Internet's first get-out-of-debt community - 144,000 members

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:04 am Subject: crazy money

I feel a little funny telling my story on here but I will put it here because perhaps someone can relate and it might give them hope. My debt started when i got my first credit card my freshman year of college. It was an American Express Blue Student card and my college heavily advertised for them. I had several other cards, nothing too major but than the depression I struggled with my whole life took over and I made some poor decisions of who to spend my time with. I never got into anything bad but met someone who was probably schizophrenic (undiagnosed but I am familiar enough with mental illness to know the symptoms). I was drawn into his crazy made believe world of being frivolous and living for the moment. I eventually dropped out of college but still wasted my time with him. I got a full time job but paying the bills was hard. The pressure of debt added up and I tried to kill myself and ended up in a mental hospital. Of course I couldnâ€™t pay my bills than. My family paid off my credit cards and in turn, my credit was great (it actually wasnâ€™t bad before than.. being around someone who is that mentally ill affected me and made me a bit paranoid, as well).
Some more stuff went down and when he was finally out of my life, I just wanted â€œme timeâ€. I have gotten two very high interest credit cards and bought designer things, went out on the town, just had the fun I missed while always taking care of him. Big mistake, I was about $12,000.00 in debt and eventually filed bankruptcy when that hospital bill came back to haunt me. (This was after trying to work out with debt counseling, etc.)
I got a good steady job after that but it didnâ€™t make much. I long to be able to go back to college and really make something out of my life. In the past two years, I had to deal with being homeless and still battling depression and now other health issues.
So thatâ€™s how I ended up in debt. Although now I only owe one payday loan and two credit cards (one who disappeared after my debt validation letter, the other who I am trying real hard to work - long story).
And thatâ€™s my crazy story - I hope nobody judges me, I am very ashamed of my past and my current situation. But I am proud of the progress I made on my debt and am working two jobs to support myself. I don't have anything fancy (the designer stuff was long sold on ebay to pay off debt) but at least I have pride that i am doing this the right way..

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:21 am Subject: reply

nobody here will judge you beals2.in fact in might find that there is a few of us who can relate to your situation.so don't feel ashamed or bad.we are all friends here.i find your story kinda a feel good story.you coming back from all of that.i'm happy for you beals.

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:53 am Subject:

thanks, paul Smile

this board was helped me in soo many ways! thanks again for all your help with Nelson, Watson. Once my debt is paid, I am probably going to be able to cut back on my second job and go to school again. I have found out that my job offers tutition reimbursement for college so even if i get an associates could boost my earnings. i was going to school to be a history teacher in the past but am really interested in social work or maybe being certified paralegal (i do legal work now but am basically just data entry, preparing documents, etc) i don't know, i thought it might be neat to help people out while making a living (i always have). i know there's not a lot to made doing stuff like that but i could advance in my current job with that kind of work and at least double my salary which is more than enough to stop this constant struggling with money.

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:06 am Subject:

edit to my first post: the hospital bill was $14,000 on top of $12,000 and about $1500 in growing payday loans. i really did everything i could to prevent bankruptcy. i just felt that i should make this clear because i do feel guilty for the bankruptcy.. i mean, i have learned so much now and see there would have been better ways but i was just so scared of being sued. i guess you live and learn..

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 8:59 am Subject:

Bea2ls- don't feel guilty or stupid. You have recognized what got you into debt, that's what it is all about. I got out of debt along time ago, but didn't change the way I lived, choices I made, etc., and got right back in.

There is nothing to be ashamed about having problems with depression or mental illness. My oldest son lives with me, is 34 years old, had a breakdown about 5 or so years ago, and now is on disability. He will never be able to work again or be on his own, so I applaud you for trying to make your life better.

I think it would be a great idea for you to get back in school. It also helps with self-esteem, let alone finances, down the road. You would be great in a "helping" job, since you have been down the road alot of us get on.

Don't feel bad about bankruptcy, you do what you have to do to survive.

Good luck to you. Keep posting here. Your experience will be able to help others in the same position..KAren Very Happy

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:23 am Subject:

recognizing that you had a problem and working on it was the biggest hurdle.

Good for you and just keep taking it one day at a time!

Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 9:48 am Subject:

thanks for everyone's support. this board has helped me so so much with finances and other stuff, too, actually. it's really heartwarming to see how "strangers" can come together and spend time helping people out.

paid!!! · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 4:52 pm Subject: paying it off will PAY off!

Ok, so I went into a debt management program with moneymanagement.org about 5 years ago. I managed to pay off all of my debt within about 4 years! Come to find, (this is awesome news) that because I completed the program in the time allotted, they owed ME some serious $... I received a check for 500.00 initially, then a check for 3500.00.. so I think I'm dreaming and I wonder when I'll be waking up... but low and behold they said it's mine!!! I cashed the check over a year ago and was able to actually go on vacation. Then, just Saturday, I received yet ANOTHER check for 250.00!!! All this was just the interest and late fees I had paid over the course of about 10 years... so keep your head up, and look into the fine print, you just might get lucky Smile

Good luck!!

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