10/03/2019
Last week I talked with a couple that didn't understand how they got in such a bad financial situation π€¦π»ββοΈ
They make a combined income of $150,000 / year and they filed for bankruptcy
This is how it happened:
They are both college graduates that had a combination of over $100k in student loansπ( degrees were unrelated to their respective careers)
They both financed two new cars for a total of $60k π
Had credit card debt of about $30kβ±οΈ
Medical bills of $10k π
Owed income taxes of $20k π€·π»ββοΈ
Then they were told by a bank that they could qualify for a house and they got it for $475,000 π‘
Let's recap
Income : $150,000
Savings: $5,000
Retirement: $10,000
Debt:
$100,000 Student Debt
$60,000 Car Debt
$30,000 Credit Card Debt
$10,000 Medical Debt
$20,000 Tax Debt
$475,000 Mortgage Debt
Total Debt : $695,000
I don't understand how they even qualified for this mortgage but that is beside the point. What they didn't do is pay attention to how much debt had added up over a span of 8 years
They are in the mid-late thirties and at risk of losing everything they worked so hard to get. These are not bad people with an exagerated lifestyle. They just didn't pay attention
Oh I forgot to mention they also have two kids under the age of 10. This may seem uncommon but it is not. This family will struggle for the next 5 years to try and keep some things they simply can't afford.
I share this story so you can pay attention to your money. Don't let this happen to you or your family. If you don't understand something - ask for help. This couple has now caused a huge strain on their relationship that could lead to divorce. If you find yourself struggling with money don't be ashamed to ask for help.