Published Thursday, January 12, 2012 @ 6:30 am

The days between Thanksgiving and Christmas had many people wondering where America’s lingering financial issues went as millions of shoppers returned to our nation’s stores, malls and gallerias en masse to take advantage of extreme sales (and savings) and, in doing so, generated the most successful Black Friday for retailers ever.…

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Published Sunday, September 4, 2011 @ 8:52 am

When you’re drowning in debt, and dodging your creditors, you may feel stuck—forced to eliminate your financial trappings as soon as possible and by any means necessary. But, in the process of dispensing with debt through the benefits of bankruptcy, it’s vital that you deal with that debt deliberately and follow certain rules pre-filing in order to assure that your financial future is as fruitful as possible.…

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Published Tuesday, January 25, 2011 @ 11:25 am

Millions of people have taken advantage of bankruptcy protections in the past several years, following through on their freedom to file and subsequently end creditor harassment and debt worries amid uncertain economic times.  As a result, many people, people just like you, are now exiting bankruptcy, most often Chapter 7, wondering how to begin on the road to financial recovery, and maybe even hit the literal road by procuring a new (or “new to you”) car in the process.…

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Published Sunday, January 2, 2011 @ 6:59 am

We all know that credit cards, with their excessive fees, high interest rates, and unforgiving fine print, can be the key to financial ruin…as well as many a personal bankruptcy filing. But now there’s a new unfriendly financial cost on the horizon: debit card fees.

These normally safe and fiscally responsible alternatives to their costly cousin, the credit card, are now coming into focus as the latest instrument by which banks are placing higher fees on unsuspecting consumers.…

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Published Tuesday, October 5, 2010 @ 12:07 pm

Okay, it’s time for some motivation.

Coming out of bankruptcy, or at least the feeling of resolution that comes when the cloud of economic despair finally lifts, can do a lot for a person’s psyche and sense of self. Like a new breath after a long-time struggle in financial whitewater, knowing you are free of what has been pulling you under can empower you to try new things, pursue goals and live your dreams.…

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Published Tuesday, September 7, 2010 @ 5:31 pm

It would be inauthentic to blame every instance of bankruptcy on sudden life changes, such as a tragic illness or other life-altering emergency. The truth is, some bankruptcies are preventable.

However, we’re not judging. We know that timing plays a big part.

For example, let’s say one morning that you look at the pile of bills on the counter and say to yourself: “That’s it, I’m changing the way I handle money.” Then, the first thing noticed on your desk at work is a pink slip.…

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Published Thursday, September 2, 2010 @ 10:39 am

Well, it’s fall. In terms of school, anyway. And if you have a kid heading off to college now or this time next year, it means all kinds of expenses, like dorm supplies, new clothes, a computer and of course, textbooks.

A student’s learning resources have become one of the most underrated expenses of the college experience.…

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Published Friday, August 27, 2010 @ 10:00 am

The job market is a tough, ugly and sometimes downright brutal place to have to spend time. Heck, July alone crammed well over one hundred thousand into an already really tight space.

The signs you see to help yourself out—job postings—are all over the place it seems. But who’s landing them?…

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Published Thursday, August 12, 2010 @ 10:40 am

Realizing we are in debt is a lot easier than figuring how it happened. Unless you can pinpoint one central reason, like the loss of a job or long-term medical issue, it can be hard to retrace your steps to financial crisis. Plus, who even wants to? The more important exercise is to figure out how to not let it happen again.…

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Published Friday, July 23, 2010 @ 8:00 am

Life after bankruptcy can be a challenge. It will take commitment, a new mindset and an entirely fresh set of budgeting habits.

People are surprised to find that when they look around, there really are countless ways for you to save, establish credit and rebuild the economic life you once had.…

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Published Wednesday, June 9, 2010 @ 7:23 pm

Despite faint signs of recovery in the business world, bankruptcy courts in America are busy handling more personal bankruptcies. Really busy.

