Vacation Dilema

[Freddy03]

df appears to be "speaking from" wisdom, not jealousy. It might be a bit difficult soak that in.

So... YES!!! Oh YES!! Jump on the plane right away. Don't even think about it for another second. Just go and enjoy the crap out of it! No worries about the trustee wondering why you stopped paying bills when you had $3k in your pocket and then bought a plane ticket to Hawaii (good luck with that, btw). Someone on the forum officially says, “Knock yerself out!” Indulge! Binge! Go Wild!

There… now you’ve got what you came for. Absolution from a total stranger. Feel better now, dear?

I second this! Go buy a plane ticket better yet put it on a credit card like the other plane ticket you wanted to buy in May.

I seriously think you are getting a kick out of these posts.

Just like the last thread you have all the advice but seem to think of every possible excuse not to take it.

[ksgirl38]

I honestly don't blame you. Time with family is precious...especially in Hawaii. I would want to go too and if I had the $$ and it would be difficult to say "No." If I were you, I would run this by my attorney. He can tell you how the trustee would look at it and discuss you plans of spending your emergency fund. Get your ducks in a row and if you go...HAVE FUN...and if you don't go, just remember, there will be other opportunities. Just from what I have read about you, your new start will be full of adventures. Just remember what you've learned from this experience and don't allow yourself to get sucked back into the black hole of debt again. Good Luck!!

DM

Thanks. Finally someone who understands. I know part of the reason my brother asked is that he needs help watching his girls. He has three, ages 6, 3 and 3. He and his wife have enough trouble just handling them at home so I know by asking he was thinking he'd have another person there to help watch the girls. So I was kind of asked as a partial babysitter, which I'm okay with. Free food and lodging in exchange for watching 3 little girls. I only see my nieces once a year (if I'm lucky) as it is so that's a huge part of why I'm having trouble with this. They live 2000 miles away so the family issue is a large part of this decision. I guess I neglected to mention that earlier.

I haven't officially hired the attorney and haven't gotten my paperwork to her yet so I was reluctant to pose this question to her. I realize it makes me come across as huge flake when I say, well I'd like to hire you, but how can you help me hide this trip to Hawaii. Yeah, probably not the way I want to start a conversation. I was really hoping to be able to file early July or early August where I would have only been behind 3 months in my credit card payments so I really don't want to wait an entire year to file. I'm just so confused as to what to do.

[keepsmiling]

I think it's something about the word "Hawaii" that gets everyone seeing stars.
If you were spending 800 to see family in Michigan or South Dakota you'd probably get less negative reaction.
Can you convince your brother to pay for the ticket? Problem solved

[ksgirl38]

I think it's something about the word "Hawaii" that gets everyone seeing stars.
If you were spending 800 to see family in Michigan or South Dakota you'd probably get less negative reaction.
Can you convince your brother to pay for the ticket? Problem solved

You are probably right. I didn't pick the destination. Although last year he asked me if I wanted to go to England and that never panned out. They never went and I didn't really take that seriously anyway. It was a weird deal. I've thought of ways to get him to pay for it now and how to pay him back later. None of my family knows I'm filing and I'd prefer it that way. I'm just not sure how to present it to him to ask him to pay for the ticket now and how to pay him back later. I'd have to do it in cash because I can't have a large check coming out of my bank account. I literally have the cash, but I don't want to put it back into the bank in order to write someone a check since I know that would be a huge red flag. I know they are going to look at my bank statements. Does this make sense? Like I said, I'm just confused as to what to do.

[DaisysMom]

Since you are going as a babysitter, would your family be willing to help with your transportation costs? Do they know your situation? Maybe you could work it out that way?? A plane ticket to Hawaii is going to stick out like a sore thumb if you file right after you take the trip. And as for the attorney...you pay them to help make decisions like this. Explain that the trip has been in the planning for a while and you would really like to go and see what their advice is. The timing of all of this sucks, but you need to be able to make an informed decision before you do something that will be a real headache later in your plans of filing BK. Good luck!!

