Newbie - scared, humiliated, and just plain tired

[Nannabanana]

Okay, here we go....had excellent credit forEVER, but had too much credit, sound familiar? Way too much charge card debt and living from paycheck to paycheck and charge, charge, charge.......then........my DH's income just dried up and he was going to make more on social security (imagine that) than he was as an auto mechanic. And lo and behold, I was laid off with no warning in December 08.
I did receive severance and since I was having some major health problems, I applied for social security disability and started receiving benefits when the severance ran out (which was such a blessing). But, by now, I was taking everything personally, my company had turned its back on me, my body was fighting internally with me, and boo hoo what a mess!!! And I know some of you will understand when I say this, but most of my "so called" friends at work quit contacting me because I think they thought that "layoff" was a contagious disease and if they came in contact with me, oh boy, they would catch it too!!
We were very very thankful and grateful that I was receiving SS and we had stopped charging and were able to make our monthly payments on the charge cards until.........
the credit card company that we had done a balance transfer to for the low APR, sent us a letter stating that they were going to raise our minimum monthly payment from $300 (which was bad enough) to $750 monthly. They couldn't raise our APR because all payments were on time so they did this (and we had THREE cards with them.)
So that's my story, almost.........in the mean time we had to take custody of three family members.
We hired an attorney, filed 13, because we do need to keep the house, and have our 341 on Monday afternoon. After looking at the court calendar, we will be called last!!!
I have been reading all I can about the 341 meetings on this forum and I know by then, I will be a "basket case", but I will let you know how ours turns out.
You all have been a light to my dark days and I know now we are not alone!

[klandsb]

Yes...There is that old saying that "money doesnt make you happy" but believe me it has to make like alot easier. Like u I am tired, scared and yes a little embarassed by all this. I always had excellent credit and paid my bills on time. But like u the credit card companies gave me way toooo much money and I used them whenever I needed too thinking I would just make the mthly pmts and everything would be ok. As a single mom things come up and a couple huge charges like a car tranmission and a sump pump for my house and there goes the balance sky high. Everything just fell apart when my son graduated last yr and the child support ended. I should hve planned "alot" better but I am tired of beating myself up about that. I take responsibility for my financial mistakes but see no way out other than bankruptcy at this point. I have learned from my mistakes and have lived cash only for about 8 mths. It sucks at times but its do able. I need a fresh start w/my knowledge of the financial mistakes I have made .. We are all pretty much in the same boat just hoping it doesnt sink !!!!!!!

[rrockinggramma]

Hope it all works out for you with your ss income. You were lucky. I know a guy that had to go to court to get his disablility and it took 4 years. He lived on nothing and in his car (his only posession) And now he finally has his ss and has his own apartment. He still has nothing but is so excited to even have an apartment (no furniture) and not his "one bedroom malibu" that he can hardly contain himself.

but hang in there.

[Nannabanana]

Thank you all for your positive comments. I am very very lucky (in the sense I got ss quickly, just not healthwise). I have so much to be thankful for and have seen a wonderful support system here! I teared up when I read about your acquaintance Rrockinggramma, and I too have been a single parent Klandsb.
We have additional children in the house now, it's been a long time since I have been to peewee football games and my DH has been great to take over when I can't (which is alot of the time).
341 in a few days........

[lifelesson]

I wish you the best with ALL the balls you are juggling. I was a nervous reck about our BK Ch7. I even cried in the attorneys office. I haven't told anyone we're in this bind but I know it will happen, just waiting for it to be all thru the system before I open my mouth up.
YOur 341 will be painless. Ours was but for the fact that the attorney got to tho court house right after the trustee called all that timing in his offiice. I was like so no! (we're using an older lady who hs many years experience and highly recommend to us , so I trust she will do good)
We quickly had to look over our papers and missed an error which has caused us to file an amended schedule J. Pretty much I think we are still on for the 60 day club haven't heard nor see anything from the court. Attorney's office says no news is good.
I truly pray that you enjoy the peewee games and don't stress over this. Soon it will be behind. It isn't really those of us who were making the payments faults it's the rules changed with CC and then our ships sank. I know no one made us buy nor spend it was just easy to use CC as our savings account.

[frogger]

Best of luck to you.