Dallas bankruptcy blog

6 Tips to Keep Holiday Spending Under Control

It’s that time of year… Holiday shopping is stressful for everyone, but it’s especially tough for families that are already struggling with overwhelming debt. You don’t have to spend a fortune to have a happy holiday season! Follow these tips and you’ll reign in the spending and skip the spending stress.

1. Make your own list

Santa makes a list and checks it twice – you should too. It’s easy to get caught up in the gift-buying frenzy, but you don’t have to give gifts to everyone! Make a list of everyone you’re buying gifts for – aim for less than 6 people outside of your immediate family. For everyone else, bake cookies – it’s a more personal gift and lets you still acknowledge friends without breaking the bank. (more…)

By Mark Rubin|2018-11-30T15:21:08-06:00November 30th, 2018|Personal Finance|

More American seniors are filing bankruptcy

This year, we’ve seen more older Dallas-area residents filing for bankruptcy, which unfortunately, isn’t surprising. According to national study, more American seniors (over the age of 65) are filing for bankruptcy than ever before.

The cost of living continues to increase for everyone, and for many older Americans, combined with rising healthcare costs and increasing debt, bankruptcy becomes the only option.

According to the study, the average debt for families with a head of household over the age of 75 has increased drastically since 2010, when it was only $30,288. In 2016, the average debt for the same families was $36,757.

Even more shocking, the number of families 75 and older with debt increased a staggering 60% from 2010 to 2016.

The average Social Security check is only $1,404 a month, and according to government data, that check accounts for more than 90% of the monthly income for over 40% of single seniors.

If you’re a DFW area senior and you’re struggling with debt, or your monthly expenses always exceed your monthly income, we can help! Call us today at 214-760-7777 for a free consultation. We’ll walk you through your options, so you’ll feel confident that you’re making the right step to move forward.

By Mark Rubin|2018-10-30T13:51:36-05:00October 30th, 2018|Bankruptcy, Bankruptcy Statistics|

How To Help Your Wallet Survive Black Friday

It’s Thanksgiving week… which means we’re just a few days away from Black Friday. Sure, you can get some great deals on some of those items you have planned for Christmas – but it’s also one of the biggest factors contributing to the debt load of many American families.

Everything about Black Friday is designed to get you to spend more money. The hype for the shopping holiday now starts an entire month before Thanksgiving, and stores now commonly leak their specials several weeks before the actual event.

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement – but it’s important to plan ahead so that you’re not adding debt that you can’t afford to pay off. The following steps will help your wallet (and your sanity) survive Black Friday:

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By Mark Rubin|2017-11-20T15:24:37-06:00November 20th, 2017|Personal Finance|

How to dispute an error on your credit report

While most of our clients need bankruptcy because they’re struggling with uncontrollable debt, every once in a while we talk to people who simply have problems with their credit reports. Sometimes it’s a result of identity theft, and others it’s simply an error in reporting.

It’s surprising how often we hear the question, “How do I fix an problem on my credit report?” – and while we specialize in helping clients with their bankruptcy cases, we’ve learned a few things about dealing with incorrect credit reports over the years.

If you want to dispute an error on your credit report, these tips might help: (more…)

By Mark Rubin|2017-06-22T15:46:47-05:00June 22nd, 2017|Personal Finance|

Check out this review from a happy client

It’s always great to hear from happy clients… Bad things can happen to good people, and we love to help hard working Dallas area residents get a fresh start. Here’s an awesome review left recently by Mr. Shaw:

Mr. Rubin was at the 341 meeting with me in Plano. Sitting there nervously waiting, I was relieved to see Mr. Rubin walk in. This process is new to me. I was very apprehensive and a bit depressed in the first meeting with Mr. Rubin. I felt ashamed and feeling I had failed in my responsibilities. I left the meeting feeling a bit better with the confidence and knowledge that Mr. Rubin showed.

The entire staff I have been involved with at your offices have all been very pleasant, helpful and respectful, and left me feeling much more comfortable about this whole process.

After leaving the meeting yesterday with Mr. Rubin in the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Office, I wanted him to know how much I appreciate his efforts and his work. Being represented by someone so comfortable in his abilities and knowledge has put me and my family at ease and confident that we have done the right thing and the future looks much better.

In my work as a Commercial Pilot, I strive to be as knowledgeable, proficient and confident in my flying as I can be, so that my passengers are relaxed and comfortable and safe on their flight. I take that responsibility very seriously. Its a good feeling at the end of a difficult flight to see their appreciation. Not unlike what Mr. Rubin has done for me. I can see that he takes his job and responsibilities very seriously as well.

Please tell him and his staff, thank you, for me and my family. We are very grateful.

By Mark Rubin|2017-02-05T13:55:40-06:00February 5th, 2017|Bankruptcy|

The 4 Dumbest Money Mistakes, According to Shark Tank’s Mr. Wonderful

We read an amazing post yesterday, and just had to share it here on our blog. Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary, known as “Mr. Wonderful”, shared the 4 most common money mistakes that people make.