In the last month of the first quarter of this year, more individuals filed for bankruptcy than in any month since last 2005. Back then, there was a last minute rush to seek financial protection because of the soon-to-be-enacted Bankruptcy Abuse and Consumer Protection Act, which made bankruptcy laws what they are today.…

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Published Saturday, May 29, 2010 @ 8:38 am

In the last ten years, self-storage centers have infiltrated America faster than a bad singer on YouTube. From basic storage sheds with individual bays to climate-controlled multi-story complexes, we have become a nation obsessed with storage. Heck, you can even invest in a garage condo today.

Now, let’s juxtapose our need for storage with the general financial position of so many American families right now.…

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Published Thursday, April 8, 2010 @ 9:18 am

This blog talks at length about savings strategies and offers a great deal of consumer spending advice. Our goal is to create an all-encompassing approach to helping readers, clients and potential clients be financially successful after bankruptcy.

Having a healthy savings account should be the goal of anyone rebuilding after bankruptcy.…

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Published Friday, March 5, 2010 @ 10:31 pm

Successfully coming out of bankruptcy is a financial rebirth. As you move on from your financial setbacks (and you will), you will be better prepared to build a healthy fiscal future. Part of that, or better stated, a huge part of that, will involve how you make decisions regarding money. It would be understandable, for example, to simply save everything in a conservative money market (savings) account or maybe drop a small bit of your monthly income into a 401k.…

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Published Friday, March 5, 2010 @ 4:30 pm

Life after bankruptcy is beautiful thing. Your stress levels go down and you become more confident with money. Now that things are back on track, maybe it is time to take a whole-life approach to changing the way you live. For some, it’s a new, but smaller, home; a more economical car; or a strict monthly budget.…

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Published Monday, March 1, 2010 @ 11:15 am

Overworked? Underpaid? Join the Club: The Middle Class

This week, a money-themed CBS Sunday Morning featured Cary, North Carolina’s SAS, a business software company–featuring subsidized on-site daycare, gyms, and health care–as an example of a corporate aberration in the these tough economic times. As CBS reporter Jim Axelrod pointed out in his cover story “The Great American Paycheck Squeeze,” the reality is, “for more and more Americans in these recessionary times, SAS might as well be Disney World.…

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Published Wednesday, December 9, 2009 @ 12:28 pm

Filing bankruptcy, among other things, is about getting a new start. Few things can match the sense of relief that follows even the first phone call to our office, let alone the day you know for sure that your bills are gone forever.

For some, starting over may mean leaving behind everything that contributed to your old spending habits, the material goods, the car, even the house, that led you deep into the financial abyss.…

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Published Saturday, November 28, 2009 @ 6:12 pm

Making the decision to file is a difficult one. Choosing the right attorney is a pretty daunting task as well. Now that all that is done it is time to make and go to your first appointment.

Expect to be a little anxious. You are about to commit to a big lifestyle change.…

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Published Sunday, November 22, 2009 @ 12:37 pm

Does anyone else find it just a little ironic that the two most commonly used bankruptcy options are lucky number 7 and the unlucky number 13? You have to wonder just a little bit if that is fates way of trying to send you a little message…

There are actually six different types of bankruptcy which a person or corporation can file: 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, and 15.…

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Published Monday, November 9, 2009 @ 6:15 am

If you are facing both bankruptcy and divorce, you might be wondering whether you should file bankruptcy before or after obtaining a divorce.

In most cases, you should file bankruptcy before divorcing.  Especially if you earn more than your spouse!  If you don’t file bankruptcy before getting a divorce, you might wind up having to pay all of the debt you and your spouse incurred during your marriage!  Or you could end up paying more in child support and alimony to make up for your spouse’s debt.  Regardless of who earns more, wouldn’t it be better to get rid of your debt rather than fighting over who pays for it when you go to divorce court?  A chapter 7 bankruptcy can get rid of some, even all, of your debt before going through the divorce, and will make your divorce case much simpler.  You may not know yet what your life will be like after your divorce, but at least you will know that your debts have been handled.…

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Published Tuesday, October 20, 2009 @ 10:15 pm

Stomach turns? Sleepless nights? Ah, the memories of your time before filing bankruptcy. Not much fun, were they?

