Financial Distress Help & Support Thread

[POLEBARGE]

Medical/hospital bills are commonly negotiated, most hospitals have some form of forgiveness for hardship purposes (they just don't advertise this, of course) or at the least can set up some fairly minimal payment plans while you get back on your feet. Most pharmaceutical companies also have programs for reduced or even free meds, even more so when a child is involved. It's on the company's website. The internet is free at your local public library.

Great point.
I was going to mention this but you hit the nail on the head ZIP.
Hospitals just care if money is coming in. The most important thing to do is make the first payment to the hospital for something. 25 to 50 bucks. Then call them up negotiate and set up a small payment option. Again they really only care if moeny is coming in some way or another. They also can not decline to help if a payment of some sort has been made.

[readytogo]

GREAT THREAD! THANKS!

[notazbad2000]

It saddens my heart to see so many of our (RC) familiy have to go through this struggle, but it will be a new day very soon my friends.

[rvalreadydang]

It saddens my heart to see so many of our (RC) familiy have to go through this struggle, but it will be a new day very soon my friends.

you know what though? i beleive in the addage, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger......i live by it! I agree 10000% with you, a new day very soon, and many good years ahead

[Waterdog]

I'm somewhat new to this thread, and I'm sure this topic has probably been covered ad nausium, but does anyone here know the maximum amount of dinar that may be converted at one time to avoid Capitol Gains tax?
Has anyone explored Offshore banking accounts? safe, not safe?
Can you recommend on or two?
How do you open an account with hard currency without physically being there?

[rvalreadydang]

I'm somewhat new to this thread, and I'm sure this topic has probably been covered ad nausium, but does anyone here know the maximum amount of dinar that may be converted at one time to avoid Capitol Gains tax?
Has anyone explored Offshore banking accounts? safe, not safe?
Can you recommend on or two?
How do you open an account with hard currency without physically being there?

1. I am not sure
2.i've seen offshore banking mentioned here somewhere
3.no sorry
4. i think you actually have to mail the currency?

[zipper]

here's the link you need, waterdog:

http://www.rolclub.com/iraqi-dinar-d...ated-here.html

[Offshore-Wealth.com]

Given the real estate bust going on right now, many lenders are individually renegotiating mortages. They simply recognize that they will lose more money through foreclosures, as they won't be able to unload the properties for much or very quickly in today's market. It comes at a price - you may be adding on to the end of the loan, but it will keep a roof over your head. The market will eventually cycle back up again where you can sell/refinance, or you can just live in it forever, but with a longer period of time in making payments. Talk to the lender! Many of the big subprime lenders are themselves in bankruptcy now, so they need every penny they can get, NOT more bad loans.

Exactly,

There are many factors you have to consider, but most banks will be only too happy to work out something for you given the alternative of having to unload homes after foreclosure in a down, very down market. A few years ago banks could care less, but not anymore, so always warn the bank of your impending situation, and if it is temporary, job loss, health, etc., they will bend over backwards to help at this point in time.

It all comes down to equity, and if you have equity, it makes it easier to work it out with banks with a potential refinance. If there is no equity, the bank is at greater risk of losing much more, so it all depends on your situation, but the advice given here should help.

Good luck and health to all, Mike

[nikki]

The current popular thought is that most Americans don't save, borrow off there mortgages and are just one paycheck away from being homeless, while all that might be true, however there is something more worrisome out there that will eclipse those above.

We are being tested. No, not by God or some sort of supreme being per say, but by our gov't and the oil companies.

What is the test you ask? How far they can push us before we break.

The first test came right after Katrina, when oil prices spiked. Which in turn pushed the price up at the pump. That national average at that time was something on the order of $3.75 a gallon for regular and areas of the west cost were paying over $4.00 a gallon.

But what we also found out, not all that long later on, was that Exxon had recorded the largest profits ever recorded in one quarter in the history of the world.

How can they be making so much? we felt we had been had. The simple concept of supply and demand had been a sham. It appeared as if they were price gouging us. Want to know why?

