chocolatebeauty’s blog

Well, it’s been nearly one year since I filed Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
Let me reflect back on the months prior to me making the big decison on filing for bankruptcy.  Earlier in 2005, I had started experiencing what it’s like to have anxiety attacks and working for a company that was seriously understaffed in our department.  Seemed like every week we were “borrowing” people from other departments so that we could make our deadlines for the day.  On top of that, they took away our individual incentives that were based on individual performance. They then decided to incoporate a building wide incentive program.  If everyone made their quota for the quarter, we would get a “bonus”.  During this process, I got jipped and wasn’t compensated the extra $3.00/hour I should have received after they took away the individual incentives. Basically they told me that they can’t have a operator making more than a superviso. I feel like if you worked your ass off, you deserve what you worked for.

Anyway, becoming stressed out over the bills piling up and the bullshit I was dealing with at work, I was fed up.  I ended up in the ER on March 20, 2005 and had to be given an IV for dehydration and medication to calm me down. I had the WORST anxiety attack ever. Prior to me going to the ER, I had been put on blood pressure medications for 2 weeks and Zoloft.  ER doctor told me to stop taking the Zoloft. So after getting finished at the ER and speaking to the doctor about my condition, I was advised to quit.  So I go home, type up a resignation letter, and have my sister drive me to work. So I walk in, arm bandaged up from being stuck with a needle for my IV, and hand over my letter. My supervisor was like are you working? I was like are you kidding me.  I just left the ER and I am quitting. Needless to say, my fellow employees were shocked, but many knew that it was coming but not as soon as it did.

So I quit work and my financial problems really started piling up. My grandmother was making my car payments for me, but I told her it wasn’t her responsibility to do that.  I started looking over my bills and I knew that I had to file.  There was no way to get out of my situation.  So, I went and met with a well known bankruptcy attorney.  And he right away told me that I would definately be a good candidate for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. So I paid the $820 to my attorney to file bankruptcy.

Honestly, one year later, I couldn’t have felt any better about the decision that I made to file. Sure, it stays on my credit report for 10 years, but I have my overall health better and I don’t have bill collectors constantly calling my house. I am at peace with myself and know that filing backruptcy wasn’t the end of the world. If you think filing is a bad thing, you have to sit down and consider what you are currently going through and if you think that you will resolve your financial problems in a timely manner or are you going to keep on sufering from the stress, anxiety, and the constant calling from collection agencies. Trust me, I had to think long and hard before I made my decision to file. One year later: stress free and on my way to a fresh start.

So I go a job about a month ago doing Quality Control. Well, I have good news. I got promoted to supervisor. I’m pretty excited about my new promotion. The company I am working for is all about advancing their employees. I didn’t expect to get a promotion only being on the job for little over a month. So with more money, comes more responsibilities.

I don’t want to get stuck in another bad habit as I did prior to filing bankruptcy: shopping as if I had all of the money in the world and not paying my bills on time. First thing I do each week is pay my bills. I don’t care how bad I want those pair of jeans I saw while looking around online or I don’t care how bad I want a new pair of sneakers. Bills come first and then I will look at buying myself something. I’m still putting a third of my paycheck in my savings account. That’s something that I won’t stop doing.

I work a lot and school is going very well still. I’m also going to make out a plan, financially, so that I can start paying back on my student loans beginning January 2007. That’s the only real debt that I have right now. I still haven’t tried to buy a car yet, but that is something that I am doing some timely research on as well.

Finally…………..I am self disciplined.

It’s ben a while since I last wrote here.  My mom’s suprise party was a success.  The look on her face was priceless when she realized that it was a suprise party for her 55th birthday.  We took a lot of pictures and she loved every gift that she received. Oh and to top off the weekend of Sept 16th, Louisville beat University of Miami 31-7. GO CARDS!  I couldn’t have had a better weekend.

Life has been pretty busy for me with school and looking for a job.  Well, I have succeded in finding a job.  It wasn’t something that I was really looking for, but it’s a start in the right direction.  I’ll be working in a plant that makes parts for different automobile makers as a quality inspector.  I have some knowledge in the automobile industry, but not as much knowledge as the engineers.  I’ll be working 50+ per week along with trying to do homework and projects for three Information Technology courses that I am taking towards my second associate’s degree.  Wish me luck!

So basically my financial plan is put a third of my paycheck in my saving account weekly and not touch it for anything, unless it’s an emergency. Staying away from the credit cards and payday loans.  I’ll eventually buy a car, but I am not in any hurry right now.  I just want to be able to find a good deal and not pay a high car payment. I am aware I will have a high interest rate, due to me having filed bankruptcy back in October of 2005.

Okay. I finally figured out how to blog and needless to say, I am thrilled!

Nothing much happened today.  Me and my sister are in the process of finishing up the details for my mother’s 55th birthday, which is on Sunday but we are throwing her a suprise party on Saturday.  It was very difficult for me to come up with money to help pay for the food, decorations, and to get her a nice gift.

I received a phone call on Tuesday for a job. * does a celebration dance*  FINALLY I might have the chance to work again, after being unemployed for almost 4 months now!  Since I’ve been unemployed I had the chance to finish up my Associate in Arts degree.  Currently I am working on my second Associate degree in Applied Science with emphasis in Information Technology.  When I am all done, I will be able to get a job as a Network Administrator.  While getting this degree, I wil have the chance to take the CompTIA A+ certification test (which I will be taking in late Decemeber).  I hope to also be able to take the Security+ certification too.  Also by the time I graduate, I will also be a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA).

I’ve been lucky enough to get a grant to help me pay for tuition and books, along with my certification exams which can cost anywhere from $120 up to $220 I believe.

That’s about all that is going on with me right now. I will be a regular blogger since I’ve come to learn how it operates!