Author: Creative Programs and Systems - page 319

Regaining Your Financial Future Through Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Life changes all the time.  One minute you are high on life, planning a wedding, buying a new home, furnishing it and racking up credit debt like no tomorrow.  You are on top of the world.  You are working in a position that gives you freedom and an unlimited expense account with an impressive salary.  Your beautiful wife has put her career on hold as she is expecting baby number two.  This is it you are living the ultimate dream in life.  What happens next is unforeseeable and devastating.

The big boss is in from out of state.  He is very sorry but the company is looking to merge and with the merge many positions are going to be eliminated, yours being one of them.  You have three week severance coming and a small amount of money in savings.  It is possible you might be okay if you are able to find another position paying around the same amount.

Three weeks later you are still scouring leads to find a position.  You know it will be impossible to live off of less than you were previously making, several places have offered however you know that with your current debt that is not a feasible option at the moment.

After months of looking for a new position, getting further and further behind in on you payments you are left with few options.  You decide to take a position making less money and are incredibly nervous about making your mortgage, paying school loans, making minimum payments on your credit cards let alone having any money left over for groceries or necessities for your family.  This is when you realize that meeting with a bankruptcy attorney might be the best option for you and your family in the current circumstance that you are in.

Life changes it happens so fast that often there is little to know time to prepare. We are not taught to live with these thoughts in our heads.  Few people do.  Chapter 7 bankruptcies are a legitimate way to regain balance in your financial life and to move forward. Primarily chapter 7 bankruptcies are seen as a straight forward, simple and inexpensive way to clear unwanted debt and get a fresh start.

If you find yourself in a situation that is close to what I described above it is wise to seek out bankruptcy information.  You might find that it is exactly the help you need to get through this patch of time in your life that is overwhelming.  Individuals, after going through the chapter 7 bankruptcy process share stories of a weight being lifted off their shoulders as the trustees dismiss the financial burden of credit card debt, over extended mortgages and home loans.  Bankruptcy attorneys do not judge.  They work for you to come up with a feasible solution regarding the overwhelming debt you have accumulated.  The best option in a time of uncertainty is to gather information and resources to help alleviate your worry and improve your family’s situation.

Michigan Bankruptcy Law Centers

Landscape Design Combining Elements

Posted on by Creative Programs and Systems

Landscaping the yard is one of the things my husband has expressed very little interest in.  He just does not understand why we dump money into making the yard something other than what it already is.  With a river behind our home he feels it is our duty to let nature take over and protect itself.  Let the land lie as it will is his yard maintenance motto.

I however, do not feel the same way.  As he tackled the inside of our home when we moved in I went to work on the outside.  The first thing I did was remove the ant infested railroad tie border that was a make shift flower bed and pull everything that was planted out.  The people before us had tiny “gardens” all over the yard.  It was easy for me to remove them.  I knew it needed an updated badly and I was the girl for the job.

The river bank was full of overgrown seedling trees and nastiness. In cleaning the area up by the river bank my main goal was to utilize what existed as much as we could.  I wanted to keep the larger scale trees and new tree growth in place.  A natural environment is one that will protect the bank area from eroding better than any man made wall plus it look one hundred percent better.  In managing the erosion that will naturally take place we began taking boulders that were about the yard and placing them on the edge of the river.  In doing this they are molding the ground around them and holding it in place.

The house had a lot of areas of blandness.  The garage lacked any sort of bushes or shrubs to balance and hide the brick that formed the foundation.  In order to create spaces that are visually interesting and had balance I choose to plant alternating green and purple flowering bushes.  They really made the garage blend into the house and not look so separate.

Now that the garage and river banks were taken care of we had to think about the front and back yard landscaping.  I was sure I wanted items in the garden that were irregular and not formed in shape.  I like a bit of the fantasy, flowing look when it comes to plants and shrubs.  I immediately gravitated towards a border that incorporated multi-leveled logs standing vertically.  This really ties into the natural element of the river. I then choose some large landscape boulders and place them in various places within the bed to tie in with the river side of the house.  Shrubs were planted that were free forming and daisies were added for color and ground cover for filler and the garden was completed.

