Do they ask you how you got into so much debt ?

[FilingOnMyOwn]

The trustee did ask every single person/case at my 341 what the cause of the debt was. It didn't seem to matter at all what anyone told him.

[whatamess]

Haha

Did anyone answer "complete and utter stupidity?" or "Bad money management" ???? As I'm in NJ and thats my answer I will have to give as I dont have an answer!
WAM

[manglicmot]

Did anyone answer "complete and utter stupidity?" or "Bad money management" ???? As I'm in NJ and thats my answer I will have to give as I dont have an answer!
WAM

Exactly, that and late fees. I don't have a good answer, frankly I am amazed how I ended up with $25K of credit card debt and not a thing to show for it. I didn't buy $25K worth of stuff!

[reallynervous]

I have worried so much about this question being asked to us. In thinking about it now, I really believe it is an important question to be asked during this process. I think it is essential for each of us going thru this process to know this answer - the real reason - to be successful post-bankruptcy.

My husband's illness & medical bills, as well as having a SN son who requires me to not be working was a big part of where we are at now. It is easy to say that is the reason for our BK as there was little we could control about either of those issues.

But when we really looked at our situation, it was a combination of things. Most of it ended up with us living beyond our means - not adjusting our spending soon enough. It was not deliberate. Life has been such a whirlwind for us over the past few years, that we truly have just been trying to make it thru each day. Not much looking ahead and financial planning. It caught up with us in a big way.

So, we are approaching life differently now. We have to - our life IS different now. If we try to live the same life we did before BK, we will end up in trouble again.

reallynervous

[whatamess]

Really Nervous..

Yes, you are right! We do all need to ask ourselves this honestly. Its stinks and was really dumb and idiotic of us, but we lived off our cards, used the money coming in to pay minimums, and spent more than we had. My husbands income goes up and down all the time, so when we tried to budget it didnt work because the dummies we were we didnt budget for the lean months. We set up for the overtime ones, and got use to that lifestyle. I hate myself for it, and know the trustee aint' gonna like my reason.
DH and I have set up an all cash lifestyle now. I am SO much more at ease and have learned to say no to my kids, husband, myself and to reel my mother and sisters in as well. Ive noticed watching her (mother) and my sisters now I know where Ive learned my habits..eekk. My whole family has horrendous money managment habits. My sister is 50 and has no savings, owes $100,000 on her mortgage from to many refinances from credit card debt payoffs. Guess what? She has them ALL maxed again and is in preforclosure. I know exactly what I dont want to become now and who I need to be for now on.
WAM