DM

[GoGoGophers]

You postpone indefinitely. Based on the information you've provided in this thread, you appear to have enough money to for some financial flexibility. Like for paying bills. A trustee will see that, plane ticket or not. But whatever, right? It’s all about you!

[ksgirl38]

Since you are going as a babysitter, would your family be willing to help with your transportation costs? Do they know your situation? Maybe you could work it out that way?? A plane ticket to Hawaii is going to stick out like a sore thumb if you file right after you take the trip. And as for the attorney...you pay them to help make decisions like this. Explain that the trip has been in the planning for a while and you would really like to go and see what their advice is. The timing of all of this sucks, but you need to be able to make an informed decision before you do something that will be a real headache later in your plans of filing BK. Good luck!!

DM

I was really hoping my brother would just offer to buy the ticket since he's already bought 5 of them. Trust me he can afford it. Although he is paying for the food and lodging so I guess I can't really expect him to pay for anything else. It was nice enough of him just to offer. They just happened to have an extra room in the house they are renting and he asked if I wanted to go.

Just paying devil's advocate, can you buy a ticket with a prepaid credit card? If so, how do you get one without having to transfer funds out of your bank account? I'm still reassessing my funds to justify whether or not I really want to spend the money, but I did find a flight yesterday at a really good rate. I hate this decision. I just don't know what to do. I don't want to postpone filing too long, but don't want to miss an amazing opportunity either.

[TheBajan]

I literally have the cash, but I don't want to put it back into the bank in order to write someone a check since I know that would be a huge red flag. I know they are going to look at my bank statements. Does this make sense? Like I said, I'm just confused as to what to do.

Wow!!! Do you even hear this? What you are saying is that you have a stash of cash that you are purposely hiding in preparation to file BK! KSgirl, you are treading on really dangerous water here. You are picking and choosing who to respond to in this thread based on how much someone appears to agree with you. I am beginning to think that Freddy is right. You really are having a lot of fun with this! I am just flabbergasted!

[keepsmiling]

Wow!!! Do you even hear this? What you are saying is that you have a stash of cash that you are purposely hiding in preparation to file BK! KSgirl, you are treading on really dangerous water here. You are picking and choosing who to respond to in this thread based on how much someone appears to agree with you. I am beginning to think that Freddy is right. You really are having a lot of fun with this! I am just flabbergasted!

I totally understand both viewpoints, but I wouldn't call 3K a big stash, and saving to pay the attorney is not quite the same as hiding it.
I suspect this thread will soon be closed.

[ksgirl38]

Wow!!! Do you even hear this? What you are saying is that you have a stash of cash that you are purposely hiding in preparation to file BK! KSgirl, you are treading on really dangerous water here. You are picking and choosing who to respond to in this thread based on how much someone appears to agree with you. I am beginning to think that Freddy is right. You really are having a lot of fun with this! I am just flabbergasted!

Correct. Originally it was allotted to the attorney since they would only accept cash. At some point I accumulated more than what the attorney fees would be. I'm also transferring money to a new bank account so it's possible that may go to bills before filing with the new bank, but I hadn't made that decision yet. So yes, I have an extra $1000.

[ksgirl38]

I totally understand both viewpoints, but I wouldn't call 3K a big stash, and saving to pay the attorney is not quite the same as hiding it.
I suspect this thread will soon be closed.

I was hoping to pay the attorney in just one lump sum to to have it done with. Just haven't gotten around to it yet. And no, $3000 isn't a lot.

[TheBajan]

KS... probably true. Saving to pay an attorney is fine. There's no reason to hide that and no reason to keep it in cash. I'm only pointing out that the op [by her own admission] has a thorough understanding that writing a check for this would raise flags. She also indicated that she has some cash she obviously wants to keep under the radar. Regardless of what she INTENDS to do with the cash, if she doesn't intend to report that she has it, it can be construed as hiding assets. That's what I am referring to. That's what is shocking me. There's no question that I don't know the whole situation. I'm only able to base my assumptions on what the op has told us. I really do hope I'm misunderstanding this.

