WE’VE all been there. Those moments when almost anything that could go wrong DOES go wrong in our finances. As human beings, we all want to be safe and secure but life doesn’t provide any assurances. Perhaps you are going through financial and debt problems through no fault of your own. Whether self-caused or caused by someone else or circumstances, beyond your control debt problems can be overwhelming.
Perhaps you’re thinking: “I can’t believe this is happening to me. Life’s not fair. I haven’t done anything bad or anything wrong. Why do I feel like I’m being punished for something I didn’t do?” These are words I sometimes hear from clients who come to me for bankruptcy advice.
Some people are quick to judge- until one day they find themselves in the same situation. Contrary to what others may think, most people who file for bankruptcy are honest, hard-working individuals who simply need to get a fresh financial start. Yes, they are your normal, everyday folks- just like you and me who have jobs and families. They may go to the same church that you go to. They could be your next-door neighbor or your co-worker. No one- absolutely no one- is ever exempt from the uncertainties that life brings us.
At one time or another in your life, you may face debt problems that you don’t know what to do about. You may find yourself unemployed, sick, in the middle of a painful divorce or in a failed business venture. Recently, a couple came to me and told me how they invested their entire life savings of 20 years in a business that failed almost overnight. They never made a penny from day one. They poured their heart and soul into this business- only to watch it go up in smoke. Their world has fallen apart right in front of their very eyes.
We are still living in tough economic times. How many people do you know at the moment that are living from hand to mouth, perhaps eking out a living by working 2 jobs with still “too much month at the end of the money?” My neighbor was recently laid off after working more than 12 years for his company who recently decided that they couldn’t afford to keep him anymore. You may know several people right now who are going through foreclosure and for the first time in their lives are facing the prospect of being homeless. It seems unthinkable, almost impossible for this to happen to you or someone close to you. Often, we can imagine these things happening to other people but we have never entertained the idea of them happening to us. Then one day, life throws us a curve ball.
The “fresh start” concept of bankruptcy is based on the idea of forgiveness. The honest debtor who lacks the resources to pay back creditors is given a chance to start a new life free from the burden of debts. What a concept! Do you realize where most people would be today had they not been given, at some point in life, a second chance that they so badly needed in order to start life over? I think our very own U. S. Congress realized this more than 100 years ago and thus enacted bankruptcy laws that will help debtors who are in genuine need of debt relief. These laws were passed to help, not hurt you.
So if you are currently going through debt problems and don’t even feel like you deserve to be in this situation, there is no need to over-analyze everything and try to make sense out of what you are going through. The first step to financial recovery is a simple acknowledgement of where you are and taking responsibility for your problems- whether self-caused or not, it doesn’t matter. Stop whining, stop complaining, and stop blaming yourself, the economy or others. Even if you haven’t done anything wrong to deserve your current financial problems, remember that it can happen to the best of us and that includes you. But there is always hope for a brighter tomorrow because whatever you are going through will soon pass. The past doesn’t have to be your future- unless you let it by dwelling on things that you cannot change. You can do better than that.
If you need to find out what your legal options are, we are here to help. Pease call Toll-Free 1-866-477-7772 to schedule a free consultation. We have offices in Glendale, Cerritos and Valencia.
* * *
None of the information herein is intended to give legal advice for any specific situation. Atty. Ray Bulaon has successfully helped thousands of clients in getting out of debt. For a free attorney evaluation of your situation, please call Ray Bulaon Law Offices at TOLL FREE 1 (866) 477-7772.
