Money

WinneyPooh
WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Yep, I have none and i have told everyone and the calls keep coming, i have paper bills stacked to the ceiling and i am terrified that one day someone will find them if i die.

Sick, isn't it but this is what haunts me more than anything,

Anyone know what to do, My extended family helps when they can but that is running out and I get disability and what my husband and i make in our art and his income we really don't qualify for much social assistance and for some strange reason, people (creditors and hospitals ) think we have enough to make payments, (which we don't)

My kids are missing out on so much, like good food and clothes and enjoying going out with friends and just being able to have things that their friends have,. I recently let my daughter take my bank card to the mall because i was tired of saying no. And before i knew it she was calling me to say she wanted to buy this and that and i gave in thinking it was ok, and two days later when all the charges hit the bank, i was over drawn $156.00 and i had to just let it ride because i had no more favors with the bank ( a bank officers been really good about helping me with overdrafts, but no more).

I know many of you are going through this to, so how do you cope, and what do you do, I keep on saying to myself when i get well i can handle a BK, But right now I don't know.


I have never had bad credit before and i don't care about the credit score, but i need it to go way and i need to keep my house, our cars and our tools.

So what a girl to do?

Please advise.
Live love play
Penny
«1

Comments

  • damama24
    damama24 Member Posts: 174 Member
    #2
    money
    I wish I had something good to tell you. My husband and I are finding ourselves in the same situation. We have made arrangements with utilities and such so that doesn't get shut off. But the credit cards we had just go without payment. We don't have the money. As of Feb 8 I will lose my job and insurance. I'm hoping I qualify for medicade. So I understand your frstration and pain.Wish i could be of more help but am about in the same boat trying to stay afloat. Maybe someone else out there will have more information. I will be praying for you and your family. Deb
  • lcarper2
    lcarper2 Member Posts: 635 Member
    #3
    money
    I don't know what your income is together but if it is low enough you may be able to get SSI go to the web site and under tools is a question section and answer them and at the end it will tell you if you are able to draw it and if anything you do as far as art is cash and not listed on income tax don't claim it anywhere as far as the collections just tell them you don't have it and look at caller ID and don't take there calls. There is a law about being harrased and if they call more than 2x aday it can be termed harrasment let them know you know they are breaking the law. I wish I had more to tell you but I don't. Apply for food stamps heat assistance and check out a food bank don't let pride get in the way of eating and staying warm I will pray for your family.
  • tootsie1
    tootsie1 Member Posts: 5,044 Member
    #4
    Here's what I learned
    Penny,

    Before I had cancer, we were in a financial bind for various reasons, most related to our move and expenses incurred for that. We took the Dave Ramsey course at church. It's called "Financial Peace University." Check out www.daveramsey.com

    One of the best pieces of advice I remember from the course was about how to do the debt snowball. Make a list of all your debts and put them in order from largest down to smallest. Figure out how much you can give to each (or as many) of the creditors from each month's income. Keep paying, and when you get the smallest paid off, apply the amount you were paying on that one to the next lowest debt. Keep going until you knock it all out.

    I loved the piece of advice that goes with all this. If you have too many debts to pay some on each one, put the ones you're not paying on currently under a line on your list.If the creditor of one of those bills calls you, tell them you're very sorry, but they're "under the line." Assue them that as soon as you are able, they will be paid.

    Hope this helps! Dave Ramsey explains it much better!