[ksgirl38]

KS... probably true. Saving to pay an attorney is fine. There's no reason to hide that and no reason to keep it in cash. I'm only pointing out that the op [by her own admission] has a thorough understanding that writing a check for this would raise flags. She also indicated that she has some cash she obviously wants to keep under the radar. Regardless of what she INTENDS to do with the cash, if she doesn't intend to report that she has it, it can be construed as hiding assets. That's what I am referring to. That's what is shocking me. There's no question that I don't know the whole situation. I'm only able to base my assumptions on what the op has told us. I really do hope I'm misunderstanding this.

Lately I've had issues with my bank. One of the reasons I'm switching to a new one is that they charge an excessive withdraw fee, which includes transfers. I have both a savings and checking with them and since the checking doesn't make interest I keep the bare minimum in there and transfer over from savings when needed. Since I knew I'd need to pull this money out anyway at one point or another I just cashed a paycheck rather than depositing it and pulling it out later to avoid that excessive withdraw fee. I just haven't gotten around to deciding on an attorney yet so the funds are still at home. Pretty sure which one I'm going with, but wanted time to think it over. So no I'm not "hiding assets" as you've suggested. So think whatever you want.

[DaisysMom]

My gosh you guys...it's an $800.00 ticket. It's not 10 K hidden in a coffee can she is trying to hide. If she can legitimately do this...well good for her. And also, I can't begin to recall all of the times someone has stopped paying their bills and all of a sudden has extra cash....and the suggestions come pouring in on ways to use that money to "fly under the radar." And the use of money orders, pay with cash...etc...etc. Same deal just the use (destination in this case) is different.

Hopefully, she has learned a lesson about the pitfalls of abusing credit cards and will be wiser in the future when all is said and done. But her taking this trip with her family does not mean that she will be forever destined to be mired in debt because she "hasn't learned her lesson."

Is she "having fun with us"...who knows, but she does have a real concern and it has two sides. I personally hope that she finds a "legitimate" way to get there. She has the money and it sounds like it would be a wonderful time with her family.

DM

[ksgirl38]

My gosh you guys...it's an $800.00 ticket. It's not 10 K hidden in a coffee can she is trying to hide. If she can legitimately do this...well good for her. And also, I can't begin to recall all of the times someone has stopped paying their bills and all of a sudden has extra cash....and the suggestions come pouring in on ways to use that money to "fly under the radar." And the use of money orders, pay with cash...etc...etc. Same deal just the use (destination in this case) is different.

Hopefully, she has learned a lesson about the pitfalls of abusing credit cards and will be wiser in the future when all is said and done. But her taking this trip with her family does not mean that she will be forever destined to be mired in debt because she "hasn't learned her lesson."

Is she "having fun with us"...who knows, but she does have a real concern and it has two sides. I personally hope that she finds a "legitimate" way to get there. She has the money and it sounds like it would be a wonderful time with her family.

DM

Thanks. It's hard not to read these posts without crying.

You know, the only reason I have the credit card debt I do is because I was unemployed and was forced to resort to credit cards to survive. A few weeks ago I took out my statements for as far back as I had them, which was over 3 years worth and I added up what I had spent on them, what I had paid towards them and then looked at the interest charges. If it hadn't been for the interest, I wouldn't even have the debt. The cards would have been well paid off by now. I wouldn't expect anyone else to agree with me, but I really do think the credit card companies shouldn't let people get into situations like this and I do blame them for allowing people (not just myself) to get in over their heads. I sincerely tried to pay them off and even made several attempt to contact them and negotiate a payoff with no luck so this is where I am now. I have 2 credit cards I'm hoping to get discharged and 4 others with a 0 balance which I will keep. The only reason I have the 2 is because I went back and forth between them transferring balances trying to take advantage of the 0% or reduced interest rates hoping I'd be able to pay them off that way. Unfortunately it didn't help.

So I'll ask again, just because I may want to use this option for budgeting purposes in the future. Where do you get a prepaid credit card where you don't have to transfer the money out of your bank account? I'd prefer to be able to purchase one, put $1000 on it and do so in person. I'm just not sure you can put that large amount on one at at grocery store. Does anyone know? I heard Wal-mart has them, will they let you? I also read somewhere that some of these show up on your credit report. Is that true? Thank you.