Aaaaahh!!! A bonus!!

[JEM]

Hi Jem-

We were able to spend the cash down. I didn't want to pay Aprils utilities in advance because I was worried that if we didn't get filed by today (which we didn't) then we'd have to do this all over again when we had no bills to pay in April and had all that cash on hand. We stocked up on cat/dog food/supplies, paid off 7 months of auto insurance, funded two months worth of lunch money for the kids, took the kids out to dinner twice, kids got shoes, bought a pre-paid gas card and splurged on a National Geographic subscription for $30.

We had been planning on using that bonus, which we usually get in July, to fix our above ground pool. Now we can't. Total bummer for the kids.

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be trying to spend that cash down quickly. It was just so unexpected that I went into panic/flight mode.

I saw your thread about not being able to file yet and I wish for you and your husband better luck soon, that's got to be frustrating.

I'm glad you were able to spend it down! It's funny how "extra" money becomes a source of anxiety in this process instead of a good thing!

We'll muddle through. I mean, so far it's just a TON of calls. However, they have called FIL once and MIL once. I have a feeling that one of them told my big mouth BIL (based on a comment he made today)--so Easter should be interesting. He's the type that will tell the whole room full over people our business while sitting down at Easter dinner, just so that he can embarrass us and get a laugh.

I'd love to at least find an attorney we like enough to retain so that the calls will stop.

[jdcat]

Did you try the google voice thing? I received an invite from a member of this forum but I couldn't figure out how to set it up! I'm so not good at that stuff.

I hope BIL behaves himself at Easter, at least for your kids' sakes.

[JEM]

Did you try the google voice thing? I received an invite from a member of this forum but I couldn't figure out how to set it up! I'm so not good at that stuff.

I hope BIL behaves himself at Easter, at least for your kids' sakes.

I would like to try Google Voice, but I think you still have to have an invite.

I know I can do Google Voice from my cell (there is a free app for that I believe), but right now, I just have it set on my cell so that all the creditor calls go to VM. The voicemail has my full name, number and please leave a msg.

Hubby has his the same way.

But I think they really want to talk with us. I'm honestly just too chicken to talk, I hate being put on the spot. But I guess I'm going to have to if I want them to stop calling the IL's.

[jdcat]

Answering for the first time is the hardest and honestly it doesn't make the calls stop but it might give you a little bit of a break for a few days afterward. It may be a good idea to acknowledge them at least once a month though until you file. I don't know what good it would do but it certainly couldn't do any harm. It does seem pointless because you know you're filing but I think a little stringing along at this point might be a good idea and may buy you time before they begin to get "serious". When I answered I only told them that we were very aware of the seriousness of the situation and we're doing our best to remedy the situation. That's really about all you can say to them.