Filing for Chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy has gotten more expensive since changes in the nation’s bankruptcy laws took effect in 2005. A new study found that people who file bankruptcy face a 55 percent increase in costs since bankruptcy reform.
Bankruptcy Fees for Attorney and Other Services
The study–published in the American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review–was done by Lois R. Lupica, a New York bankruptcy attorney, and Thomson & Knight LLP, and examined data from consumer bankruptcy cases in six states. The costs to consumers was for fees and expenses related to an attorney, the trustee, filing, credit counseling and debtor education, and other professional fees. The m
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This week’s news brings interesting implications for consumer finances. First we learned that existing home prices have slumped to record lows, which has the media buzzing about the “new role” of owning a home. The new role is that our homes no longer function as limitless ATM machines. No more buying electronics, recreational vehicles, jewelry, and designer wardrobes with home equity loans and lines of credit. Under these circumstances, it appears that consumers would again turn to credit cards for the instant gratification of discretionary purchases. No way. Ameri
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Although credit-challenged consumers typically have problems qualifying for a general purpose credit card, using store brand (also called private label) credit cards can help rebuild credit. There are advantages and disadvantages to doing this.
Debt management: Beware of temptation you can’t afford
- Department stores often lure customers into applying for their store credit cards by promising a deep discount for the day’s shopping: “Save 30 percent on everything you buy today!” is a popular approach. Falling for this pitch can be bad news if you don’t have a tight hold on your spending. The credi
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What’s It Costing You?
The Dollar Stretcher Blog
by Gary Foreman
gary @stretcher.com
One of my favorite quotes comes from Henry Ford. “Thinking is the hardest work there is. That’s why so few engage in it.” Old Mr. Ford was an interesting man. He made some very good decisions (produce an affordable car for the average man, use an assembly line with interchangeable parts) and some very bad ones (sticking to old designs too long). That makes him a perfect person to help us understand an economic concept called “opportunity cost.”
What is opportunity cost? It’s a theory that states something that we already know. Sometimes you
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Carrying excessive consumer debt is not only a burden in the figurative sense, it weighs on many aspects of daily living. Ask yourself the following questions, and you can better understand how debt can damage more than your budget:
- Do your know how much you owe? Credit card debt increases quickly if you’re making minimum or late payments. Make a list of your creditors, your balances, and the annual percentage rate (APR) you’re paying for each account to help you prioritize repayment and make a debt management plan.
- Do you argue over money?
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