    *hugs*
    Gail
  • ittapp
    ittapp Member Posts: 383 Member
    #5
    Penny, you can call United
    Penny, you can call United Way, they can streamline different foundations to help with bills. I had one pay a mortgage payment, several utilities. It really helps get you back on track. Did you say you were on disability? If so you can also get money for your kids, I did not know this and my sister is the one that told me. I called a rep. and they told me my kids could get 254.oo a piece in addition to what I get.You may already be getting this but I was not and would not have been told unless I asked. They actually back payed me to when I first filled out the application when I was in the hospital.There are also Churchs (Cannon Methodist)I know you are in Ga. call them and see if they know of any other churchs near you that can help with meals. They will bring homemade meals to you on Chemo days as well as help out with yardwork, housework etc. There are resources that will help you short term but it can help get you back on track. Did you ever find anything out about the Jack and Jill foundation? Cleaning for a reason will come and clean your home for four months one time a month. It helps pick up your spirits to have your home cleaned. They do an excellent job. Please call some of these resources and see what you can come up with. Patti
  • ittapp
    ittapp Member Posts: 383 Member
    #6
    Penny I wanted to add that
    Penny I wanted to add that my sis in law went to her mortgage company and got what is called hardship help, they lowered her mort. payment 600.00 for 6 months. I have not tried this yet but intend on calling to ask. This is different than a modification, but you can check into that as well.Patti
  • lizbiz
    lizbiz Member Posts: 120
    #7
    Hi, Penny.
    I can sort of relate to you. My husband and I were just starting out when we got hit with the cancer lightning bolt. We struggled on our own for about a year and a half before we decided to throw in the towel and move in with his parents. We're lucky that we have family support throughout this.

    What I'd like to suggest as an idea to think about is filing bankruptcy. I know that word carries a lot of negative connotations. But it's a good way to start fresh especially if you already own a home and have vehicles (things you've already used your credit history to acquire). It also allows you to protect certain assets while discharging unsecured debt. My husband is a bankruptcy attorney and we're waiting until after my surgery to file bankruptcy for me as I haven't been able to pay my credit card bills for a year. It's a hard thing for me to face as I've always paid my bills on time, but like with many things now-a-days, I don't really have any other option.

    If this is something you'd consider, there are attorneys in every state that do pro bono work. My husband did quite a bit of it when we lived in New Hampshire.

    Hugs to you,
    Elizabeth
  • Annabelle41415
    Annabelle41415 Member Posts: 6,742 Member
    #8
    Bummer
    So sorry you are going through this. I know you are in more dire straights than us, but we went from no deductible to $7,000 this year so most of everything we go for to the doctor is paid by us. This economy is sucking dry anything that this country has ever held as a dream for this country. We have to fend for ourselves. I'm sorry this has happened to you.

    Kim
  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    #9
    ittapp said:

    Penny I wanted to add that
    Penny I wanted to add that my sis in law went to her mortgage company and got what is called hardship help, they lowered her mort. payment 600.00 for 6 months. I have not tried this yet but intend on calling to ask. This is different than a modification, but you can check into that as well.Patti

    Will Try
    Patti,
    I have not found any info on Jack and Jill foundation, I have been working with my mortgage company and it is bank america since may and to this date they still haven't helped me , they keep refering me and then no one would follow up and i would call again and still noone follows up and every month i call again and again, finally i have a name and extention but now i can't get them on the phone.

    I have my kid were already on ssi disability because of my husband s been on disability since 2006 with his kidney failure.

    I am going to contact the maid service people,

    I will try the other suggestions,

    Thanks to all rest of you, I will try the BK option when i finish my surgerys.

    And my creditors will have to just put up with me not answering the phone, i have given them all funny names on my caller id.

    I have applied for co pay assistance and got some, I need to reapply and revisit child and family services,

    it's winter and art sales are slow, so maybe we will quailify for something now.


    You all hang tight,
    I will to
    Live love play
    Penny
  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    #10
    lizbiz said:

    Hi, Penny.
    I can sort of relate to you. My husband and I were just starting out when we got hit with the cancer lightning bolt. We struggled on our own for about a year and a half before we decided to throw in the towel and move in with his parents. We're lucky that we have family support throughout this.

    What I'd like to suggest as an idea to think about is filing bankruptcy. I know that word carries a lot of negative connotations. But it's a good way to start fresh especially if you already own a home and have vehicles (things you've already used your credit history to acquire). It also allows you to protect certain assets while discharging unsecured debt. My husband is a bankruptcy attorney and we're waiting until after my surgery to file bankruptcy for me as I haven't been able to pay my credit card bills for a year. It's a hard thing for me to face as I've always paid my bills on time, but like with many things now-a-days, I don't really have any other option.

    If this is something you'd consider, there are attorneys in every state that do pro bono work. My husband did quite a bit of it when we lived in New Hampshire.

