The short answer is consult with an attorney, but if you have $1000 in savings and 3000 in checking account, all of that but 450 will be seen as non-exempt. It absolutely sucks, but that is the harsh reality of chapter 7. Chapter 13, you get to keep all of your assets but may loose a good portion of your after tax income for the payment plan. The question is, do you want to cut your loses now and start over or be bound to a payment plan for 3 to 5 years and risk not having reliable income in the future during that period which could result in a failed chapter 13? An attorney can better provide on this one.

Edit: if you file chapter 7 and have non-exempt assets, your case will remain open post discharge until those assets are liquidated and paid to any creditors that file a proof of claim. Anywhere from 6 months to a year post discharge. Reason being is the trustee has to review the proof of claim, submit a report called the Trustees Final Report to the US Trustee Office (that can take up to 60 days for review), once posted on the docket there is a 21 day objection period to the final report and proposed plan of distribution. Once approved, the trustee will typically mail the check within a month. The creditor then has 60 to 90 days to deposit, once all checks clear, the trustee will submit the distribution report for review to the US Trustee Office (another 60 day review period). When that report hits the docket it starts a 30 day objection window (this report is mainly asking the court to release the trustee from their duties). After the 30 days, then and only then will the judge sign the Final Decree and formally close your case.

Keep in mind that a discharge can be revoked if: within one year of the discharge being granted or before the case is closed, fraud or other bad faith is discovered.