Quote:
Originally Posted by SecondSkin
Do you have an accountant? If not, find one. And what kind of debt do you have? Credit card? Medical? Medical expenses can be deducted from tax return. Credit cards can be negotiated down (to pay back pennies on the dollar). Worst case is you file for bankruptcy. You'll get some benefits through Medicare.
I'm sorry I jumped the gun with the questions. First off, I'm sorry that you had to spend all that money. It feels crazy, but it's not at all. I had a slew of medical bills in the name of redemption.... I never actually added them up (and they keep coming). I'm actually afraid to put a number to it!! But there are a lot of ways to climb out of the money pit. It sucks, but you can do it. An accountant helped me out. Talking with my credit card companies helped too. If it's medical bill debt, check for your state... some can't ever put that balance owed on your credit report.
And breathe.  |
Yeah, kinda funny thing ... I work for a CPA/Attorney. And we do debt negotiation and a lot of tax work. And I'm a tax preparer. One would think I would "know better" in that sense. But, I felt totally desperate. I literally would "do anything" including mortgage my future to HAVE A FUTURE.
I spent approximately 3/4 almost what I owe on credit cards, 60K, in the 2 years JUST on out of pocket medical, what my sucky insurance didn't cover. I know most people HATE Obamacare with a passion, but it has been a Godsend to me, I spent about half in 2014 on out of pocket medical, about $13K to $15K, than I did in 2013. I feel I had to, it is no different than anyone with cancer or some other serious disease, you are desperate and do anything to live.
I do wanna live, most of the time. I had some suicidal thoughts this morning, but I'm better now.
One thing I hate about this is that overspending is a symptom of bipolar, so THAT can be used to build the case I am not just PTSD-ing, but again, I don't know. Some it was luxury spending, OK, I bought an $11,000 bike on New Years Eve, it was an "I promise I won't kill myself in 2014" gift to myself. It was indulgent, but important to me psychologically, it also said "I am a good person, I am worth it, I am not scum" to me. At least it was healthy if overindulgent, it wasn't destructive except financially.
Jane, I know I can rebuild. I am counting on that. I want true help from my family, but I don't know if I can get that. I think they will - but I am so afraid to ask. I don't think they will let me hang and twist in the wind when push comes to shove.
I really DO want someone to take over my finances and monitor me for a few years, to make sure I stay on the straight and narrow. It's kinda rough to contemplate, but I feel I need it, and face it, in a sense I do deserve to be put on "financial probation." I could NOT accept feeling like I was on medical-legal probation, watched by doctors and psychologists post-breakdown, I thought that was demeaning. This would not be so bad.
I have been working on improving relationships and getting along, too. That may fly out the window.
I want to propose a REAL reoganization plan to my family, a loan with interest, a security agreement, I want whoever loans me the money, if they will, to file a lien on my car, and some other assets if that is do-able (not sure) like that bike.
I truly want their help ... without a lot of judgement. But I don't know if they are capable of that.