Is filing personal bankruptcy the best option for you if you're in financial difficulty? Yes, it is one option, but it may not necessarily be your best one. It should only be used as a last resort if everything else fails. Let's take a look at some other things you can do besides filing for personal bankruptcy that can help you save both your finances and perhaps your future, too. But first things first. When finances have gotten out of control and you are facing a mountain of bills that you can't pay, it's very easy to panic and simply think that bankruptcy is going to be an easy way out. However, this can be a poor decision that will affect you for years to come. So the first thing you should do is: Don't panic. It sounds easy to say, but it's really true. It's very likely that you still have some options left. So take a deep breath first, clear your head, and get down to work. The solution below is going to assume that you've got an income and are in a mountain of debt, but you're not in danger of losing your home. This is one of the "easiest" debt situations to dig yourself out of without filing personal bankruptcy. First, sit down and work out a budget. That is not trite advice, but it is absolutely essential for you because chances are high that you have no clue where your money goes. Always, always, always, your own expenses take precedence over unsecured debts like credit cards. Therefore, make sure your mortgage or rent is paid, make sure your utilities are paid, make sure car payments are made that you have transportation to get to and from work, and make sure food is on the table. You need to budget your essentials; that means cable is out, shopping trips for clothes you don't need are out -- basically anything you don't absolutely need to have to survive. Then, put 10% of your income in a savings account for emergencies. This should leave you with a given amount of cash at the end of every month that you can spend on paring down your credit card debt. Credit card companies are not your enemy; talk to them and work out a plan. If creditors or collectors are calling you night and day, you have the option of not picking up the phone when they call. That's not to say that you can simply ignore things, but you can take your power back. Instead of answering the phone when credit card companies or collectors call about late payments, take a moment to gather yourself and figure out a workable plan that you can present to the credit card companies or the collection agencies. These are folks who want their money; collection agencies especially are notorious for threatening and doing other harassing or illegal things to get their money, but they're wrong to do that and they're breaking the law. You do have rights. Therefore, the next time you get a harassing call, let it go to the answering machine. Then, sit down and figure out what you can pay every month for a particular debt. It's helpful to start by paying a minimum balance on your other credit cards except for your highest interest rate credit card. Put all of the money you have left over after everything else is paid for the month toward that card. Once you've got a plan worked out, call the collection agency or credit card company back and offer what you can to them. Stand firm. Remember that these people want their money, and you should pay only what you truly can even though they'll want you to pay until it hurts. To that end, they will threaten, cajole, tease and do anything else they can to get more money from you. Don't let them. They are smart enough to realize that if they don't accept a reasonable plan, it's sheer stupidity on their part compared to the big fat zero they'll get if you file personal bankruptcy. If you've looked at your situation and you think it's more serious than the one described above, it may be a good idea to take the option of a free bankruptcy evaluation. And of course, free bankruptcy evaluation is also a good idea no matter your financial situation. Doing a free bankruptcy evaluation with a professional will help you explore all your options thoroughly, with someone who truly has the knowledge to give you the best solution. In the end, of course, that may mean filing for personal bankruptcy. However, you may just be surprised at what a free bankruptcy evaluation can tell you. You may very well be able to solve the financial problems without having to file for personal bankruptcy after all.
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