I will never be too bankrupt to...

[Recessionist]

help an elderly woman find her way back to the care facility she lives in when she gets disoriented walking around the neighborhood.



It's easy to feel that being Bankrupt in a financial sense, equates to being morally bankrupt in some way. It's easy to beat ourselves up. This is your chance to affirm something good about yourself or the world so we can all enjoy the positive reminders.

[momxx5]

This is a good idea because I am struggling as I feel bankrupt in the financial sense, emotional sense and physical sense. All not a good combination. I take too many cues from how DH acts.


So I'll say.......

I will never be too bankrupt to help at any of my 5 children's classrooms.

I am continuously asked to help (because I'm the mom that stays at home) and although sometime things at home don't get done perfectly (the floor is swept but not mopped this week), I am always available to help whenever I can.

Another affirmation I would like to say as a personal goal..... I will not be too bankrupt to interfere with my weightloss exercise routine.

(that one I have to work on very hard)

[queenfluff]

This is a very nice thread to start. For me in particular, I grew up with the idea that unless you worked very hard and had no debt and had money saved in the bank that you were not allowed to enjoy life. And even if you did, you were only allowed to enjoy life on special days like holidays and birthdays (and maybe vacations if you get one but even that I always felt guilty about because I thought I should be working). Any free time I had was filled with the idea that if I had any free time I should spend it working if I could.

So, not only do I not have any money but I have tons of debt and no job. You can imagine how I struggle with my situation right now. It is difficult for me to allow myself to go out of the house and enjoy myself because I feel like I am not allowed and don't deserve it. I feel like since I don't have any money I should be allowed to go and go anywhere. But I try to fight that idea.

I would add that I will never be too bankrupt to go out and "live" life. There are plenty of free things to do that will not cost me money.

For example, today is very nice out and I plan to get my bike out and go for a ride.

[Flowers]

going though the BK really took much out of me, and I really had to struggle to come up with something. Another poster noted how it takes much out of you physically and mentally. but I did come come up with something . . ..

"I will never be too bankrupt to . . . inquire as to why the mature building doorman who has been on duty since 7am is still there at 8pm. And when he tells me his replacement never came and it is not the overtime money he is being paid but being a diabetic and having no food to ingest for sugar . . . . well I went upstairs and got him some mini-bagels and peanut butter . . . to level his sugar. He was very appreciative.

PS: I have also made a pact with myself to get groceries each month to the local food bank, since I know how it feels.

[Lajazz947]

Yes, very nice topic.

I bought a homeless person a burrito and a coke the other day. I won't give them money but I will help them with food.

[WillinVT]

I think the hardest part for me was the year before I actually made the decision to file. One minute, I would feel OK with the thought and the next minute, I would start freaking out. I have been suffering with anxiety since 2003 and even though I have it under control for the most part, getting deeper and deeper in debt and the thought of Bankruptcy would usually put me into panic mode, making me sick to my stomach.

I did everything I could to try to handle my debt, but I failed and I am OK with that. It wasn't until I found this forum where I actually began to seriously think about bankruptcy and I finally made the decision to find an atty and go with it.

Knowing that my debt will be gone sometime this summer makes me and knowing that when all is said and done, I will be able to start putting money back into my 401K, set a side some money for me and my wife each month and still be able to put $500 a month in a savings account each month after my bills have been paid. That is what makes me feel good inside and I know there is light at the end of the tunnel...

[WillinVT]

Oh, I forgot to add that I will never be too bankrupt to be there for my wife and 2 daughters. They are my life and I can't imagine life without them.

[Lajazz947]

Oh, I forgot to add that I will never be too bankrupt to be there for my wife and 2 daughters. They are my life and I can't imagine life without them.

amen to both your posts.

It took me a long time to reconcile myself to the BK idea but this forum and my family make it tolerable and worth it.

[Flamingo]

Though we are not bankrupt now and are 2 1/2 years beyond discharge, I would have to say:

I will/would never be too bankrupt to donate my time and services (and donations of paper towels, etc. from the Dollar Store) to help out at my local wildlife rehab service or rescue. Nothing gets your mind off of your financial problems more than donating your time and services to a good cause during that time and continuing it afterwards.

[queenfluff]

Doing Bankrutpcy has made me think even more about volunteering to help persons less fortunate than me. I am thankful that even though I am bankrupt and broke and unemployed right now that I have somewhere to go and someone to stay with who is willing to help out - I will probably never have to face being homeless. It really makes me realize that there are always people who are worse off than me and that for the most part I have it pretty good.

I have volunteered at animal shelters before (and I even used to work at one) but I never volunteered to help people before. Probably because I am not a people person and I am more of an animal person.

I always give stuff I don't want to Salvation Army or Goodwill or I put it up on Freecycle. But now since I don't have much to give away anymore and I have lots of free time to ride out my BK since I can't get a job - I am looking into doing some volunteering to help people too.

(Btw, Freecycle is an excellent resource for people who don't have a lot of money - I got several nice free things off it - an exercise bike (since I had to sell my Bally's), an almost brand new Wolfgang puck toaster oven and a huge box of VHS tapes so far and I have given away more things than I have gotten - I highly recommend joining your local freecycle. Alot of people think it is just old broken stuff but it really isn't and it is free to join. I am on the Yahoo Groups version for my area.).

"I will never be too Bankrupt to give my time and energy to others and to important causes- my energy is free and recyclable and I always be able to renew it to give more of it away to help out."