    Hugs to you,
    Elizabeth

    BK
    Going to do it once i finish my surgerys and am well, should i look into it now and start the process?
  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    #11
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Bummer
    So sorry you are going through this. I know you are in more dire straights than us, but we went from no deductible to $7,000 this year so most of everything we go for to the doctor is paid by us. This economy is sucking dry anything that this country has ever held as a dream for this country. We have to fend for ourselves. I'm sorry this has happened to you.

    Kim

    Yeah, this country
    Don't even get me started. I would have never imagined what a mess things have become and how many people are blind to what hell Obama has in store for us all.

    Heaven better step in soon.
  • Buzzard
    Buzzard Member Posts: 3,043 Member
    #12
    WinneyPooh said:

    Yeah, this country
    Don't even get me started. I would have never imagined what a mess things have become and how many people are blind to what hell Obama has in store for us all.

    Heaven better step in soon.

    Winney...on another note
    There is a way to drastically drop the amount of payments you make on credit cards , house mortgages etc...If you will talk with these people you will find that they are in the business to make money and the interest they charge on loans of all sorts are the main moneymakers that keep them rolling. They care not that the principal is ever paid off or not because as the principal grows so does the interest payment which is profit for them. You may be able to simply pay the interest on the loans (with the loan officers approval, usually not hard to get) and save hundreds or thousands of dollars until the principal payment can be totally picked up again. I hope this makes sense . I have when younger done this for 2-3 months between jobs when I worked construction. It may just save the day for some people. They would rather get the interest than nothing at all and it keeps them off your back also so its a win/win situation.....Good Luck and I am very sorry that this happens to so many people...Love and Hope, Clift
  • lizbiz
    lizbiz Member Posts: 120
    #13
    WinneyPooh said:

    BK
    Going to do it once i finish my surgerys and am well, should i look into it now and start the process?

    If you tell me what state
    If you tell me what state you're in, my husband offered to call the Association of Bankruptcy Attorneys (or some such group) and get a list of attorneys who do pro bono work. Apparently, it can be kind of confusing as there are several different categories - reduced fee vs. no fee.

    Hugs,
    Elizabeth
  • PamPam2
    PamPam2 Member Posts: 370 Member
    #14
    lizbiz said:

    If you tell me what state
    If you tell me what state you're in, my husband offered to call the Association of Bankruptcy Attorneys (or some such group) and get a list of attorneys who do pro bono work. Apparently, it can be kind of confusing as there are several different categories - reduced fee vs. no fee.

    Hugs,
    Elizabeth

    Elizabeth
    Hi Elizabeth
    I would be interested in this list of attorneys also, I live in Ohio. I too am at the point I can no longer pay my cc bills, am over 500 behind on electric bill and so on. I have tried the consumer credit couseling, but I do not have enough income to make the minimum payments for their services. I will really appreciate any referrals you and your husband can come up with.
    Thank you
    Pam
  • Sandi1
    Sandi1 Member Posts: 277
    #15
    Same Situation
    I think alot of people are in this situation, I know we are - we get several calls from credit card companies looking for payment, when I tell them I just don't have the money, they start saying to me, well is someone who can loan you the money to make the payment - are they crazy, I'm going to borrow money from someone to pay them off, just so I can owe someone else money? Stupid people. then they say, well how much have you got in savings - I say to them that is none of your business, then they say, well when is your next paycheck, do you think you can pay it then, I say to them - and what, not feed my children? They just keep going and going. Finally, I had to say to them, if you don't stop harrassing me, I WILL call the police. I'm tired of dealing with this crap, my husband is sick - I don't need this crap.

    Sorry, but it's been a rough day around here today - the phone has rung every half hour all day.
  • lcarper2
    lcarper2 Member Posts: 635 Member
    #16
    Sandi1 said:

    Same Situation
    I think alot of people are in this situation, I know we are - we get several calls from credit card companies looking for payment, when I tell them I just don't have the money, they start saying to me, well is someone who can loan you the money to make the payment - are they crazy, I'm going to borrow money from someone to pay them off, just so I can owe someone else money? Stupid people. then they say, well how much have you got in savings - I say to them that is none of your business, then they say, well when is your next paycheck, do you think you can pay it then, I say to them - and what, not feed my children? They just keep going and going. Finally, I had to say to them, if you don't stop harrassing me, I WILL call the police. I'm tired of dealing with this crap, my husband is sick - I don't need this crap.

