Bankruptcy: A Matter of Pride

Bankruptcy is a financial technique in which you declare that you cannot repay your creditors now or see a way to repay them in the future. Depending on your income and the amount of money you owe, an individual may declare chapter 7 or chapter 13 bankruptcies. However, in either case, bankruptcy is a fairly public affair. Your name and address will be published in at least one of the local newspapers for all of your friends to read, and your neighbors will see movers coming to repossess some of your items. For many people, the worst part of bankruptcy isn’t losing the money; it’s losing pride and dignity.

The first way to deal with this is to realize that most of your friends and family have gone through money problems at one time or another in their lives. Although they may not have resorted to bankruptcy, there is no question that only the very lucky do not feel smothered by debts at one point or another. Simply put, people will understand. Even though you may feel like everyone is snickering at you behind your back, the truth is that most people are actually empathizing with you. “There but for the grace of God go I.”

Also realize that not everybody will know you’ve declared bankruptcy. Most people do not take the time to read the newspaper that carefully, and even though word does travel fast, it is not a topic that most people will bring up because it simply is not that interesting. You might feel like you’re the headlining news, but in actuality, most people probably didn’t even know about it.

It is important to continue with the process, even if people do find out. If you are embarrassed, simply understand that so our all of people in this country who are going through the same thing. You are not alone. In fact, you may be able to get counseling to help you go through the bankruptcy process. You may be surprised at how many people have declared bankruptcy many times and gone on to be very successful. The Donald for one.

If bankruptcy is the best thing for your family and your financial situation, it is most important that you continue with the declaration. Take care of yourself first, then worry about what other people have to think. The most important thing is NOT what your neighbors have to say, but instead what you are doing to get yourself back on track financially so that your future will be brighter, and it will.

Much of your future depends on your attitude now. Don’t give up and don’t waste a lot of time blaming anyone else for your plight. Stuff happens and there is enough blame to go around.

You think bankruptcy is bad, well there are worse things and Frankie will talk briefly about that next time.

Keep the faith, but not to yourself.