Stealing the Idea from The Ladies in Red
1) You will still be paranoid that every unrecognized phone number is a bill collector, no matter what caller ID says.
2) You will get blotchy skin from the stress. Unfortunately, that's a given. And because you are penny pinching, you won't be able to afford your Molton Brown skin lotions and potions.
3) You will dread going to the mailbox to see what other nasty letter is in there.
4) You will wonder if the pre-filing counseling and the post filing budgeting course will really help you out when your car has that totally unexpected bank account busting repair bill.
5) You wonder if you will ever get credit again.
6) You will glance at every strange car that stops near your house and wonder if it is the State Marshall looking to serve you with papers (and if you are like me, strange cars happen all the time, my neighbor has her house for sale).
7) You will stress eat because carbs taste so good, your waistline will expand and your clothes will shrink.
8) You wonder what you will do with your fresh start- I'm beginning to wonder if a move to someplace totally different might not be in the cards.
9) You wonder what you will say if and when someone you know sees your name in the public notices about bankruptcy in your local paper. My response will be "And your point is........."
10) You do know that you can get a secured credit card (ie- a prepaid one) for those times when you don't want to carry cash. Check out Orchard Bank as one of the many banks that will work with you post Bankruptcy. I found them on line the other day when I was doing some research.
11) You do know that this process will be a painful learning experience and give you a clean slate to start all over.
12) You do know that you have hit bottom and can come right back up. All that extra weight on my butt will help me bounce back up and help me land on my feet.
13) You do know that you are in good company, after all the list of the rich and famous who have bounced back is long and lengthy (Burt Reynolds, Larry King, Jerry Lee Lewis, Francis Ford Coppola).
14) You do know that since you can't afford Molton Brown, you have found a fabu CVS substitute at more than half the price less than what you used to pay and your skin won't look like a bad frozen pizza anymore.
15) You have discovered that you can make the switch to store and generic brands and be OK (except for Hellmans Mayo, Heinz Ketchup, and Tide Laundry Detergent-there are somethings you just don't substitute, no matter how destitute one must be).
16) You have discovered that since you are broke and on a budget, you can't afford new clothes to fit the "expanded" you. You have however, found the three best thrift shops and consignment shops in a 10 mile radius of your home and for $20, have gotten a practically brand new fall wardrobe.
17) You will realize that maybe you don't need so much stuff anymore and sell it on e-bay, half.com, or Craigslist. I just sold three books on half.com.
18) You will find that the local beauty academy does a just fine manicure, pedicure and a basic haircut.
19) You can say with a straight face to all those people you really don't want to buy birthday and holiday gifts for "Nope sorry, not this year, you know, my finances won't allow me to".
20) You can use one of those depressive days to really think about your needs and wants and make a list of needs for gifts for those who still really really want to buy you a gift. Use this period to really see what you NEED in your life as compared to what you WANT in your life. I do NEED a new TV this year and I WANT cable, but I'll settle for a new TV. Cable is over rated, even though I miss Queer Eye for The Straight Guy.
21) You will realize that you are tougher than you think, you can lose the weight, you have learned some painful life lessons, and yes you can carry on.
Time to get back to work!
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