What are you missing out on?

[Mrs. H]

What did you have to give up or change in your lifestyle during payback time on your Chapter 13? Was it more or less difficult for you and/or your family?

[CCB35]

everything

I am six months into a 60 month "prison"sentence.in my case it seems like the budget we were put on isnt working out.each month we have to scrape and scrounge just to get by .i sometimes wonder how we are going to make it.i know that My wife and i cant do the things we used to do as much-go to the movies,buy a dvd or two and just go out and eat dinner sometime.it is hard and it isnt getting easier -my only consolation is to see another month come off and my trustee paying off my debts each month

[rrockinggramma]

well I gave up a lot. Each of my children had vehicles and they all went back to the dealerships. They had to provide their own wheels, as I was making 5 car payments total, plus insurance etc. I was living way beyond the means. I also gave up my house. It was way upside down and I was so depressed I just didn't care anymore. Course in hindsight, maybe I could have fought to keep it and had the mortgage's stripped back but wasn't really functioning on all cylinders at the time and wasn't aware of all of my options. I also had to learn to make priorities. Trustee, rent, utilities, food came first, then the rest. I had to learn that is was ok to send a payment of 5.00 to a doctor as long as I paid it every month as promised. I used to wait til I had the whole amount to pay the bill (which meant longer and longer waits, sent to collections, tacked on fees etc) These were post petition debts too so had to be paid. My medical deductible is high. So basically I had to learn to budget. I had to learn that it was ok to make partial payments and to plan ahead and to live on the income I had left after all the important stuff was paid for the month.

[Granny]

I had been living without for so long that the only thing I have given up is eating out. There was nothing else to give up. With my hubby being gone over the road all the time (he was only home 36 days last year), it was just easier to grab something to eat for the grandkids and me. Now that he is home (and we are temporarily without a paycheck), I am cooking 3 meals a day.

When I stopped working 5 years ago, we started down the road to frugality so that I could continue to pay the CC debt and be home with the grandkids. I am actually looking forward to having more in the near future for things like going to the dentist, maybe getting some new clothes, and just having the money on hand to take care of things as they pop up instead of having to shuffle, rob Peter to pay Paul etc.

[lrprn]

As Granny and RockinG said, learning to budget and set financial priorities during Ch 13 has been crucial for us. We won't make it otherwise.

As far as what we gave up....over the last year since we filed, we don't go out with our friends any more. We eat out (Chinese buffet - that level of eating out) about once a month. To save money we make and eat 99% of our meals at home. We both make and take lunches to work. We don't buy anything over $25 unless we clear it with each other first. We coupon at the grocery store. And we sit down every weekend to balance the checkbook and see how we are doing against our budget.

When the dust settles, my husband and I may have given up a lot of what we used to have, but in return we are living within our means for the first time in many years. And nothing feels better than *not* having to worry every time the mail comes or the phone rings!

[$$only4ever]

I really believe the secret is sticking to your budget. So far that has worked out the best for us.