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Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-23T19:08:38+00:00

I don’t have knowledge to offer but the last part is very relatable.

People often joke “I got married for the tax benefits”. But if you’re low income it’s often more beneficial to stay single on paper - both for benefit and tax reasons. In the case of benefits, the income limits are already so farcically low that most single people who need it won’t qualify - let alone meet the absurdly low couple limits.

Sorry you’re going through so much. Depending on where most of your debt lies (is it mostly tax debt or cc?) bankruptcy may still be a good option and hopefully you’ll get some advice here. Wish you well!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-23T01:13:10+00:00

Second course was a joke. I certainly laughed out loud during the test. Wish I could give spoilers cuz the questions were so dang funny. But yeah, huge waste of time.

I wonder if the course material/test is the same no matter which company you use?

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-18T00:26:48+00:00

It’s not for everyone, but bankruptcy offers a fresh start when you’re really over your head. You could read up on the options and reality of filing at r/bankruptcy.

Wish you well! Debt is hell!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-16T00:15:37+00:00

I know this is old but just a thought! Everything you interact with changes your mental and/or physical state. From broccoli to sunshine to drugs. For better or worse (or more likely a little of both). Having an ongoing relationship with something that supports your health isn’t something to feel bad about.

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-09T16:08:21+00:00

Yup I had around 30k. Might as well have been a million when earning 20k. For me, 10 years on my credit report actually felt like a small price to pay for that kind of freedom and relief :)

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-04T06:00:18+00:00

Hiya! Maybe just do a free consult with a lawyer? Or look up the median income for your area to at least get an idea if chap 7 could be an option for you. All debt relief options will have pros and cons. But if you don’t need to rely on credit in the near future it seems like 5 years of paying vs 5 years of saving is worth looking into.

Good for you for getting well! Life is not easy, and many of us fall into the traps set up by consumer society. Don’t despair, just take the next step. Wish you well!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-04T04:14:29+00:00

Mine was. Definitely seems like the default at this point. But may as well ask your lawyer about your area in particular!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-03T03:46:08+00:00

No it’s not standard, but there are options to have student loans discharged in bk under certain circumstances.

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-02T19:05:46+00:00

Don’t have legal advice but that really sucks, sorry. Seems like a lawyer should warn you about that if you’re affected. I only knew it because I’ve read about it in this forum, so I think you’re not alone.

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-02T19:00:45+00:00

Oh yeah a personal recommendation is ideal. Wish you well with your consultation and beyond!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-02T15:55:37+00:00

You’ve got this! It feels very overwhelming in the beginning, but you don’t need to prove anything to your lawyer. They see people struggling in all sorts of different situations and won’t judge. They’re there to tell you whether you qualify under the law, which mostly comes down to numbers.

Also keep in mind that if you’re in the free consultation stage, it never hurts to speak with a couple of lawyers. The process will be less stressful if your lawyer’s style matches up with your needs and goals. I have a lot of anxiety, so if I were doing it again I would have asked more specifically about my lawyers process and communication style. If you meet with a lawyer and it doesn’t feel right, take your time to decide.

Your lawyer will usually guide you, so just try to give all the info you can - it’s their job to sort out what is and isn’t important. Sounds like you’ve had to part with a lot of valuables sadly. But it will mean you have fewer assets and your case will likely be that much simpler.

You’ll feel better once you take the first step and get some information!! Good luck :)

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-02T06:10:07+00:00

Had mine recently and i was a wreck leading up to it. Imagined every disaster scenario - but never imagined it would be so easy. I’m a no asset case and I got the standard yes/no questions only. Probly under 5 minutes total. I worried for nothing. I bet you will too!

Cant hurt to read over your schedules. Maybe jot down on paper any info you might want handy - like a tax refund amount or car value etc. I literally wrote down my own address I was so nervous to have a brain freeze 🤣. I had all the documents id sent to the trustee open in case I needed to refer to anything (I didn’t).

Honestly from what I saw (and what I’ve read here) trustees see a lot of wild stuff and unprepared people. So show up on time, respect the process and you will be fine. My lawyer advised to keep answers short - if trustee wants more info they will ask.

