Filing for bankruptcy wasn’t exactly on my vision board, but here I am, in my cramped Queens apartment, the radiator screeching like it’s got opinions and the smell of my neighbor’s burnt garlic bread wafting in. It’s September 2025, and my coffee table’s buried under bills that keep showing up like uninvited guests. Real talk—deciding to file for bankruptcy felt like admitting I’d royally screwed the pooch. Like, we’re talking “ordered $50 of sushi I couldn’t afford and cried into my miso soup” level of pathetic. But I did it, and I’m going to spill my guts on what you need to know about the bankruptcy process, flaws and all.
I was sprawled on my couch last week, my cat Muffin batting at a crumpled electric bill, when I realized I couldn’t keep pretending I’d “figure it out.” The debt was crushing me—$8,000 from a dumb ER visit in 2024 when I tripped over my own shoelaces, a car loan for a Honda that’s more rust than car, and credit card bills from when I thought “treat yourself” meant daily DoorDash. Filing for bankruptcy was my only way to stop drowning, but it’s not like waving a magic wand. It’s a whole messy ordeal, and I’m here to walk you through my stumbles.
Why I Had No Choice But to File for Bankruptcy
Let’s be real: choosing to file for bankruptcy isn’t like picking out a new phone case. It’s soul-crushing. I spent months dodging debt collectors who’d call while I was in line at Trader Joe’s, clutching my sad $4 salad. I’d lie awake, heart pounding like I’d chugged three Red Bulls, wondering if I’d lose my car or Muffin’s fancy litter box (it’s her throne, okay?). Bankruptcy isn’t the end of the world, though—it’s more like hitting the reset button when your life’s stuck on a blue screen of death.
Here’s what pushed me over the edge:
- Medical Bills: That ER trip for my clumsy ankle sprain? $8,000. I’m still pissed.
- Freelance Flop: My side hustle as a TikTok content creator tanked when the algorithm hated me in 2024. No views, no cash.
- Credit Card Hell:I was charging groceries, gas, and even a $12 Netflix subscription like it was fine. It wasn’t.
If your debt’s bigger than your yearly pay or you’re eating cereal for dinner to save cash, filing for bankruptcy might be your vibe. I found Nolo’s bankruptcy page super clutch for figuring out I wasn’t the only one in this mess.
Chapter 7 or Chapter 13? My Brain Hurts Just Thinking About It
Okay, I totally spaced out when I learned there were different kinds of personal bankruptcy. I was at a bodega, chugging a $6 latte, scrolling legal sites on my phone with a cracked screen that made everything look like a kaleidoscope. Here’s what I pieced together, plus a cringey chat I had with a lawyer I found on Avvo after spilling said latte on my jeans.
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: The Great Debt Zapper
Chapter 7 is like hitting delete on your debts. It can wipe out stuff like credit cards or medical bills, but you might lose things like a second car (lol, as if). I went this route because I was broke as a joke and qualified under New York’s income limits. The catch? It tanks your credit for a decade. But honestly, stopping those debt collector calls was worth it.
Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: The “Pay It Off Slow” Plan
Chapter 13 is like going on a budget bootcamp. You keep your stuff but pay back some debt over 3-5 years. I didn’t pick this because my income’s more like pocket lint than a paycheck. It’s better for folks with steady jobs or a house they want to hang onto. Upsolve’s breakdown explained it way better than my frazzled brain could.
Steps to Filing for Bankruptcy: My Stumbling, Bumbling Journey
Filing for bankruptcy isn’t like ordering a pizza. It’s a whole saga, and I screwed it up plenty. Here’s how it went down for me, plus tips so you don’t do what I did.
- Round Up Your Financial Mess: I had to dig up every bill, bank statement, and a parking ticket I swore I paid. I lost a water bill in my couch cushions—don’t be that guy. Get a binder or something.
- Do the Credit Counseling Thing: You have to take a course from a U.S. Trustee-approved spot. I did mine online at 4 a.m., eating stale pretzels, but it was kind of useful.
- File the Petition: This is you telling the court, “I’m broke, please help.” I hired a lawyer because I was freaking out, but Upsolve has free tools if you’re braver than me.
- The 341 Meeting: You meet your creditors, and it’s awkward as hell. Mine was on Zoom, and I knocked over my seltzer mid-call. Nobody cared, thank God.
- Wait for Discharge: If it goes okay, your debts get zapped (Chapter 7), or you start payments (Chapter 13). I got my Chapter 7 discharge in August 2025 and ugly-cried with relief.
My Biggest Screw-Ups While Filing for Bankruptcy
I’m no bankruptcy wizard—my process was a total dumpster fire at times. Here’s where I faceplanted:
- Waiting Forever: I ignored my debt until a creditor sent me a court notice. Don’t wait for the lawsuit, people.
- Thinking I Could DIY: I was too stubborn to get a lawyer at first. Big oops. Free consults are a thing—use them.
- Forgetting Life After Bankruptcy: I thought filing would fix it all. Nope. You have to budget, or you’ll end up back here.
What Filing for Bankruptcy Taught Me (I’m Still a Mess)
Filing for bankruptcy was like jumping off a diving board into freezing water—terrifying but kind of freeing. I learned I’m not defined by my debt, even if it felt like it was my whole personality for a while. I also learned to budget like my life depends on it, because, uh, it does. The bankruptcy process isn’t cute, but it’s doable. If I can survive it while burning my toast and cursing my smoke alarm, you can too.
Wrapping Up My Bankruptcy Rant
So, yeah, filing for bankruptcy was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it was like a life preserver when I was sinking in debt. It’s not a quick fix, but it’s a shot at a financial do-over. If you’re thinking about it, talk to a lawyer, check out Nolo or Upsolve, and don’t beat yourself up. Life’s messy, and we’re all just trying to keep it together. Got questions? Drop a comment—I’m no expert, but I’ve been through the ringer.
