Debt Archives - Page 5 of 7 - Rubin & Associates

How old do you have to be to file for bankruptcy in Texas?

We are seeing an increasing number of younger clients come in for free consultations and ask if they are old enough to file for bankruptcy. While there are government-set age limits for driving, voting, and drinking, you may be surprised to learn that there is no age restriction for bankruptcy.

In fact, the absence of an age limit for bankruptcy made the news back in 1998 when a 10-year-old in Maryland filed for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Yes, you read that correctly – a 10-year-old filed for bankruptcy.
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By Mark Rubin|2023-07-31T09:04:19-05:00July 28th, 2023|Bankruptcy, Debt, Money Management, Texas Bankruptcy|

US Credit Card Debt Hits All-Time High – What Does That Mean For You?

Credit card debt in the United States hit a record high at the end of 2022, topping out at almost $1 trillion for the first time ever. During the last quarter of the year, delinquencies were growing at a faster and faster rate. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released data that showed overall balances growing by $61 billion over the last three months of 2022 – with a grand total of $986 billion for Q4. This was the largest increase over a single quarter since the bank started tracking changes in 1999. (more…)

By Mark Rubin|2023-12-01T14:54:35-06:00March 20th, 2023|Bankruptcy, Debt, Financial, Personal Finance|

Struggling with debt? Here’s how to avoid bankruptcy

Debt is pretty much a fact of life for most Americans, especially in today’s post-COVID landscape. Most families do not teach their children how to responsibly manage money, which leads to problems down the road. The majority of today’s workforce has learned money management through trial and lots of error.

It is far too easy to get overextended on your finances, and most people do not realize that they are in trouble until it’s almost too late. When you are already stretching your finances to the limit, any unexpected bump can send you down the road to bankruptcy. (more…)

By Mark Rubin|2023-03-20T14:42:15-05:00September 29th, 2022|Bankruptcy, Debt, Personal Finance|

Recession 2022 – is it coming, and what does it mean?

The Great Recession hit America hard from December of 2007 to the middle of 2009, millions of US residents lost their livelihoods and homes. It was the worst economic downturn since the 1930s and the Great Depression, and it took almost a decade for the labor market to fully recover.

There are very few people still alive who remember the Great Depression, so the recession in 2008 is the only true recession that most Americans have experienced. Sure, we hit a downturn when COVID restrictions locked everything down in 2020, but that was not a true recession.

Because most people have only experienced the recession of 2008, all of the predictions of a “major” recession in 2022 have most of the population freaking out – but recessions are a perfectly normal part of business cycles. Many economists agree that a worst-case scenario is not likely in 2022. (more…)

By Mark Rubin|2022-08-01T11:24:58-05:00August 1st, 2022|Bankruptcy, Debt, Financial|

What not to do before filing for bankruptcy

While most of our potential clients ask about what’s involved in a bankruptcy case, and what they need to do when they are filing, many forget to ask what NOT to do… And the things you shouldn’t do before filing are just as important as what comes afterward.

In fact, there are several things you could do before your bankruptcy case that could cause major complications – and could possibly even cause your case to be denied!

As we always say, the most important thing to do when considering bankruptcy is to meet with an experienced bankruptcy lawyer. The advice and guidance you will receive are vital to avoiding bumps in the road during your case.

So, for anyone out there who is considering bankruptcy and has not talked to an experienced attorney yet, here are the five most important things you should avoid doing before you file for bankruptcy: (more…)

By Mark Rubin|2022-06-01T11:28:34-05:00February 24th, 2022|Bankruptcy, Debt|

4 Scary Ways to Damage Your Debt

It is Halloween this weekend, so we had to share something scary here on the blog… and this time, we are sharing 4 Scary Ways to Damage Your Debt. Let’s face it – nothing is scarier than overwhelming debt that spirals out of control.

If you are not careful about how you spend your hard-earned money, and even how you conduct transactions online, you can easily start down the path to crushing debt. Today’s post is going to examine the 4 most horrifying ways you can head down a scary financial path.

1. Hackers and scammers

Digital thieves have become incredibly creative – you need to be extremely careful whenever you provide your credit card number to ANY online service. Charities are a common ploy, so make sure you do research on a charity before you make a donation – especially if you are solicited at your front door or over the phone.

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By Mark Rubin|2021-10-29T12:44:53-05:00October 29th, 2021|Bankruptcy, Debt, Money Management|

6 Tips For Avoiding Bankruptcy

The proliferation of credit cards and the “gotta have it now” American lifestyle have lead to a problem: for many Americans, living with debt is par for the course. The changes in America’s financial landscape due to COVID and resulting lockdowns have only made things worse. In many cases, debt spirals out of control until filing for bankruptcy appears to be the only way out.

Most of our clients are regular, hard-working DFW-area residents who simply hit an unexpected bump in the road. Whether it was the loss of a job, reduction in wages, or an accident, a single speed bump on the road of life can send you in a completely different direction.

Once you start living on credit and spending more than you can afford to pay off, the debt multiplies quickly until it seems like there’s no escape. (more…)

By Mark Rubin|2021-09-26T14:26:16-05:00September 26th, 2021|Bankruptcy, Debt, Personal Finance|

Considering bankruptcy? Follow these 4 tips

Most of our clients come to us, struggling with massive debts that have spun out of control. One unforeseen bump in the road (a sudden job loss, an accident, a medical condition) is all it takes to send most families into a downward debt spiral. We have shared lots of tips in the past for avoiding debt, but it is also important to get advice from a financial advisor or bankruptcy attorney before you decide to file.

According to John Rao, a bankruptcy attorney with a Boston-based consumer advocacy group, you should “first explore opportunities to resolve problems outside of bankruptcy. Bankruptcy isn’t going to help everyone.”

Typically, you will want to consider bankruptcy if:

Most of your debt is “unsecured” (such as credit card bills or medical bills)
You are hounded by calls from collection agencies at home and at work
You have had wages garnished or your bank account frozen after a judgement
You have been sued

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By Mark Rubin|2021-07-19T11:17:21-05:00July 19th, 2021|Bankruptcy, Debt|

Should you keep your car after bankruptcy?

It’s a question we hear all the time – after a client files their bankruptcy case, they ask us “Should I keep my car?”

Many times, if you’re filing for bankruptcy, you’ve been struggling with debt for quite a while, so it’s likely that you were behind on car payments. Now that the bankruptcy case is filed, you’re wondering if keeping the car is a good choice to make.

In most cases, your car is an absolute necessity – you’ve got to use it to get to work, or to handle everyday errands. In some cases though, the amount owed on your auto loan might not make sense after your bankruptcy case.

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By Mark Rubin|2022-06-01T11:03:11-05:00March 28th, 2021|Bankruptcy, Debt|

7 Tips for Saving Money and Avoiding Debt

As we’ve mentioned in the past, the easiest way to avoid bankruptcy is to avoid accruing debt in the first place. Millions of Americans live with thousands of dollars in debt, and a single bump in the road like a car accident or the loss of a job can send them spiraling towards uncontrollable debt.

The sooner you form responsible spending habits, the sooner you’ll build a solid foundation that will help avoid the possibility of bankruptcy. If you follow these 7 simple tips, you’ll be able to save money and avoid accumulating debts that you struggle to pay off.

1. Plan all of your meals

Eating out is the biggest monthly expense in most households. If you plan all of your meals each week and cook at home, you’ll save money – and you’ll probably eat healthier as well.

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By Mark Rubin|2019-09-28T16:37:15-05:00September 28th, 2019|Bankruptcy, Debt, Saving Money|