I have a feeling I'm posting this on the wrong board, but oh well.

I would love to hear information and thoughts on filing bankruptcy - I feel like such a trainwreck these days and I'm SO stressed out. It's a constant cycle of trying to stretch paycheck after paycheck after paycheck - and I'm so far behind on certain things, I just don't know what to do anymore. I think I'm going to develop an ulcer

I currently have no credit cards, but I have a lot of past due accounts and things to pay off (Apt complexes, utility bills, etc) I honestly don't even know what I owe to people anymore. I've always thought of bankruptcy for people who have lots of credit card debt, which I really don't have. But I do have a lot of other debt. And this is going to sound so stupid and irresponsible, but I'm not even sure WHO I owe money to anymore. How do you obtain a list of all your past due accts? I got a credit report online recently, but most of those accts have gone on to collection agencies, and I couldn't figure out what was what.

I know I sound like a total basket case - which is exactly how I feel. I guess if anyone here has filed, I'd love to hear how it worked for you. Thanks everyone.

I had to file with my ex when we got married.I now have a credit card ,ggod credit.So I would certainly talk to a trustee.

.... I filed in 2005. I wish there would have been another way but there wasn't a way for me to afford necessities as well as all the extra bills.

It was an overwhelming feeling of relief. Knowing I didn't have to attempt to pay them - that I could pay for necessities and not rob Peter to pay Paul.

I now have no credit cards or loans. Of course money is still tight. When you don't have it, you don't have it.

I've seen many references to a financial expert, Dave Ramsey. He has books etc that help people get on their feet and manage their debt.

My guess is the best way to find out what you owe is to call all the agencies listed on your credit report and ask them specifically what the actual debt is and how much it is. Get a total of what you owe, determine if you can pay it all, and go from there.

That constant circle of trying to make ends meet is hard enough - when you have tons of extra debt - whew - very overwhelming!

Hope it all works out for you!

Tinkerbell,
I too had to file after I divorced. My ex let the house lapse into foreclosure and then filed bankruptcy. When he did that all of the creditors started looking for me and the bills with my name only on them (shared debt he was supposed to pay half) he left for me too.

I have a very low credit score right now but, still have my car and one credit card (low available balance and it is paid off each month). There is no quick fix afterward except to build back up and don't be late for ANYTHING.

As for finding out now what and who you owe: Call the creditors listed on your report. If they have turned it over to a collection agency, they can give you the name of the agency. My sister gave me the website for Suze Ormand. Google it. It gives you a report and suggestions for repair, then follow up to keep things in order. I think it was $49. Following the suggestions on the website, my brother-in-law was able to raise his score after bankruptcy pretty high.

I wish you luck and hope I have offered direction. One note: go through a bankruptcy attorney if you own a home and it is in possible foreclosure. My attorney said there were many things that could have been done differently if my ex had been forthcomming in the info before filing.

I got a copy of my credit report by going to a family credit counceling place, it was $40.