Despite all the things that your robust credit limits may have provided you (it’s okay to admit it), somehow you would have given it all back to stop the phone from ringing and guilt from weighing you down.…

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Published Friday, September 11, 2009 @ 8:53 am

My parents filed bankruptcy when I was about fourteen. I remember being worried and a little frightened by the word “bankruptcy” and the unknowns surrounding the concept. But I also knew that it was not something my parents were entering into lightly and that every other option had been considered. It was the first time I really took notice of financial issues concerning our family.…

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Published Wednesday, August 26, 2009 @ 10:04 pm

A successful bankruptcy is as much about post-bankruptcy decision making as it is about making the initial decision to file. A lot needs to go into each spending choice, every credit consideration and your personal financial management goals.

Multiple bankruptcies are common. However, if you feel you may be getting close to having to file again and the reason is not the direct result of an uncontrollable emergency, there may be some broader, underlying personal issues that were not addressed the first time around.…

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Published Tuesday, August 25, 2009 @ 10:00 pm

What should you do if you need to buy a car before you have finished repairing your credit, or while you still have payments to make in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy? If you are used to buying new cars straight from the dealership, be prepared to adjust your approach.

Did you know that a $20,000 car is worth a couple thousand dollars less the second you drive it off the lot?…

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Published Monday, August 24, 2009 @ 7:06 am

So, now that you’ve come through bankruptcy with a clean slate and made the decision to stay off the credit treadmill, it’s time to examine your money habits and behaviors. It is surprising how many people view their credit limits as unofficial raises and create lifestyles that reflect a higher actual income than they actually earn.…

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Published Saturday, August 15, 2009 @ 1:45 pm

Debit cards are one of the many spending tools that can be good for a person rebuilding after bankruptcy. For the most part, anything that is backed directly by actual cash is the best way to ensure that you don’t get too deep again shortly after things are back in order.…

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Published Tuesday, August 11, 2009 @ 6:56 am

Forget getting cash for your clunker. If you want a real deal on a car after bankruptcy, hop online and get bidding. General Motors has just announced a partnership with its online auction counterpart eBay to start posting vehicles from more than 200 California dealerships as part of an ongoing effort to spur sales after the car maker’s recent bankruptcy.…

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Published Friday, July 24, 2009 @ 3:27 pm

Few of us learned much about balancing a checkbook, let alone managing our finances during high school. And for many years credit card companies have been trolling college campuses for fresh bodies to press into servitude. So it comes as no surprise that so many young adults are overloaded with debt.…

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Published Sunday, July 19, 2009 @ 5:13 pm

There are many reasons for filing bankruptcy. From sudden medical expenses to layoffs, We already know medical bills are a substantial reason people file and that even smart consumers have faced serious challenges as a result of uncertain mortgages.

Regardless of your reasons, life after bankruptcy offers you the chance to start in a new direction.…

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Published Saturday, July 18, 2009 @ 3:56 pm

As we’ve discussed here several times, there is a very good chance you can keep your home when filing bankruptcy. However, those of you who rent may find reason to worry about that ubiquitous “credit check” that shows up on every new rental application.

Whether a faceless, multi-billion dollar property management company or a private duplex owner down the street, landlords need to know they can collect rent.…

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Published Friday, July 17, 2009 @ 4:58 pm

Most of us go on vacation to get away from the things that are causing us stress. Well, that might not be so easy anymore. Travelers across the country are reporting an increase in collection agency contact for even nominal amounts of money because of a dispute they raised with airlines, hotels and rental car companies–even after the company has acknowledged its own mistake.…

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Published Friday, July 10, 2009 @ 5:34 pm

While bankruptcy can provide you a haven from financial insecurity, it will not automatically change for you the habits that may have led to your decision to file.