    Sorry, but it's been a rough day around here today - the phone has rung every half hour all day.

    same
    They can't ask you all those personal questions you don't need to say anything except I dont have the money good bye they will try to scare you into paying but if you don't have it you don't have it next time they ask if you can borrow it from some one say yea how about you ...that will shut them up
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #17
    lcarper2 said:

    same
    They can't ask you all those personal questions you don't need to say anything except I dont have the money good bye they will try to scare you into paying but if you don't have it you don't have it next time they ask if you can borrow it from some one say yea how about you ...that will shut them up

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • lizzydavis
    lizzydavis Member Posts: 893
    #18
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    Making money...
    I know many people who have started selling on eBay. They go through their home and choose the excess (viewed Dvds, Jewelry, Clothing, dishes, pots, china, books, etc). All of this clutter is sold on eBay and they end up with extra money. Just a thought. Also, some people make a living at this.
  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    #19
    Sandi1 said:

    Same Situation
    I think alot of people are in this situation, I know we are - we get several calls from credit card companies looking for payment, when I tell them I just don't have the money, they start saying to me, well is someone who can loan you the money to make the payment - are they crazy, I'm going to borrow money from someone to pay them off, just so I can owe someone else money? Stupid people. then they say, well how much have you got in savings - I say to them that is none of your business, then they say, well when is your next paycheck, do you think you can pay it then, I say to them - and what, not feed my children? They just keep going and going. Finally, I had to say to them, if you don't stop harrassing me, I WILL call the police. I'm tired of dealing with this crap, my husband is sick - I don't need this crap.

    Sorry, but it's been a rough day around here today - the phone has rung every half hour all day.

    Phone Calls, Crd Card have gotten sneaky
    Oh yeah and i hate it when they use a local number and then reroute it, you answer and think it's some one you want to talk to and its not. Any then they don't just take a nice i sorry and i really don't wish to discuss this right now, bye.

    Penny
  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    #20
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Bummer
    So sorry you are going through this. I know you are in more dire straights than us, but we went from no deductible to $7,000 this year so most of everything we go for to the doctor is paid by us. This economy is sucking dry anything that this country has ever held as a dream for this country. We have to fend for ourselves. I'm sorry this has happened to you.

    Kim

    Co Pay's will eat you alive
    I found out my deductables reset at the begining of the year, This i did not know because i had not used my insurance this much since i was never really sick before this may when i found out about this cancer.

    I would ask your doc's social worker about foundations maybe one can help you with that deductable, wow . I know i need to reaplly to alot of them, but with being sick it seem must days just get away from me. I have to weeks before surgery and i wish someone would just plann out my schedule and tell me what to do so i can get it all done and most of all how to get the phone not to ring while i am in the hosptal and recovering,

    Why can't they understand when you say, I am in the hospital please don't call for atleast 10 days.


    Ok, What ever it takes, I will be ok.

    Penny
  • WinneyPooh
    WinneyPooh Member Posts: 318
    #21
    Annabelle41415 said:

    Bummer
    So sorry you are going through this. I know you are in more dire straights than us, but we went from no deductible to $7,000 this year so most of everything we go for to the doctor is paid by us. This economy is sucking dry anything that this country has ever held as a dream for this country. We have to fend for ourselves. I'm sorry this has happened to you.

    Kim

    Co Pay's will eat you alive
    I found out my deductables reset at the begining of the year, This i did not know because i had not used my insurance this much since i was never really sick before this may when i found out about this cancer.

    I would ask your doc's social worker about foundations maybe one can help you with that deductable, wow . I know i need to reaplly to alot of them, but with being sick it seem must days just get away from me. I have to weeks before surgery and i wish someone would just plann out my schedule and tell me what to do so i can get it all done and most of all how to get the phone not to ring while i am in the hosptal and recovering,

    Why can't they understand when you say, I am in the hospital please don't call for atleast 10 days.


    Ok, What ever it takes, I will be ok.

    Penny

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