The back yard was simple.  I took the rock element and carried it into a fire pit arena.  It turned out beautifully and allowed us to do away with the three flower beds that basically eliminated any space for the kids to play within the boundaries of the yard.  I added several benches made from wood around by the river and fire pit as accents.  It is a very cozy landscaped space.

To add some fun and flair to the landscaping I place tiki torches around the deck area in the summer and solar ground lights in the path to the fire pit.  It adds a bit of metal into the landscape design breaking up the green around us.  It has grown on my husband as the summer’s progress and he has even taken to a bit of landscaping on his own with the installation of a boat ramp that blends naturally into the river.  That is truly is only contribution as I still find myself mowing and weeding the yard every weekend as he tends a fire and jumps in the boat for some river time.

Bladerunners Landscape

Solutions To Adapt Your Home For Changing Needs

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Disabilities, age and certain illnesses leave us clinging for answers when it comes to modifying our living environment to make the conditions safe and user friendly. At any season of life we could be facing the challenges limited mobility, loss of stability and decreased use of motor skills brings.  When this is the case it is evident that changes within the home environment will need to be made to encourage continued independence.

When born with an illness or disability that lessens the skills individuals have changes are made right away to the home environment.  The learning curbs to adapt to the surroundings are simpler for those individuals who are raised adapting to the home space.  However, when the disability is sudden it is harder to change the behaviors that already exist.  Instead modifications need to be put into place to ease the existent behaviors.

This is especially true for individuals who suddenly find they are using a wheelchair as their main form of maneuvering.  The adjustment is huge.  Mobility is suddenly not an afterthought.  It takes careful planning and maneuvering to navigate a space that was not designed for use with a wheelchair.  This is why many individuals who find themselves in this exact situation turn to handicap construction experts.

Certain changes within the home environment make it more readily usable to wheelchairs.  One item that needs to be addressed is the entrance and exit of the home.  It is important that handicap wheelchair ramps be installed in more than one area of the home for increased safety.  Wheelchair ramps can consist of simple threshold ramps or elaborate porches that contain a ramp for wheelchair users and stairs for those with leg function.  Wheelchair ramps are also helpful for individuals with knee ailments.

Another area of the home that is especially difficult to maneuver for those with mobility and stability issues is the bathroom.  Bathroom safety solutions run the spectrum. The installation of bathroom safety aides is a fairly common job.  Bathroom safety bars can help with getting in and out of the tub, off and on to the toilet and for stability around the sink basin.  Other options include showers designed to for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility to be able to enter direct without any type of ledge to hinder the individual.  The bathroom area is the number one cause of injury.  It is of utmost importance to seek out handicap construction professional to help with the installation of safety aides.

Many times individuals do not consider future needs when purchasing a home.  This is true when purchasing a home with stairs.  It is not always feasible upon injury, illness or aging to up and move to a home without stairs.  Often the option includes adjusting the stairs to fir the new need.  This need can be met with a stair chair lift installation.  Whether needing to access the basement or top floor a stair chair lift can be installed to fit the individuals need.

As with any renovation it is wise to seek the advice and assistance of a professional in the industry. With an increased senior population in areas such as Florida and Michigan professionals in the handicap construction industry are abundant.  If you are unable to locate a private handicap construction professional in your area contact state officials or local social workers who can help facilitate meeting your needs.

Accessible Alterations

Additional Income Through Network Marketing

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Making extra money running an at home business is the dream of many.  One way people can accomplish this is to look into different network marketing opportunities.  Network marketing is a great way to land residual income.  Finding a multi-level marketing company to work with is something that should not be gone about lightly.  It is important that some research goes into the company you will be working for and promoting.  When starting any business, network marketing included, it is important to know exactly what you are getting started in.

One of the first questions to find out when looking at network marketing companies to represent is how long the company has been around. It is important to understand that your efforts today will be multiplied by the efforts of the past.  A company that is new won’t have built that up for your benefit.  To truly benefit it is important to look for a company that has been around for at least five years.  It has been proven that most network marketing companies fall flat in the first two years of starting up.  If the company you begin with has at least five years under their belt you are likely safe in your investment.  Your time and money are a precious commodity, as well as your future, so don’t take an investment lightly.

