Rebuilding Your Life After Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy may feel like an end, but it’s intended to be a beginning. Although it may take time, there are many ways for you to begin rebuilding your credit to once again find financial freedom.

Although people who file for bankruptcy tend to take an average of 10 to 15 years to catch up to their peers who didn’t file in terms of total income, savings and home ownership, that is not true for everyone. In fact, research has found that those who filed for bankruptcy tend to achieve markers like buying a car and finding a full-time job quickly. Many people find that they can recover rapidly from bankruptcy and even surpass their peers’ success by following these simple strategies:

• Stop feeling like a failure. You are not alone —a significant percentage of U.S. citizens have had to consider or actually file for bankruptcy. Feelings of isolation, guilt and shame keep you from moving forward and taking positive financial steps.
• Dwell on the details. As much as you may not want to relive your financial struggles, figuring out where you went wrong and how you could have prevented bankruptcy will help you create a solid plan for your future.
• Budget. It sounds simple, but drafting a realistic budget and sticking to it is hard work. Create a spending plan for living below your means that pays all of your bills on time and allows for both a savings and an emergency fund.
• Explore the possibilities. Many believe that bankruptcy disqualifies you for a credit card, mortgage and affordable car loan for up to a decade, but these are myths. You’ll be eligible for credit soon after your bankruptcy is complete.
• Rebuild your credit. You may never want to touch a credit card again, but obtaining a secure credit card from a bank that won’t charge exorbitant fees, make you call a toll number for service or report your payment history to credit bureaus will help you begin to rebuild your credit score.

If you’d like to know more about rebuilding your finances after bankruptcy, consult the experienced lawyers at Combs Greene in Jacksonville.

Bankruptcy lawyer Shane Herbert also contributed to this blog post.