Why are you still here?

[empowered]

Okay, I'm new here, but I find I'm curious about why people continue to use this forum months and years after the discharge of their bankruptcies.

????

Thanks.
(variably) empowered

[tigergem]

To try to help and support other people who are just beginning the process. I for one, am very grateful for their collective contributions.

[BobMango]

I find much of the information here valuable even after completing bankruptcy, and as Tigergem says, it's nice to support those that are just starting the process.

[justbroke]

It's called giveback. Some people call it paying it forward. It's a nice community.

[wonderingrov]

I just filed last week, but I am grateful to those who have stayed on after discharge to give support and advice to those of us who are going through the process. I've found their advice is very valuable. In my opinion, one of the best sources of information about bankruptcy is from those who have been through it before.

I plan to stay on after I am (hopefully) discharged to try to encourage those who are just starting or still going through the process. To me, it's the right thing to do.

[Flamingo]

This question pops up a lot on here. There are forums on here also that apply to after a discharge as to getting credit, jobs, etc. I don't believe this site was around when we filed - the ones that were were unmoderated, full of trolls and bad advice. Many trolls would pose as "financial" or "bankruptcy" experts and purposely give bad advice to new people looking for help. Most people have no clue as to bankruptcy when it becomes the only way out and are in a terribly emotionally confused state and will fall for anything some people tell them. This forum is full of marvelous folks and moderators who do not allow that to occur on here. I stick around to help out with that and to help out as to my Chapter 13 experience as we went through almost anything possible as to filing a Chapter 13, including inheritance and job loss shortly after filing. I also have been through the credit mess and cleanup during and after filing and now the BK is off our records as of April 2009. We still get BK related junk mail (BK never really goes away as it is a life event) but life is way different for us now as we have learned not to lean on credit, we plan and budget, do without if we don't need it and there is no reason to compete with the Smiths down the street because all it is is material stuff and the Smiths themselves are drowning in debt.

[ryan]

It seems to me to have a truly successful forum, you need to retain as many folks as possible who have 'been around the block', so to speak. I also think this is the best way to make a contribution to others and repay the help that has been given to you.

[sophia]

I still pop in because it is hard to not visit a forum that I spent many months lurking on, then joining, then going through the BK process and getting such good advice.

Also there are threads in the different areas that pertain to what happens after BK.
Like mortgages after BK, credit after BK, etc.

Oh yeah, and because every now and then a post I may have made or responded to sends me a new email letting me there is a new reply.

[frogger]

Too poor to travel anywhere else!

[newbie2]

We get reward points for posts. The points are redeemable for shoes. I'm up to 11 pair now :-)

[zpbk13]

You guys are hysterical! I mostly lurk now but give input from time to time. I found this forum at a time that me and my husband so desperately needed good advice and we discovered this forum was invaluable. If I can give back even just a little, I consider it a privilege. Also, I find coming here from time to time reminds me of where I came from so to speak when it comes to mismanaging money and I don't EVER want to forget where I've been.

[tigergem]

We get reward points for posts. The points are redeemable for shoes. I'm up to 11 pair now :-)

Wait a minute. I want points! I want shoes!

[minan]

I am happy for those who have completed their bankruptcy cases, however I am so happy to have their experiences and words of advice as I start my journey. I am meeting with the lawyer I have chosen (after meeting with 4 as recommended on this site) to start the process.

I had been a basket case until I found this site. Now I visit this site every day, sometimes more than once a day. I use it when I start feeling myself doubting what I'm doing.

For those who have completed: Thank you and please do not stop coming to this site to help those of us just starting out. We could really use your words of wisdom about getting through this process.

[justbroke]

Well, don't worry tiger. I have enough shoepoints for everyone.

[DeadManCrawling]

I stick around to answer posts that are titled "Why are you still here?".

That is all I do. Ever.

Oh, and annoy JustBroke and the other oldtimers.

I figure it doesn't cost much of my time to check in here once a day. If I can help someone, as I so desperately needed, and give them a clear answer that provides a sense of comfort or relief, I have paid back just a little of the kindness shown to me on this board over the years.

Best wishes,

-dmc