Life After Bankruptcy in Atlanta Easier With Five Tips for Moving On
While many people believe that filing for bankruptcy is going to leave them with bad credit, the inability to get a loan and no way to ever own a house, that's simply wrong.
Walletpop.com offers five tips to rebuilding your credit, finances and emotions after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in Atlanta or Chapter 13 bankruptcy in Georgia.
Atlanta Bankruptcy Lawyers have seen the financial freedom that people experience once they've been through the bankruptcy process and no longer have the burden of creditors calling and sending letters to their home or work.
The first thing people should realize is that if you're considering bankruptcy, you're not alone and you shouldn't be ashamed. Bankruptcy laws are designed to help people willing to help themselves. The No. 1 cause of bankruptcy in America is sky-high medical bills, which are often no fault of the person paying them. With the Great Recession stripping jobs from millions of people, it's no surprise that people are seeking bankruptcy protection in record numbers.
According to The Wall Street Journal, bankruptcy filings in Georgia increased 6.1 percent from 2009 to 2010. And according to the American Bankruptcy Institute, there were more than 353,000 personal bankruptcy filings nationwide in the first quarter of 2011. In Georgia in the last quarter of 2010, more than 20,000 people filed for personal bankruptcy protection.
Here are the tips:
Let go of the guilt and shame: Some people consider filing for bankruptcy a sign of failure or disappointment, but it usually isn't. With the economy and the devastated real estate market, it is actually a smart move and one that can ensure the financial stability of a family's household long into the future. Plus, medical bills and outside factors are typically the reasons for bankruptcy, not always poor credit management.
Reflect and Regroup: Take some time after filing for bankruptcy to reflect on why you were in the situation in the first place. If overuse of credit cards, splurging or other problematic activities were the cause, resolve to stop that in the future. Allow the bankruptcy process to help you and lean on friends and family for emotional support.
Create a realistic budget and pay existing bills over time: After bankruptcy, stay on top of your finances. Create a budget and live within your means. Don't try to keep up with the Joneses. Pay off bills and don't get stuck with interest penalties.
Pick a credit card that can help you rebuild credit: Sometimes, secured credit cards can help you build credit. Many allow you to deposit a certain amount that acts as a spending limit. But some don't report your payments to credit bureaus, charge high fees and some people may not qualify. So, be careful.
Separate fact from fiction about bankruptcy: Many people think that filing for bankruptcy disqualifies them for getting any type of credit for 10 years. But, in fact, many people get dozens of credit card offers just after bankruptcy. Some car dealers are willing to offer good interest rates and some can even get home loans shortly after bankruptcy is finalized.
If you are considering bankruptcy in Atlanta or the surrounding areas, call the DebtStoppers Bankruptcy Law Firm at 800-440-7235 today for a free debt analysis.