Look into the company’s long term outlook and capital.  Is it a company that has enough cash to continue to grow?  Are they looking into long term technology solutions, advertising and products to keep up to date with consumers changing wants and needs?  If the company does not have the ability to pay you future commissions then the investment is not wise.  In order to invest a solid business plan and growing capital is what you should look for in a multi-level marketing company.

When looking into a network marketing company to represent look at the company itself and the product they have to offer for sale.  Is the product something that will stand the test of time?  Is it desirable and does it meet a need that is long term?  The product must have value, be reasonably priced and a market that will keep on growing and wanting the product.

It is possible to buy into a trendy product or service.  We have all had experience with a fad at one time or another.  It is impossible to build and draw on a residual income on a product that is popular at one time and then gone the next.  When picking a company to represent look for items of mass long term appeal.

Another thing to look for is immediate income abilities.  As an entrepreneur it will be important to recoup the start up costs and marketing fees to finance future growth of your networking business. In order to do this the product must have the ability to be sold and generate additional income quickly.

It is important to look for guidance from the person you are working under.  Find someone that is looking out for your interest in the company as their own.  It is important for multi-level marketing to grow successfully by having people interested in your businesses as well. If you are looking for additional income make sure you are able to hold down your full-time job and run the network marketing opportunity part-time.  So even if you are a stay at home mom looking to bring in additional funds to the house your networking position must be flexible enough to be worked around you life.

Networking positions are all around us.  Success can be yours using this concept to grow your wealth.  When jumping into a long term venture don’t take it lightly.  Look to do something fun that brings you a wealth of knowledge, funds and an abundance of good times.  Work should be fun.  Making additional money should be too.  Network marketing is all about relationships so why not let it enhance your social life as well as your pocket book.

Arbonne - Leslie Hipp

Affordable Handyman Help For Homeowners

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Many people think the services of a handyman, for the small repairs around the house, are going to be too expensive.  Instead of calling and checking homeowners just let the jobs go and allow them to continue to pile up causing bigger more expensive issues to be dealt with later on.  Hiring a handyman is a simple, cost effective way to manage issues that arise around your house that can easily be handled for you.

Think about the repairs needed around your home right now.  I bet somewhere there is a hole in the drywall that needs to be patched or perhaps a corner that has been abused and needs repair.  This job is pretty straightforward for a handyman.  Most are able to even tackle larger drywall issues.  Drywall is a tricky issue for homeowners to handle alone.  The average cost of handyman drywall repairs is around a few hundred dollars.  The costs will incorporate the repair of the drywall, the sanding, patching and painting.

Carpet repairs need to be done frequently.  Many homeowners don’t think to call a handyman when these issues arise.  You will find that the costs are much lower to have a handyman out to repair or stretch carpet that is in need over having carpet companies come in.  Many jobs people don’t associate with typical handyman jobs are.  They are more cost effective and can handle a variety of situations within the home.

Appliance repair, painting, staining, repair of windows, screens, stair railings, tile repairs, faucets, garage door issues, elderly and handicap safety aide installation are able to be handled by hiring a handyman instead of a specialty company.  The day of same day repairs are not gone and can still be taken care of by hiring a handyman to fix the issues.

Of course, if the issues are small and can wait it will be more cost effective when hiring a handyman to come and fix the issues.  When grouping jobs together most handymen will work out a deal for the homeowners.  The typical handyman that comes out to your home and provides services for the day will run you around four to five hundred dollars.  Having a specialty contractor out will run you well over a hundred dollars an hour when a handyman can do the exact same job for less.

There are some jobs it is better to inquire labor by a licensed contractor.  Things such as electrical and plumbing issues are best resolved by someone trained in the field.  Understand when hiring a handyman that they are not all created equally.  It is up to the homeowner to find an individual that is trustworthy and that has several references to back the work up that they have done in the past.  Once you find this individual it is best to keep their number close.  A referral from someone you trust is a great place to find a handyman you are comfortable letting in your home. When interviewing a handyman don’t base your decision solely on price alone.  Make sure it is someone you can work with and that understands your wants and needs.  Also, find someone who will help small issues as well as the big catastrophes that happen as homeowners.

