When you tell your family about your plans to file for bankruptcy protection, there is always that one family member who is convinced that you are so bad with money that, no matter how much debt relief you get from your bankruptcy case, you will just end up broke again. The good news is that…

The less need you have for something, the more willing people are to give it to you. This is especially true of credit. If you have one million dollars in your bank account, banks will not think twice before lending you another million, but if you needed to buy and furnish a house for a…

Credit card debt is a major drain on your finances these days, and you are not the only one. As of early 2024, American consumers owe a total of more than a trillion dollars in credit card debt. Minimum payments on credit cards take up a big portion of your paycheck, so even as you…

Everyone has the right to file for bankruptcy protection, according to federal law. Regardless of your age, your marital status, and whether you are employed, you have the right to ask the bankruptcy court to discharge your eligible debts that you cannot pay.  People who file for bankruptcy come from all walks of life, but…

Yes, California is expensive, but it offers better financial protection for consumers than most other states do. California’s state minimum wage is one of the highest in the country; as of 2024, only Washington state and Washington, D.C. have higher minimum wages. In some cities in California, the minimum wage is even higher.  The paid…

Some personal finance experts who shall remain nameless have made a career out of telling young, working adults that they could get out of debt simply by brewing their own coffee at home instead of stopping at a coffee shop on the way to work. Yes, the price of coffee shop beverages is astronomical, especially…

Business finances are consistently more complicated than personal finances. You have experienced this if you have ever filed individual tax returns and business tax returns. Likewise, divorce and probate cases are more complex when the couple or the decedent has an ownership interest in a business. The value of business assets fluctuates all the time,…

Even though some shady credit repair services might try to convince you otherwise, a bankruptcy filing does not cast a dark shadow over your creditworthiness for the rest of your life. All the restrictions that bankruptcy imposes on your financial choices eventually go away, at least in theory.  The bankruptcy filing eventually disappears from your…

Expecting your fortunes to quickly and dramatically change for the better is not an effective way to deal with your debt situation, at least not if you also have a short-term strategy. Much personal finance advice falls into either of two categories; it either focuses on big decisions, such as filing for bankruptcy or getting…

One of the most frustrating things about debt is that in today’s economy, prices are higher than wages. You are not in debt because you spent carelessly on impulse purchases or lived an extravagant lifestyle; you are in debt because you went to the doctor when you were sick or because you bought groceries during…