I'm Humbled and need Help!

[cttjones]

I won't bore you with too many details, but I am financially in a place I never thought I would be. I have been battling cancer since 2007, and we have gone through every penny we ever saved. Now I have credit cards that I can't pay. I don't know what to do. I have good credit, but can't get a debt consolidation loan becasue of our debt to income ration. Please keep in mind that before I got sick I made over 65,000 a year, and we were not living beyound our means. My husband makes about 45,000 a year, but loosing my income was significant! Since then we have been living on credit, and now we can not even do that. I am considering trying to settle some of my credit cards just to get out from underneath them. I realize this is going to destroy my credit, but I think it would be better than bankruptcy. Anyone been in a situation similar or have any true advice to help our situation?

 

[mominwestlake]

I have no advice or helpful tips but just wanted to tell you how sorry I am for you. I hope someone can help you. It's terrible to be in a place you never thought you'd be in. I'm sure this lousy economy isn't helping either.

 

[MommaSnowwhite]

Can you get any help through any cancer support organizations? My sister is battling cancer and she was offered some financial help. Best of luck &

 

[dogodisney]

I am so sorry you are in this situation. Definately call your creditors and see if they will be ready to work with you. If they won't work with you, then get in touch with a Consumer Credit company. They can step on on your behalf.
If push comes to shove, you may have to file bankruptcy. It will take time but you can recover from it if you do.

All my best for a full recovery from your health and finacial troubles.

God Bless.

 

[maggiew]

I've read that you can sometimes contact the hospitals, doctors, etc. and ask for help with the medical costs. Did you try that?

for you.

Maggie

 

[cttjones]

Yes we have received some assistance, especially in the medical bill area, but honestly it just isn't enough. Thank goodness we had a good nest egg saved, or we would probably be loosing our home as well. I am just trying to hold on to our home and cars at this point. We can manage those payments, but everything else... we just pick and choose what bill can we pay this month. In the mean time we are getting late fee on top of late fee.

 

[hopesmommy]

I am sorry to hear about your cancer battle!

This is nothing like what you are going through, but here is what we did when my DH lost his job in Sept 2001 for 2 years. Contact your mortgage company and ask for an extension. They allowed us to push off one payment each year. Also ask the same thing from the car loan company. They let us push off only one payment on each car, but even that helped.

Here is some pixiedust for your recovery.

 

[nunzia]

The last thing you need when trying to deal with cancer is the huge financial burden and worries that go with it. I know this my not be popular, but unless you think you will be able to return to work soon, I'd suggest you just think about bankruptcy. Yes..a horrible thing, but a recoverable thing. The stress you are going through is not helpful to your health as I'm sure you know. You can recover from a bankruptcy and so many of them are forced from a medical emergency. There is no shame in it when you've done all you can and finally have to realize that that is all that will help you.
I pray for you and your family in your decisions and health.

 

[MyZoeJane]

The last thing you need when trying to deal with cancer is the huge financial burden and worries that go with it. I know this my not be popular, but unless you think you will be able to return to work soon, I'd suggest you just think about bankruptcy. Yes..a horrible thing, but a recoverable thing. The stress you are going through is not helpful to your health as I'm sure you know. You can recover from a bankruptcy and so many of them are forced from a medical emergency. There is no shame in it when you've done all you can and finally have to realize that that is all that will help you.
I pray for you and your family in your decisions and health.

I agree. Bankruptcy is a last resort, obviously, but for your health and wellbeing you NEED to be released from this burden.

Gosh, I am so sorry that you've fallen into such difficult times. It's criminal that we live in a society that allows the sick to face such unfair burden.

I hope above all else that you find yourself in good health very soon.

 

[wshupnastar]

I agree with the previous poster, I would consider bankruptcy, in your situation. You could contact a credit counselor, but you will still have to keep paying on these bills, sometimes you don't get much of a break on the monthly cost, it just helps that you won't incur the high percentages (in some cases) and they can sometimes remove the late fees..it would put you on a more even ground, but, sounds to me like you are really struggling and may not be able to keep up with that.

Also, working with a credit agency will hurt your credit almost, if not as much, as filing for bankruptcy.

Once you get out from under this debt, you may find that you are able to rebuild your credit quite well...you sound as though you have done everything right, you just need some help!

My prayers and much pixie dust to you. I cannot imagine going through something so traumatic, and then having to worry about money on top of that. You should be able to just focus on your health.

 

[Happy_Mom]

 

[arielmomma]

I do not have any advice, but I will pray for you and your family. May God bless you.

 

[cassie714]

I would have to agree that this exactly the type of situation bankrupcy needs to be used for. You need to be able to concentrate on your health and not how you are going to pay your bills. My prayers go out to you.

 

[Minnie Lor]

I have no idea on how to help. Just wanted to give a big

We listen to Dave Ramsey on the radio most afternoons. He's a financial guy and has really good common sense advice. Can you go to his website to see what station he is on in your area and at what time? Then I'd call in just before the show starts to get his advice. He may have the perfect solution.

Blessings and pixies to you and your family.

 

[punkin]

take a look at creditboards.com. The people there will be able to give much better advice than here. They've been through it and can help.

 

[SplashMtnCrew]

I personally will not give advice to file bankruptcy. Recovering from bankruptcy is far worse to recover from than people think. I would personally stop paying anything to the credit cards...yeah the cc company will call you and threaten you, but what can they do? You can always clear up cc debt later, yes your credit score will be effected by it, but that money your sending to the credit card companies is money you need to have for running your home. Credit cards aren't good for anything, even if they are paid off each month they should still not be used. If a person can pay off a credit card evey month, they really don't need a credit card at all, use a debit card. My advice is to check out Dave Ramsey's website and books, he gives tons of info about just what your talking about. Good Luck

 

[gk90]

I don't have any financial suggestions but want to send you some good vibes, hugs, pixie dust and good thoughts for your physical and financial recovery. I hope you find the right people to help you!

 

[Todd&Copper]

Are you still considering a Disney vacation in November, 2009? Maybe you can use the money you were planning to spend on that trip to pay off some of your debt instead.

Best wishes in your battle with cancer!

 

[Ilike2Lurk]

I have been battling cancer since 2007....

Oh no I did not know your cancer had returned

I am so sorry to hear this terrible news

What type of cancer are you battling? My BFF just finished chemo and radiation and it is not a fun journey (as you already know).

Please take care of yourself

 

[JackJack08]

The last thing you need when trying to deal with cancer is the huge financial burden and worries that go with it. I know this my not be popular, but unless you think you will be able to return to work soon, I'd suggest you just think about bankruptcy. Yes..a horrible thing, but a recoverable thing. The stress you are going through is not helpful to your health as I'm sure you know. You can recover from a bankruptcy and so many of them are forced from a medical emergency. There is no shame in it when you've done all you can and finally have to realize that that is all that will help you.
I pray for you and your family in your decisions and health.

I totally agree. You DO NOT need this stress. Many people declare bankruptcy, simply because they have overspent on everything. You on the other hand, are in such a hard spot. I don't think ANYONE in their right mind would blame you, or think any less of you or your family.
Be well........