When Elizabeth and her husband filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, they thought they were making a smart move to manage their growing debt. But fast-forward a few months and they're having serious second thoughts. Elizabeth explained during a call with Dave Ramsey, "We panicked and did some stupid things," and boy, has that panic come with a price –$91,000 in debt and two car payments they can barely handle.
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It all started when Elizabeth lost her job, leaving the couple to juggle everything on one income. Trying to stay afloat, they made what she describes as "some stupid decisions" to dig deeper into debt rather than step back and assess the situation. They filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which, in their words, "seemed like the only way out" at the time. However, as Elizabeth shared, they quickly realized the payment plan tied to Chapter 13 was putting a strain on their monthly income, even after she landed a better job.
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They're working hard to turn things around – having yard sales and selling everything they can – but there's one big obstacle they can't shake: that Chapter 13 payment. It's become an unwanted guest at the table, eating up their income and standing in the way of their debt-free dreams.
"You've Got a Hornet's Nest in the Closet"
When Elizabeth called into the Ramsey Show for advice, Dave Ramsey painted quite the picture for her. "Pretend like you took a baseball bat and you hit a hornet's nest and you threw the hornet's nest in a closet and closed the door," he said. If they dismiss their bankruptcy, "you're getting ready to open the door" to all the creditors they owe money to – credit cards, personal loans and those pesky car payments.
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In other words, those creditors won't be pleased. They'll come after the couple "with everything they've got." And Elizabeth knew it: "Oh Lord," she responded, immediately grasping the gravity of what that meant. Filing for Chapter 13 might have put their creditors on pause, but dismissing the case would unleash the swarm and they'd need a solid plan to deal with the fallout.
"Some Stupid Decisions" and $91,000 in Debt
Let's breakdown the numbers. Elizabeth and her husband owe $30,000 on each of their two cars and have about $25,000 in credit card debt. On top of that, there's $6,000 in personal loans hanging over their heads. The irony? According to Elizabeth, these cars aren't even worth what they owe – probably closer to $26,000 or $27,000.
Now that she's back to work and they've stabilized their income, they're ready to take control and dump their debt, but the bankruptcy payments are still choking their budget. With a combined monthly income of $5,100 after taxes, health insurance and a $1,400 rent payment, those debts feel like an anchor they just can't pull up.
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The Path Forward: Opening the Door to the Hornets
Dave's advice? If they want to voluntarily dismiss the Chapter 13 bankruptcy and avoid the hornets, they need a plan. "You've got to have a plan for taking care of every one of them if you're going to open the door," he explained. For starters, it's time to sell those cars. And the good news is, Elizabeth and her husband have been saving up from their yard sales and hustling in gazelle mode. They've got enough to cover the difference and pay off the cars.
The personal loans, according to Dave, will be the toughest to deal with because those lenders are "bottom feeders" who will come after them hard and fast. On the other hand, credit card companies are "incompetent and inefficient," giving them a bit more breathing room to set up payment plans. But once the bankruptcy protection is gone, the couple must stay on top of things and negotiate with creditors to keep the swarm at bay.
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Lesson Learned
Looking back, Elizabeth and her husband wish they hadn't panicked and rushed into bankruptcy. Now, with a clearer head and some solid advice from Dave, they're ready to dig out of debt the old-fashioned way – through hard work, sacrifice and patience. But one thing's certain: they won't forget Dave's warning. They'll be ready for whatever flies out when they open that door.
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This article 'You Threw A Hornet's Nest In The Closet' — Couple Buried In $91,000 Debt Turns to Dave Ramsey After Panicking, Making Their Situation Worse originally appeared on Benzinga.com
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