Glen Miller The Home Doctor

Choosing Appropriate Window Shades For Your Home

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Home décor of all kinds can be tricky.  Window treatments are not exempt from this.  Window coverings are one thing that can tie a home together or completely separate it. This is not to say that every room has to have the same type of window treatment however, they must create harmony with color, texture, style or type.  In order to develop a window treatment scheme for the home it is important to look into the pros and cons of each style of blinds and shades.  This is to ensure the function of the shades and blinds you choose meet your needs.

Shades:

Traditional Roller Shades: Roller shades offer a fair amount of privacy, light control and are priced well within most budgets.  They also offer a variety of color options including now a collegiate logo shade option. What a perfect option to add to any sports fanatics’ room. However, they do not insulate for temperature control or sound and can often be perceived as boring.

Cellular Shades: This option is both functional and attractive.  Cellular shades are minimalistic and offer insulation protection for both heat and air.  The one major drawback is that they are hard to clean.  If you live on a road that traffic travels down and creates dust this option is most likely not for your home.  The dust will all settle on the shade and at they cost more than what most people want to pay for a dust collector.

Pleated Shades: Pleated shades are an alternative to cellular shades that are a bit less expensive.  They also offer a great range of light control.  The con is that they tend to be a bit less efficient as far as a n insulator and can flatten out quicker than cellular shades.

Roman Shades:  These are a very popular option.  When roman shades are down they create a cascading feature using folding fabric.  Roman shades can be made out of any fabric available. They are incredible versatile.  The down side of roman shades is that they are costly, and often require a bit of fussing ensuring the folds are perfect.

Solar Shades: These are a great option for homes in warm climates that need heat and light diffused.  They also help to keep the glare off of televisions and computers while working to help keep rooms cool.  The downside is that there are relatively limited color options to choose from and offer little privacy.

Woven Shades: Woven shades are really nice for homes keeping with the natural elements.  They often come with a liner for added privacy and light control.  The disadvantages are that often they are seen as informal, which is actually fine if that is not the look you are going for.  They are also incredibly delicate as far as window shades go.

Window Shades: This type of shade is incredibly versatile and can be purchased in both horizontal and vertical styles.  They can be purchased to coordinate with any homes furniture and are extra forgiving causing them to be a good choice with parents.  They are considered to be one of the most expensive options in shades, are quite trendy and are difficult to clean.

Options in window blinds are as detailed as shades.  When considering new window coverings it is advisable to look into each option with an eye for the details of your home environment, the style and need you are looking for to match a budget that is reasonable for your expectations.  Window treatments can really make or break the style of a room.

 

Comfort Blinds

Five Steps To Make Home Improvement Projects Simpler

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Home renovations can be very scary to undertake without professional advice.  Often we hear about people starting a kitchen remodel and five months later the family is still eating off of paper plates and gourmet food from a microwave.  Many people don’t attempt remodeling a space within the home in the same manner as a professional would.  This is what can lead to many different problem areas.

There are five crucial steps involved in a home remodeling project.  The best way to begin a remodeling effort is to look at each step individually and come up with a master plan.  The five steps include; the design phase, basic pencil drawing, viewing samples and planning materials, detailed plan of attack including materials, time to be spent and a budget, the final step finding a contractor to bring it all together unless of course you are an adventurous homeowner tackling it on your own.

Let’s look at each step individually.  The design phase is the point at which you decide what you are looking to do.  Are you interested in more space?  If so maybe an addition is the answer.  Are you looking for a cozy space to entertain?  Perhaps a kitchen remodel is in store.  Perhaps you are a homeowner looking for a retreat, a special place all your own to go unwind after a busy day.  Maybe a spa bathroom is what you are leaning towards.  Whatever you look to achieve it is clear a detailed picture of your goal needs to be the first thing decided upon.

Step two, visualization, is often hard for many homeowners.  They can tell a contractor what they want but can’t see it themselves.  This is often a huge problem in construction and leads to large projects becoming bigger than originally estimated. It is crucial that the homeowner have a detailed picture of what they are trying to accomplish with in the space of the remodel. A basic pencil drawing that includes the layout and space functionality is a great place to begin.

The third step is where the decisions start to be made.    In order to move forward with a project it is important to know what colors you will be using, what materials will be in the room and the style and overall feeling to be projected in the space.  This is where you can see how things will start blending and coming together to create harmony.

