Declaring bankruptcy is a difficult choice. Lots of people have gone through it and recovered. It's not going to be easy though but bankruptcy isn't the end of the world and you can recover.
Your credit can be repaired after going through a bankruptcy. Start by paying your bills on time. If you filed for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, your debt would have been wiped out along with some of your assets.
Be responsible with what you still have left. You still have your home. Make utility payments on time. Establishing a record of timely payments is one way to work towards fixing your credit.
After a few months, apply for a secured credit card. Secured cards require the cardholder to pay a deposit. This is the money that you will start with. Over time, you may qualify for an unsecured credit card.
Stick to one credit card and avoid making regular charges on it. Keeping the card for emergencies is a good idea. Having a credit card re-establishes your credit.
Train yourself to pay for everything in cash. Unless you have cash to back up a purchase, don't buy anything; this could be one reason bankruptcy was filed in the first place. Going back to using cash is a healthy way to build up a bank account and savings account balance.
Have a plan. You don't want to have to declare bankruptcy again. Use any extra money for savings or an emergency fund. Since you filed for bankruptcy and your debt was wiped clean, you shouldn't have any credit card payments now.
Once you get that first credit card, companies will start hounding you. Don't give in to them. Be flattered, but resist the urge to get started with the credit card debt cycle again.
Teach yourself to live with what you can afford. Save for a rainy day. Go to credit counseling or talk to a financial advisor. Credit counselors are experienced in money management and spending tips.
A financial advisor can take the money that you save and invest it for your future. Someday you'll probably retire and that could last for up to thirty years. It's crucial that you have enough money to take you through your retirement. You can focus on that part of your finances while you're waiting to re-establish your credit.
Bankruptcy is not the end of the story. People can recover from it and develop a healthy financial picture. However, it takes time and patience.
After Filing For Bankruptcy
Rather than focus on the perceived negative aspects, you should concentrate on the positive ones.
Bankruptcy Will Not Stay With You Forever
While it is true that bankruptcy will stay on your credit record for a period of 10 years after you have filed, you will still be able to increase your credit rating if you manage to clear all your debts.
Do not be worried about your credit rating when you file for bankruptcy. Chances are that it is in a bad state anyway, as you would have already been late on or defaulting in your payments.
Your credit rating will have reached its lowest point by the time you file for bankruptcy. After the filing, you will be able to concentrate on raising your rating again by making prompt payments in the future.
You Can Still Get a Loan after Filing for Bankruptcy
If you have maintained your new repayment schedule after filing for bankruptcy under chapter 13, then you can probably get a loan within a period of 2 years.
You will also be eligible for a secured credit card, where you might have to put up collateral equal to the amount of credit that you will be given.
As time passes by and your credit rating improves, you will be able to get a regular, unsecured card. The interest rates that you will be eligible for will probably start coming down as well, as you will be viewed as a better credit risk.
Keep in mind that if you file for bankruptcy for a second time within a span of a couple of years, it will definitely send up a red flag to potential lenders.
Bankruptcy Can Give You another Way to Repay Your Debt
Instead of thinking that your bankruptcy will haunt you forever, look at it as another way of getting another chance to repay your old debts in a much less stressful way.
This can slowly restore your confidence and self-esteem. Your lenders will also be appreciative if you stick to your repayment schedule. So stay mentally strong and control your finances, and give top priority to clearing off your old debts first.
Try to analyze the problems that caused you to file for bankruptcy and avoid falling into the same trap again. Keep an eye on your credit rating and get updated reports from the credit bureau regularly.
Keep Your Chin Up
Don't let filing for bankruptcy get you down. Treat it as a challenge, which will enable you to emerge as a stronger person.
Bankruptcy can be very testing financially and mentally. You should be prepared for a rough ride, but only for a limited period of time. Once your finances are in better shape and you have set a new level of control, then that period will soon be just a faded memory.
Remember that a bankruptcy will stay only for 10 years against your credit record. If you stick to your financial recovery plan, then you will be back on your feet in no time!
Both William Blake & Eulalia Allmand are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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