pay the bare minimum. OMG the stress!! The credit card companies raising my rate just because I had such high debt. EVEN the FIXED RATES! They did not care I never missed a payment, they did not care they were forcing me into bankruptcy because they refused to lower my rate so I could at least make a dent. Frustrated one day I called all of them. NONE was willing to work with me. I said you will force me into bankrupcy and get nothing. They still refused. Furthermore I went to a credit agency because they advertise they can make deals with the card companies for a % off. I got nowhere. THey told me yes you can get out of debt in 5 years. My payments would be ONLY 700 including their fee. $100 MORE than I was paying ! Frustrated - I FILED ...I kept everything but my 32K in credit cards.

It was the best decision of my life. Yeah I had to rebuild my credit but I can truely say I tried every avenue to work with the credit card companies. I sleep well at night now. After the bankruptcy I bought a book and started reading on how to rebuilt my credit. With a secured card.... Today, yes I have 2 cards but I pay them off each month. I only use them to build credit and last month I just bought a new home just 3 years later. My credit score 700! Yes I still get turned down for credit for certain things. So what? If I really need it. I will just pay cash.

Do yourself a favor. LIfe is too damn short.

So HEW RAH for the people to dont want to continue to live in such stress. As I have learned. Its better to go bankrupt than to be late or never make a payment. Learn from your mistakes, and start over.

did the same thing. during my divorce I tried like hell to work with the mortgage company to work out payments or sell short-they refused. My ex at the time was not willing to help with the house payments until it sold, and I was unwilling to work 3 jobs to pay everything that was in his name jointly, so i filed. now the problem-the ex left me all the animals, throws his nice little helpful attitude with our daughter (which he calls me at work to ask how she is and if he can do anything) which is a joke because he just wants to harrass me. When it comes down to doing something that would make a difference, he tells me what I need to do and disappears again. So, I have debts from sick animals, my own uninsured medical bills, maintain this damn house, make less than 30,000 a year, have a rebellious daughter who has graduated school and is happy to sit on her ass, and in the mean time I am trying to just survive, plus quit school since the stress has made it impossible (another 12,000 debt for nothing) what a joke. My solution? I am selling the house this year-however long it takes, whatever is left, bankruptcy again. then to the 2 room cheap apartment and no cards-if I can't pay the bills, oh well-not going on the credit card. am I angry? you betcha. my life is ruined

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shamrock42

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January 24, 2007, 8:52 am PST

Afraid we'll lose our house

My husband and I have always struggled with finances, we live very modestly, we have older cars and we never go out but we can't seem to save anything. Well now our town will be raising taxes and I am freaking out, if there is no money left over at the end of the month now, how will we pay a higher mortgage? I think about this from the moment I wake till the moment I fall asleep. (when I CAN fall asleep) I don't want to sell my house and probably couldn't anyway as the market is on a downswing right now. Even if we sold it, we couldn't afford anything in this area. I don't know what to do, We both work full time and I am looking for a part time job but I don't know if that will be enough. I am so depressed and my husband is probably getting frustrated with that, I know it doesn't help the situation I never used to be this way. I wake up in the morning and a wave of anxiety sweeps over me and I want to crawl under the covers and sleep forever. I hate treading water like this and worrying that the future is going to be even worse... it is exhusting, mentally and physically. I sit here in work and no one would know it but I am screaming inside. I probably sound like I am feeling sorry for myself but this is such a horrible way to live.

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marsplasti

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Good

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sad

January 24, 2007, 9:25 am PST

Understand

Quote From: shamrock42

My husband and I have always struggled with finances, we live very modestly, we have older cars and we never go out but we can't seem to save anything. Well now our town will be raising taxes and I am freaking out, if there is no money left over at the end of the month now, how will we pay a higher mortgage? I think about this from the moment I wake till the moment I fall asleep. (when I CAN fall asleep) I don't want to sell my house and probably couldn't anyway as the market is on a downswing right now. Even if we sold it, we couldn't afford anything in this area. I don't know what to do, We both work full time and I am looking for a part time job but I don't know if that will be enough. I am so depressed and my husband is probably getting frustrated with that, I know it doesn't help the situation I never used to be this way. I wake up in the morning and a wave of anxiety sweeps over me and I want to crawl under the covers and sleep forever. I hate treading water like this and worrying that the future is going to be even worse... it is exhusting, mentally and physically. I sit here in work and no one would know it but I am screaming inside. I probably sound like I am feeling sorry for myself but this is such a horrible way to live.