The fourth step is often the one that people begin to look back and change the plan.  When a budget is created and a timeline is put in place many homeowners begin to look at their previous choices.  Often the gold faucets seem less important when you will be forgoing the designer tiles to stick within the budget.

Lastly phase five is figuring out if you are hiring a contractor or doing the work yourself.  This is a critical decision and will play with both your budget and time line.  If you decide to do the work yourself consider taking time off of work to initially get going on the labor.  This is especially true in a bathroom remodel or kitchen renovation.  These two home remodeling jobs are often the biggest culprits of renovation delays.

Jason Foldenauer Construction

Landscaping Tips For The Frugal Landscaper

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I am so frugal.  When we started to think about landscaping our newly purchased home I started to panic a bit. We had just dropped our life savings into a deposit on a beautiful home situated on the Huron River.  The last thing I was thinking about was spending more money on professional landscaping. However, to my husband this was an important piece of the puzzle.  A new house needed a unique landscaping design and that was all he could think about.  With that driving me I decided I would meet him half way.  I would look into hiring a landscaper as long as I could pay him for his overall design and plant layout as long as we would proceed with the labor aspect on our own.  This would save us a great deal of money but not sacrifice the look my husband sought in hiring a professional.

We hired a local company that was accustomed to working with plants native to the area.  They had landscaped Michigan lawns for quite some time.  I knew if anyone would lead us into a design we would love with minimal maintenance it would be an expert that was familiar with the plants that grew in our area.  The company we used understood our goal from the start.  They offered many professional ideas and money saving tips.  After everything was said and done the landscaping on our home cost around six thousand dollars, not bad I didn’t think for the results we received.  Below are some tips provided to us by our professional landscaper.  It helps to remember that a bit of sweaty equity will help to save on labor costs which can truly be the expensive part of landscaping.

Landscaping Tips For the Frugal Do It Yourself Landscaper Like Me:

  • The first tip is to reuse freebies from around the area.  An example of this is asking a farmer if after he tills the field you can come in and collect the rocks.  This relieves the burden from the farmer and you are able to use the rocks to create natural landscaping.  Another tip is to talk with friends and neighbors who find themselves thinning their gardens.  They are happy to pass of the extra seedlings and over grown plants.  We were able to score five large Hostas from our neighbor.
  • Buying plants and shrubs that have not yet reached maturity is a terrific way to save money on landscaping.  Purchasing plants that are small, one gallon plants for instance, rather than three gallon plants you can save yourself upwards of twenty dollars depending on the species.
  • Be smart about using the natural resources.  As I mentioned we have a river running through our back yard.  The landscaper recommended using water pulled from the river using a beautiful pump and water plants and shrubs using this method instead of pulling water from our home faucets.  This saves in several ways.  One is the water has not gone through the softening process so there is no salt being added to the landscaping possibly causing issues and it is cheaper to not have the softener running continually.
  • Another area we saved on is fertilizer.  The landscaper recommended we begin composting and using the leftover materials to fertilize and mulch around the root systems of our new landscaping.  Another thing he explained is the ways in which our waste could help rid the area of nuisances such as ants.  By using the grinds from coffee in the landscaping ants were naturally detoured.
  • He also offered a tip on using different plants to ward off bugs.  Mosquitoes, which we have plenty of throughout the summer, are detoured by marigolds, catnip, horsemint, ageratum and lavender.  Many of these plants are native to our area and grow easily in the soil provided by our natural landscape.  That is a bonus for this cheap chick; I did not have to purchase soli for the landscape design!

Bladerunners Landscape

Closing The Knowledge Gap With Information About Medicare Supplements

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Information regarding Medicare and the available supplemental plans can often be confusing.  Receiving Medicare Part A and Part B as a “gift” from the government upon turning sixty-five is a blessing and a bit scary all at once.  When entering into Medicare health coverage it is important to gain as much information as possible.  It does not need to be a guessing game.

The main thing for people turning sixty five is for them to realize that Medicare Part A and Part B are not going to cover all of the medical expenses they will incur.  The purchase of Medigap insurance to fill in the hole left by Medicare is necessary.  In fact without Medigap Supplemental Insurance you could end up in financial ruin covering the costs left by the holes in Medicare.

Basic Medicare coverage is given to qualifying individuals upon turning sixty-five.  The basic coverage consists of two basic parts, Plan A and Plan B.