It’s important for you to understand that you are not the only person who has ever overspent. Money was good, credit was easy and why shouldn’t you live the lifestyle you deserve?…

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Published Sunday, July 5, 2009 @ 8:05 am

Buying a home after bankruptcy is a smart move. And yes, it is possible! If you don’t own a home already, buying a house is an excellent step toward rebuilding your financial life. A home can be a great investment because it is one of the few major assets you will own that will hopefully appreciate over time.…

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Published Saturday, July 4, 2009 @ 8:03 am

Okay, so you made the decision to file for bankruptcy some time ago and things are moving along smoothly. In fact, you’re sleeping better, getting along with your spouse and you wake up confident that the world is indeed, still spinning on its axis.

It’s a good feeling, to be back in control, to be out from under the thumb of creditors who don’t understand the human side of financial management.…

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Published Saturday, June 13, 2009 @ 2:25 pm

Once your bankruptcy is behind you, your credit will begin to improve faster than you may expect―as soon as a year after filing, you may be eligible to receive a loan to finance the purchase of a new car.  Armed with a few tips, you can locate a good loan.

First things first: for the period immediately after your bankruptcy, as you prepare to move on with your life and before you undertake steps like financing a car, make sure you are laying a good foundation.…

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Published Monday, June 8, 2009 @ 11:50 am

Many people own a home before they file for bankruptcy protection, and once they are ready to start over and lay down that solid financial future, they will want to refinance their home loans. Refinancing a home can result in excellent benefits for a home owner.  By refinancing, you may be able to improve your cash flow by lowering monthly payments and reduce future risk associated with variable rates.…

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Published Sunday, May 31, 2009 @ 8:55 pm

By the time you realize that bankruptcy is the best option for you, it’s probably safe to say that you’ve been dealing with creditors for a long time.

Even worse than creditors are the collection companies, who are trained to bully you into agreeing to make payments even when you don’t have a cent to spare. 

Eventually you begin to feel that these companies have all the power and you have none.…

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Published Sunday, May 31, 2009 @ 6:49 pm

The decision to file bankruptcy is more often than not driven by your willingness to accept the fact that you need help. Chances are, you are fully aware of the practical reasons: late bills, consistent calls by creditors, job loss, unseen medical expenses, stress, denied credit. However, getting over the psychological barriers can be the most difficult corner to turn in a person’s road to financial recovery.…

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Published Thursday, May 28, 2009 @ 7:50 pm

So you did it. You came to the difficult realization that you needed bankruptcy protection, you got through the process, and you received your discharge. First off: Congratulations! This is a very good thing. The mountain of bills that had been dragging you down for so long is gone — along with all the stress and anxiety of fending off the creditors who were trying to collect on those bills.…

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Published Wednesday, May 27, 2009 @ 2:28 pm

Future home ownership is a major concern of so many people who have made the decision to file bankruptcy. A previous post on this blog discussed the ins and outs of your ability to buy a house after emerging from bankruptcy. The good news is that it is completely possible and that you can indeed be a very viable mortgage candidate.…

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Published Friday, May 1, 2009 @ 7:31 pm

People often have a hard time coming to grips with the decision to file for bankruptcy. Many feel that is morally wrong to do so; that we have an obligation to pay the debts off that we incur during our lifetimes. We are taught that there are consequences to our actions; that if we do ‘A’ that we will have to deal with ‘B.’ For some, bankruptcy flies right in the face of a concept that we all grew up with- taking responsibility for our actions.…

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Published Tuesday, April 21, 2009 @ 7:15 am

Bankruptcy gives you a fresh start; a relief from the stress and uncertainty about your future. Your hope is that things will soon be back to normal. But that hope is often based on the answers to so many questions. For many, one of those questions may be about your ability to buy a home.…

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