I truly know how you are feeling. First I would suggest maybe seeing your doctor or seeking out some counseling. I am going through a nasty divorce and lost all income so I can relate to you.

Is there anyway you can downsize. No cell phones, cut down on cable. Things like that. You might have to sell your house and maybe get a condo or something. If you dont have the greatest jobs maybe you could move to a cheaper State and start over where ther are less taxes. This will be a reality for me for I cant afford where I live in the future. Take one day at a time and do what you can for that day to think about ways to increase your income. Do you have kids?

Maybe you can babysit on the weekends or your husband could cut lawns? Can you get a raise at work or get another job with more money? Can your husband get a raise or another job?

I know this all sounds so simple and I am not meaning for it to be. Oh: Could you ask family for help or maybe take money out of your 401 if you need too. Also, I looked into HUD one time and they might be willing to work with you. Look them up on the web.

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tartanmama

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Sad

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worried

January 26, 2007, 9:05 am PST

Looking for help

I live in Michigan, the state that now has the distinction of having the highest unemployment in the country. I am struggling to keep my head above "water", as some say. I have been unable to find work, but am continuing to look. I am on the verge of losing my home. In a state where all the houses that are up for sale, have been on the market for at least 2 years, trying to sell my house is just not an option right now. I would still end up losing my home. I can't seem to get refinanced because I don't have enough income. I have been everywhere for help, but am always turned away because I have too much money coming in. I have no place else to go but the street, so keeping my home is vital. I am as my grandmother used to say between a rock and a hard place. I'm so tired of being told to "go, stay warm and well fed", yet not recieving help. How am I supposed to be warm and well fed if no one will step up and help me? Can anyone tell me where else I can go for help. I have been to the state, community organizations, my church, other churchs, friends, family, and I feeling totally abandoned.

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marsplasti

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Good

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quiet

January 27, 2007, 7:33 am PST

michigan

Quote From: tartanmama

I live in Michigan, the state that now has the distinction of having the highest unemployment in the country. I am struggling to keep my head above "water", as some say. I have been unable to find work, but am continuing to look. I am on the verge of losing my home. In a state where all the houses that are up for sale, have been on the market for at least 2 years, trying to sell my house is just not an option right now. I would still end up losing my home. I can't seem to get refinanced because I don't have enough income. I have been everywhere for help, but am always turned away because I have too much money coming in. I have no place else to go but the street, so keeping my home is vital. I am as my grandmother used to say between a rock and a hard place. I'm so tired of being told to "go, stay warm and well fed", yet not recieving help. How am I supposed to be warm and well fed if no one will step up and help me? Can anyone tell me where else I can go for help. I have been to the state, community organizations, my church, other churchs, friends, family, and I feeling totally abandoned.

I dont know how to help you because it sounds like you have been everywhere for help. I noticed from your profile that all your kids are over 18. Is that right? Can they get jobs or if they have jobs and you have five kids? In bad times families pull together to help out. Everyone can chip in even if its a small amount. Why do you have too much money coming in? One time I had a house and couldnt pay the mortgage; the lawyer told me to not pay the mortgage and let the house go into a forclosure. I was working so the money I made i put into the bank and it took years for the bank to start forclosure proceedings. After that time the money I saved from working was growing in the bank so I was able to take the house out of forclosure at that point. have you spoken with your bank or mortgage company? Can you take any job for now? McDonalds, FActory; anything? Are you disabled? I am not saying this will work for you but I was just offering suggestions.Good Luck

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fatmando

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Distressed

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worried

February 9, 2007, 4:54 am PST

debt & how

I am on Social Security disability and am in debt with credit cards and other things. I have extended my self twice and had to file bankruptcy. Now I'm here again. How do I come out from under it and survive with such limited income. I need help and don't know how to do it anymore.