Plan A is known as hospital coverage.  It will cover room, board, impatient care within a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and home health care.  That sounds like a fair amount of insurance but in actuality is leaves many holes.

Plan B, which is also part of the Medicare coverage you receive upon turning sixty-five when paying the monthly deductible, covers physicians services.  The plan covers Medicare-eligible Doctors services, outpatient hospital services and durable medical equipment.

This may seem to be enough coverage to handle all of the medical costs that come to those over sixty-five but in reality it is not.  However without Medigap coverage the gaps left are shocking.  With Part A the deductible is paid out of pocket and will need to be covered again after sixty days if you should be admitted into the hospital again within that time.  Medigap Supplemental plans can be purchased to cover that expense as well as the co-insurance of the hospital and skilled nursing facility which is also not covered by traditional Medicare.  With Part B an annual deductible is applied and payment of twenty percent of all doctors bills if a Medicare Supplemental Plan is not purchased.

Many popular Medigap plans will cover all of the holes left present in traditional Medicare coverage.  When searching for a plan to fit your medical needs and history it is advisable to do research to determine the right plan at the right price for you.  It is important to note that all Medicare coverage is federally regulated.  Plan F from company A will be the same exact coverage as Plan F from company B.  The difference only lies within where it is purchased.  This difference can be significant; some companies can cost individuals thirty to forty percent more just because of who is selling it to you.

Before making any decisions it is best to look into several options that are available to you. Comparing Medicare Supplemental Insurance rates and benefits online is a popular option for those about to turn sixty-five.  Not only can you get a lot of information regarding available plans you can do it in the convenience of your own home without giving out personal information.

Senior Health Direct

Qualities To Look For In A Bankruptcy Attorney

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Why have I accumulated this much debt?  This is a question many people find themselves asking before the bottom falls out on their financial lives.  Most of the time the answer to why debt has been accumulated is I don’t know why.  It may have taken a bit of time before things began to become overwhelming and bills started to pile up without an end in sight.  Although maybe it is because a lay off recently took away your income.  The reason does not really matter at the point when you can’t make the payments and start to think about options for you financial future.

This is when many people start to explore debt relief options.  Options such as bankruptcy, debit consolidation, cleaning out 401ks and other financial investments are all valid however should be talked over with someone who can be trusted to give you wise financial advice and solutions.  The person you will most likely find yourself turning to is a bankruptcy attorney. The last thing you need at a time such as this is the stress of weeding attorneys out.  There are a few qualities to look for to find a trusted attorney to help you with your financial crisis.

Good bankruptcy attorneys should offer a free consultation to individuals seeking help especially with financial matters.  The last thing many people need to worry about at a time like this is the payment for meeting with an attorney.  When you are struggling with personal finances it is understandable that there is not room for extras before you meet with someone to consider options.

Another trait that is important when seeking out a law firm to help you through your financial struggle is finding an attorney who has experience and has been able to help previous clients.  Although a high success rate is not everything it does ease a bit of the stress to know you aren’t the first one and you won’t be the last.  As far as the length of time the attorney has been practicing look for over five years of experience in bankruptcy and financial cases.

Details are incredibly important when filing for bankruptcy.  An attorney specializing in bankruptcy should be known for meticulousness.  An attorney with a knack for details is well suited for bankruptcy cases.  There are many little details that need to be covered when calculating debt, income and determining means to pay or not pay.

It is important when dealing with a bankruptcy attorney that they are very empathetic and their demeanor is one that is helpful.  Even though they may have filed five thousand bankruptcies this is a first for the client.  They should be able to create a level of professionalism that lends to both their ability to be a hard-nosed attorney, looking out for the interests of his clients while representing them and a sympathetic ear for the stress level their clients are experiencing.

Financial issues are stressful on many levels.  Bankruptcy can take a toll on not only your finances but also your emotions. Once the bankruptcy process is free there is a good chance your debit will be wiped clean leaving you with few liabilities and limited assets.  It is a fresh start to begin controlling your financial life.  It will take effort and patience to determine a set financial plan.  Often times hiring a consultant is helpful to really create a meaningful budget and sticking to it to avoid debt issues in the future.

Michigan Bankruptcy Law Centers