What should I do?

[Deja Q]

I have a lot of cc debt I've been paying back. But I still owe a LOT (about the national average and I've been working hard...)

But I won't be paid off for another 22 months.

Judging by current conditions and assuming no other circumstances occur, I will have 4~6 months before I am made "redundant". Less than 2 to basically and utterly "cure" myself of Asperger's or I will receive a demotion, which will ensure my necessity for filing chapter 13 anyway.

I have also been diagnosed with PTSD and GAD in the past; the only reason I got my current job is because of experience with an arcane product they used at the time. (Subsequent attempts at me trying for a position left me anxious and unable to respond to questions.)

I have been correctly diagnosed as having Asperger's, making things more difficult. (a friend thinks my personality variance is due to my having a higher IQ and other things. And she is not a doctor... nor would she listen as to why I had been given that diagnosis; which makes more and more sense every day as I recall more of my past...)

The job market is nil anyway.

Unlike most people, I value my possessions more than people because the majority of people in my life have been abusive or cruel. I can't even begin to describe the reality behind this, but just accept... just accept I am incompatible with your society. My personality intimidates people and also makes them think I am wellfully selfish. (self-centered, yes, and I don't even know I am... but that's part of Asperger's, I'd discovered.)

Worst of all is my general health; which I've mentioned so many times that DU has put up a "no medical discussion" rule. O8)

Of course, I know that I'm going to lose everything once I lose my job. And I had worked damn hard. I've already started option 2 as I know there's just no way and I'm not going to get help or assistance..., but give me a reason that option 1 is the better one and I'll do an instant 180.

So what do I do, and please be honest. I've endured far worse in my life. With the utmost sincerity: Thank you.


Option 1:
Try to pay back what you can. The fact you're in counseling, paying it back, and have money in retirement acct will help if not come close to paying it all back and avoiding bankruptcy when the time comes. I can return two items and reduce my debt $650 (about one month's payment.)

Option 2:
Spend now, live now, because there truly is no tomorrow.

[obxhead]

1. other.

You're in a pickle no doubt. Look at all of your things and try to get a sense of happiness from them. I'm sure you've got those few things that are worth more than anything, but I bet that when you really look at them they are still mostly just things.
People suck, that's a fact, but the things you own will only end up owning you. I would have traded any number of things I have bought for a great week long vacation that would have left a lasting memory to never be lost, stolen, or damaged.

I know there is a lot more to your post that my answer doesn't address. I hope all ends up well for you.

[Deja Q]

2. They make my existence go by more quickly...

and if I lose everything, I also lose my beloved pets. And they are family to me.

Thank you for responding. :hug:

[arwalden]

3. Sometimes When I'm Feeling Discontented With My Own Life...

... I realize that there are people who are worse off than I am.

[Deja Q]

4. I hear ya.

Just enjoy each day as it comes.

It's all relative and I've got some time anyway. :)

And I love my new parrot pet too; she seems to love me too.

[prolesunited]

5. Why didn't you file for bankrupcty before the deadline?

Also, you do realize that projecting the worst possible scenarios and acting as if they already have come to pass is a symptom of your GAD?

And, sorry, you're special, but I don't think the medical discussion rule is just for you. ;-)

Also, going for Option #2 is dangerous and risky because I don't think all of the things you seem so certain about are going to come to pass and then you will really have painted yourself in a corner.

[Deja Q]

7. Parents, ex-boyfriend who had, financial advisor all said "Don't do it".

So did the counseling company.

Either way, I'm fairly fucked. And when I asked a coworker point blank about the changes meaning the elimination of workers and got a long poause before an apologetic sounding "Yes" from it... :cry:

[Wcross]

6. There is a tomorrow Hypnotoad.

I would return the items you can. Destroy your credit cards. Move to a cash only basis.(if you don't have the cash you don't buy it).
Attack your debt by paying the minimum on the largest debts and throwing as much as you can at the smallest. When the smallest is paid off add that payment to the next smallest.
As far as a career, are you unable to learn something new? You might even use this opportunity to do something you love for a living?
They say the longest journey starts with the first step.

ON EDIT;

Quote "if I lose everything, I also lose my beloved pets. And they are family to me"

I would risk all to protect my family......


I understand the way you feel about your animal friends.


Hypno, don't let all this consume you. Calm down, take a look at your options and develop a plan. I know you're going to work it out.

[Deja Q]

8. Well

I've been in credit counseling 3+ YEARS. No credit cards all this time. Can't have them.

I've been told by more to tackle the higher interest payments firstand leave the smaller ones at minimum payments; though I've heard both sides and only ended up more confused.

Certification tests I just can't pass. Even those who get high marks on them say you have to go by the company's "logic" than real life experiences. And when the company can't make a product worth a crap yet manages to sell it...

How much does a professional photographer make again? $30k/yr, if lucky?

Everything I have a high apititude for is being OFFSHORED. Or eliminated by automation. (I confirmed this in a state-funded job career analysis class... the same one saying that more and more companies only hire part time and don't give any benefits? And that's when they DO hire?! The same course showing a PROFESSIONAL PHOROGRAPHER moving into INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY saying there's no money in it. Wow, we're both switching careers for the same reasons, how odd is that? Never mind all the * supporters who think * is looking out for everybody... :eyes: )

[Dangerously Amused]

9. Karma. Yeah, I know. It sounds crazy.

During times in my life when I was concerned about not having enough money to make ends meet, I found someone who was even more desperate for money than I was... and gave them as much as I reasonably could. Anonymously, if at all possible. I've sent cash through the mail, with no return address, to someone who would never, ever guess it was me. Then did a meditation of gratitude for the blessings I still had, and put the donation out of my mind. Somehow, just doing that much - just taking that leap of faith, and working through the anxiety of parting with money I was getting so uptight about - brought a sense of peace, and enabled clearer thinking about my own financial circumstances.

I have done this but a handful of times in my life, and every time... every time!... enough money came to me, often from someplace I didn't expect, just in time to cover the problem I was worried about. Or something non-monetary would happen to resolve the issue. I didn't pick up on this pattern until about the third time it happened. I don't know if you like Deepak Chopra, but (I found out later) he has written about this phenomena.

The catch is, you have to make the donation freely and with pure intent from your heart, with no expectation of a return on your investment. You have to sincerely decide ahead of time that if nothing comes back to you in return, it matters not, because you will have already received your reward in the joy of giving. You can't tell anybody that you're doing it, either...bc drawing attention to one's generosity diminishes the value of the generosity.

But if you make the donation from your mind, or based in greed because it's about something you don't really need, then sit around waiting for your windfall... it won't happen. Karma won't let you manipulate the system like that. (Not that I think you would.)

So anyway... just my (crazy) two cents worth. :-)

Good luck.

[PowerToThePeople]

10. I have a lot of student loans. But they are lower I.R.

I would try paying them down. Once out of debt, do not charge any more. I pretty much have ran "cash only" for many years now, and though I don't have a lot of "stuff" I still can enjoy life..

[CatBoreal]

11. HT: I really don't have any advice...

just :hug: and some encouragement:

The solution *will* come. Don't give up. I firmly believe that. Hang in there.