Managing Your Personal Finances During a Recession
Economists now agree that the American economy has entered a recession. Since March 2009, America has witnessed history’s longest bull market in which the S&P 500 rose 330 percent. Unfortunately, the party is over. The deadly and highly contagious coronavirus has shut down our economy. Since March 2020, tens of thousands of Americans have died, […]
How Much of My Paycheck Can a Creditor Garnish?
Sometimes an employee doesn’t even know that a creditor is seeking to garnish until they see a change in their paycheck. At that point, you should seek advice of legal counsel. So how much of my paycheck can a creditor garnish? The garnishment process Before a creditor can garnish your wages, that creditor must obtain […]
How Much Will I Have to Pay in a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy?
Chapter 13 bankruptcy is sometimes called the “wage-earner’s bankruptcy.” The Chapter 13 Plan requires a monthly payment over a period of 36 to 60 months. Self-employed people cut a monthly check to the Chapter 13 trustee. People employed by companies get automatic deductions taken from their paychecks. When you file a Chapter 13, you are […]
The Key to Saving is Living Below Your Means
Have you ever heard of Parkinson’s Law? It was first articulated by C. Northcote Parkinson in an article in The Economist in 1955. Parkinson’s Law is the adage that “work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion.” Parkinson’s Law has many corollaries, including: Expenses rise to meet income. In other words, people spend […]
What If I Can’t Pay My Bills Anymore?
Bankruptcy does not help you pay your bills. If you’re going to go right back into new debt after eliminating all of your old debts, bankruptcy might not be right for you. Or it might not be right for you at the moment. Creditors, generally, do not care about your unfortunate circumstances. So it’s smart […]
Happy New Year! Time to Take a Fresh Look at Your Budget
Happy New Year from Lee Legal! Right now is the time to take a hard look at your budget. On January 1, all of your personal financial numbers are zero. Your year-to-date income, fixed expenses, and discretionary spending are all zero. Now is the perfect time to make any changes to your budget for the […]