According to O’Leary, the most important question you need to answer about your life is “How much does it cost you to be alive?” If you can’t answer that question, you’ll be in serious financial trouble soon.

Common money mistake #1: Buying crap clothes you don’t intend to wear

Far too many people buy clothes they don’t end up wearing. Most people wear the same 20% of their clothes 80% of the time. Stop buying clothes just to buy clothes – instead, invest in high quality clothes and wear them out. (more…)

By Mark Rubin|2016-07-14T16:59:43-05:00July 14th, 2016|Money Management, Personal Finance|

What are the Texas bankruptcy exemptions?

Many of our clients wonder how a bankruptcy proceeding will affect their property and their family’s future. Contrary to popular myth, bankruptcy will not result in the loss of all of your property.

Each state decides on the available “exemptions”, which are basically lists of things that you can keep and isolate from a bankruptcy proceeding. In other words, the exemptions are removed from the estate – so the trustee and court are not able to touch them.

In Texas, the following exemptions are available:

Homestead exemption

If you live in a city and your home in on 10 acres or less OR if you’re in the country on 100 acres or less, your home is protected. If you sell your home, the proceeds from the sale are exempt for six months after the sale.

Motor vehicle exemption

You can protect the entire value of one vehicle per each member of your household who is licensed to drive.

Personal property exemption

If you’re a single adult, you can exempt up to $50,000 worth of personal property, or up to $100,000 worth if you’re married. Personal property can include home furnishings, clothing, food, jewelry (which can only account for a quarter of the total exemption), sporting equipment, up to two firearms, burial plots, and health savings accounts.

Retirement account or pension exemption

Most tax exempt retirement accounts and pension accounts are exempt in a bankruptcy proceeding.

If you’ve got more questions about exemptions or how your property and possessions can be protected in a bankruptcy case, please call us today at 214-760-7777 for a free consultation. We’re happy to take the time to sit down with you and explain the ins and outs of your potential bankruptcy proceeding.

By Mark Rubin|2016-03-12T15:56:00-06:00March 12th, 2016|Bankruptcy|

Wondering how bankruptcy will affect your tax refund?

It’s tax season again, and we’re getting a significant number of calls from people wondering what will happen to their tax refund if they file for bankruptcy.

It really depends on two factors – what type of bankruptcy you’re filing and the size of your refund. With a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, most of the time your refund will be protected because it’s considered an asset. If you’re filing for bankruptcy during tax season, make sure you work with your attorney to be sure you’re maximizing your refund. When our clients are filing for bankruptcy around tax season, we typically encourage them to wait and file after they get their refund – then they can use that extra money to help with the cost of the case.

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By Mark Rubin|2016-02-29T11:26:37-06:00February 29th, 2016|Bankruptcy, Money Management|

5 Tips to Lower Your Debt

Sometimes, we talk to potential clients who are surprised when we tell them that bankruptcy might not be their best option. During every free consultation, we map out the financial picture for a potential client, then walk them through every available option.
Many times, people are overwhelmed by their mountain of debt. Someone told us recently that they felt like they were trying to dig a hole using a single chopstick. Even though it feels like a lost cause, many times you can avoid bankruptcy by using one or two of these tips:

1. Talk to your creditors

It never hurts to ask for a little help. Hopefully, you know everyone that you owe, but if you’re not sure, pull your credit report. Make a list of everyone you owe, and how much you owe each institution. Figure out how much you’re able to pay each one. Call each company you owe and tell them that you want to pay off your debt, but you’re only able to afford a certain amount. Sure, debt settlement will go on your record – but it’s better than not paying anything and letting your debt continue to spiral out of control.

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By Mark Rubin|2023-12-01T14:58:30-06:00January 31st, 2016|Bankruptcy, Debt|

5 Steps to a Financially Steady 2016

Now that 2015 is coming to a close (can you believe it?), it’s time to look forward to 2016. No one plans to let their debt get out of control – most of our clients have been good people who simply had unforseen events occur. By planning ahead and making good financial decisions, you can avoid those credit-busting bumps in the road.

The best way to avoid bankruptcy is to set a solid financial foundation and stick to your game plan. The following tips will help you plan ahead and form the right habits so that 2016 will be the year you can finally feel secure.

1. Talk about money

If you can’t dedicate the time to sit down and talk about your finances, then nothing else matters – the rest of the steps will be pointless. It’s important to talk openly about your money, so you know what’s coming in and what’s being spent. If you wait for a financial crisis, it’s probably already too late. If you sit down with your spouse and set goals together, you’re much more likely to stick to the plan you create.

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By Mark Rubin|2015-11-14T13:21:04-06:00November 14th, 2015|Bankruptcy, Personal Finance|

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