Of course, it's September now, but I've been writing material for the blog for a while.
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Now, it's July 2013. Istruggled making
payments because my work hours were reduced in the spring. My trustee
died. My lawyer suggested converting my bankruptcy to a chapter
seven. I was worried about losing the house, but my lawyer said she
wasn't really concerned about that. There is only $3,000 of
unprotected equity, and with closing costs and the amount I owe my
creditors, it isn't really in the trustee's interest to try and sell
the house. My recent surgeries (colonoscopy and right hemicolectomy)
came to $60,000 (yes, I had insurance). I should have been done with
the bankruptcy, since I was on a three year plan, but thanks to a
paperwork screw up, I could convert to a seven, AND include my most
recent debt. It's not the most noble way I could have addressed it,
but do YOU have $60,000 set aside for a rainy day? Yeah, thought so.
So I guess it's working out. Had I gone for a seven in the first
place, I wouldn't be able to convert now. However, I do regret paying
$17,000+ to the trustee, knowing that had I done a seven, I could
have saved a good chunk of that money and maybe gone back to school.
However, even if I saved the full $17,000, it still wouldn't be
enough to pay for the medical bills. So, I guess there is a huge
positive to this, even though right now I'm down to my last $50 (most
of it in change) and my car died on the other side of town. Too poor
to pay for a tow, I begged a car care place to push me off the road.
Even my emergency blinkers weren't working. I can only hope the car
will not be towed or vandalized until payday comes, and I can pay a
tow service to bring it home. Most of my next two paychecks are
spoken for, and with my hours being cut, I have no idea when I'll be
able to get my car repaired.
I know this blog doesn't seem very
funny. Where's the humor, you're probably wondering. Well, I'm trying
to save that for my memoir. Since I tend to be very wordy, I'm
writing this all up on a sleepless July night. I figure, if I write a
bunch and post a little of it at a time, I will have plenty to write
about. Maybe not a daily blog, but perhaps twice a week. I am
planning to share some tips and suggestions if you are planning to
file for bankruptcy. Please bear in mind I am not an attorney.
Everyone's case and situation is different. States have different
laws regarding equity in homes. There are also income limits as well.
I can only tell you my story. My experience has changed my mind about
money. It has also made me bitter as well as more compassionate.
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