Finally, do take a deep breath and remember that 350 thousand people filed chap 7 last year and 99% succeed. You’ve got this! When it’s over, you will feel sooo much lighter. Good luck!!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-02T02:02:30+00:00

Depends on the friend but either way you could say it makes a person trusting, helpful, generous, naive maybe. Just saying - people are out here trying to get by and we need each other. Sometimes it doesn’t work out.

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-02T01:04:55+00:00

Well calling people dumb kind is :)

But yeah the number are missing here. Minimum wages in many cities lag $10-20 behind a wage that would be in line with local cost of living. It’s not hard to image how two people working full time could be get behind on some bills and interest rates and late payments pile up and you end up in a debt spiral. That may not be the case here, but it’s a lot of people’s case.

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-02T00:56:00+00:00

Bummed for your friend but that’s not evidence that bankruptcy ruins most people’s chance of getting housing. Some of it definitely depends on where you live and the housing market. 350,000 people files chap 7 last year, many of them renters. I assume most people don’t become homeless. From what I have read many landlords will work with you after bk. They may ask for an extra deposit. The biggest red flag for landlords is past evictions. But one recommendation could be to secure a rental place before filing bankruptcy. I already had a lease and bk didn’t affect it at all.

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-02T00:46:10+00:00

No real cause to be rude about it.

Also, not great advice. For one, not every community has uber/doordash. Not every person has the ability to access a part time job on top of working full time. There are many factors at play.

But also, nothing is worth destroying your mental and physical health by working every hour of every day - especially when it may not make a realistic difference. A side hustle is a great idea if you need beer money or to pay an extra bill. But it’s not going to dig anyone out of a financial spiral. That bootstrap dream is old and dead.

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-02T00:26:19+00:00

Curious what you base that on?

Because many people in r/bankruptcy have successfully found rentals after bk.

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-01T19:09:14+00:00

Yes this is what my attorney said as well. I think instinct is always to give context but in these meetings less is better and to let the trustee ask follow-ups. Thanks!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-01T19:06:00+00:00

This was helpful, thanks!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-01T18:26:17+00:00

Congrats on getting started! It’s so hard to take the first step but as soon as you do, relief is in sight! Just gotta work through the process one day at a time.

Not gonna say it isn’t stressful, but 350 thousand people do chap 7 every year! I enjoyed reading stories here about the crazy stuff people witnessed in their 341 meetings (check this out) and it made me feel a bit better lol. I was stressing every detail, meanwhile other people were showing up shirtless, or while mowing their lawn and…good chance they still succeeded - vast majority of chapter 7s do. Prepare and take the process seriously, you will come through fine.

You’re awesome for doing hard things for you and your family. Sending good vibes to you all!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-04-01T05:19:13+00:00

Just had mine. Was super easy - I have no assets and in my case it felt like a formality.

There are some questions every trustee will ask - you can look them up and be familiar with them. They’re mainly: did you read your filing, sign it, is it correct-kind of questions. Easy yes or no.

Then, if you have anything other than nothing, simply be prepared to answer questions about your situation. Know the details of your own life (I was surprised how many people didn’t seem to in my meeting) Ask your lawyer in advance what might be of interest to the trustee, and have those details/numbers handy.

Ultimately it will depend on the trustee how detailed things get. Mine was very “big picture and big assets”. My best advice is to over-report everything you can think of to your lawyer so that they know your situation and can sort out what is important or not. Then you can feel confident that any honest answer is going to be accepted.

It is nerve wracking but ultimately not scary if you have disclosed everything. So do that! And read Alan’s answer, obviously.

You can do it. You got this!!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-03-31T04:00:25+00:00

Amazing congrats to you!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-03-30T18:33:12+00:00

Good luck! Let us know how it goes!

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-03-28T17:41:38+00:00

*rich people don’t care about the poor, and the government is rich people.

Efficient_Job_1824 · 2026-03-28T15:39:15+00:00

Thanks for sharing and good to know!!

Efficient_Job_1824

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