Yes, peak oil exists and as much as Tillerman CEO of Exxon would like us to believe that he doesn't believe in it, he very much does. If he admits he does, the Exxon's stock plummets. And after a time, he's out of his chintzy job. Why admit something when you don't have to? Let marketing research do the dirty work for you............

So instead we as a nation are treated to a test...........

With the conclusion of the last test, (Katrina) several things were discovered about our society.

1) as prices got higher, people drove less (duh)

2) the sales of SUV's dropped

3) the sales of fuel efficient cars and hybrids went up.

but on the other hand, as prices went down;

1) people drove more

2) SUV sales went up

3) fuel efficient cars and hybrid sales went down.

Prior to Katrina, gas was at an average of, I believe, $1.60 nationwide. After-wards and after the spike then drop in gas prices, the average price was $2.20 nationwide.

People became accustomed to the new norm. 2+ dollars for a gallon of gas.

This whole reaction by the American population is what I like to call, "Whew, that was a close one", why? Because the belief that as high as the prices were when they finally settled, they were certainly lower than when they had spiked...........

This is the equivalent of saying, "wow, although the bullet hit me, it only blew off my foot". Thanking ones lucky stars to still be alive.........

The next time, this time, we might not be so lucky........

Like I said earlier, the oil companies and the gov't are completely aware of peak oil and are now conducting and elaborate experiment.

At what point does the price of oil/gas get so high that it becomes detrimental upon society.

We are currently riding a national average of $3.30 at the pump. Some areas are already nearing or above $4.00.

When the national average hits $4.00+, things become interesting.

The people who live out in the exurbs, both the middle class and the lower middle class will start experiencing hard choices that need to be made.

The poor of our society already lacking many skills to move up the food change will be hit first and the hardest. Unable to live near their jobs, and because of the overwhelming poor mass transit system in the U.S., they must drive to work. At some point as the price of gas goes up, it will be come a trip of diminishing returns.

On top of that, the price of food will go up, as will as clothing.

The next that will be hit will be the middle class. Most of which is occupied by people who could just about afford to buy a home, but one located way out in the middle of nowhere in the exurbs, will also have few choices in the way of getting to work and will have to tighten the belt to stretch what gas they can buy to make the daily commute.

And as always, the upper middle class and the rich will feel the pinch at the pump less but however feel it in a much different way.

The cost of services. The lower class that usually provides the labor for those services will have to charge more to cover their traveling cost. The upper middle class becomes the new middle class.

All of society takes a step down the rung.

As the effect of the rise in the price of gas begins to hit the economy, that's when you will see the price back off. It will drop down to a national average of roughly $3.00 a gallon and once again the U.S. population will groan and sigh with a resounding, "whew, that was close" once again.

However, this time while they are thanking their lucky stars, they will not have lost a foot, but one of their legs will be gone.

And this time they will remark, "well, I still have my other leg."

Up and up the price will go once again. Boiling the frog, cooking the goose, whatever you want to call it. It's still a death by a thousand cuts.

I choose to see it in a different way. I look at it as a way to ease us into a permanent depression. Where people muddle along, not complaining, not wanting, just grinning and bearing it. Unlike the crash of 29, where people demanded action, unions, standard work hours, good pay, social security, etc, and got it from a responsible government.

This time, the population, us, we, me, will just plod along, a portion of us will protest, but the economy, at least psychologically, is set up in such a way that people want more and more stuff and as long as the government can maintain that vail of normalcy, aka cheap crap at Wal-mart, nothing will change.

Perhaps this is the master plan to ease us off of fossil fuels, I would believe that if more fuel efficient cars were available or if an electric car was introduced or the rail system got a huge bump from the government, etc. But none of those things are happening, what is happening, as always through out the history of the world, the have mores are wanting even more at the expense of the have even-less.

Welcome to the future, where the race is not to win per say, but to be person to have the last tank of gas.......

[stargate-sg13]

Mike,

My apologies for putting a damper on your "Good News" thread. And thanks for starting this one.

Thanks to all of you for your insights, experiences and advice. I'm taking it all in and digesting it.

I will be talking to my mortgage company next week. I only have enough money for maybe 2 months. Will be selling some stuff that may give me more time.

Thanks again everyone.

Judy