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tartanmama

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Sad

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frustrated

February 9, 2007, 6:00 pm PST

Debt

Quote From: marsplasti

I dont know how to help you because it sounds like you have been everywhere for help. I noticed from your profile that all your kids are over 18. Is that right? Can they get jobs or if they have jobs and you have five kids? In bad times families pull together to help out. Everyone can chip in even if its a small amount. Why do you have too much money coming in? One time I had a house and couldnt pay the mortgage; the lawyer told me to not pay the mortgage and let the house go into a forclosure. I was working so the money I made i put into the bank and it took years for the bank to start forclosure proceedings. After that time the money I saved from working was growing in the bank so I was able to take the house out of forclosure at that point. have you spoken with your bank or mortgage company? Can you take any job for now? McDonalds, FActory; anything? Are you disabled? I am not saying this will work for you but I was just offering suggestions.Good Luck

Since you are from Michigan, you know how the jobs situation is. Thank you for responding. I was married to a very abusive man for 22 years. My children and I are all trying to deal with the results of that in our various ways. My 3 sons live with me. They only bring in enough to barely pay the bills. By to much money, I mean, that every organization I have been to tells me that the amount of my alimony is to much, which is only $1196 a month. It's really a joke. I have to much to get help, and not enough to live in. Now, I have missed the January payment of my Forbearance Agreement. My mortgage company is not the sort that is interested in working with their customers. So, talking to them would be fudal, all they seem to want is their money. To complicate matters even more, now my 83 year old father is ill, and I am all he has, so I have been occupied in shuttling him back and forth to clinics and doctors. This keeps me from being able to spend time looking for work, or looking for training to get a job. So, if you have any suggestions let me know. I would be glad to consider whatever you have to say. And of course, I would be very happy to accept any donations offered!!!!!

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skamnewc

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Stressed

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embarrassed

February 11, 2007, 8:10 pm PST

Cash Stores

I have tried to save myself from being overdrawn at the bank by visiting Cash Stores only to have it all snowball. How do i get away from the cash stores when I can't afford to pay them off? Skamnewc

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fatmando

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Distressed

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February 12, 2007, 5:56 am PST

debt

I have read and listen to some of the people talking about their debt. I feel sorry for each one. I however have not heard of anyone who is trying to survive on social security and are in credit card debt. Is it that just people who are financially better off than we are who get in trouble? We are not 10 or twenty thousands in debt, but none the less in trouble. All I have heard on all the shows who are people who work and make thousands a years. They have jobs and can work their way out of things. No one seems to care about the low income bracket like ours who only make 12,000 a year and our 5,000 debt is just as devastating as thier big debt. We are barely surviving due to our stupidity. No one seems to have any advice for our situation.

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skamnewc

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Stressed

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February 12, 2007, 2:01 pm PST

I'm stupid too!

Quote From: fatmando

I have read and listen to some of the people talking about their debt. I feel sorry for each one. I however have not heard of anyone who is trying to survive on social security and are in credit card debt. Is it that just people who are financially better off than we are who get in trouble? We are not 10 or twenty thousands in debt, but none the less in trouble. All I have heard on all the shows who are people who work and make thousands a years. They have jobs and can work their way out of things. No one seems to care about the low income bracket like ours who only make 12,000 a year and our 5,000 debt is just as devastating as thier big debt. We are barely surviving due to our stupidity. No one seems to have any advice for our situation.

I'm on a pension and have gotten myself in a terrible bind. I started out not being able to pay one bill and so had to borrow from one cash store, then I had two bills I couldn't pay and had to borrow again and now my loans are eating up all the money to pay the utilities. I'm searching for a job, anything and I'm overdrawn at the bank and a small loan of $1000 would cure my problems there and at the cash stores but I can only borrow $2500 from the bank, they don't make smaller loans, but I don't make enough income to take out the $2500 loan. Is that crazy or what? I finally had to go to my kids to ask for help which kills me, but by the time I summoned up the courage and swallowed the pride I was so far in they can't really help. I'm drowning and can't seem to find anything to hold onto. I'm not in thousands of dollars of debt but when your lights and gas and water are going to be shut off, that is a really big amount. So I know what you are going through. Skamnewc

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Message Boards

Topic : Debt

Debt

Afraid we'll lose our house

Understand

Looking for help

michigan

debt & how

Debt

Cash Stores

debt

I'm stupid too!