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Filing for bankruptcy is one of the biggest nightmares of entrepreneurs, businesses, and regular citizens. However, with the state of various industries being in serious volatility, we can never really tell if or when we get ourselves into deep financial trouble. It can be a serious problem to go through and understand all of its aspects is a must.

A person files for bankruptcy when they become buried in a significant amount of debt. The debt might be caused by medical emergencies, the sudden foreclosure of a business, and even the loss of property due to natural calamities. Are there upsides to filing for bankruptcy?

For people, filing for bankruptcy means a fresh start. It can help you get out of serious debt but it does have its downsides that can affect you for years. Knowing when to file for bankruptcy is important but knowing what to prepare in doing so is just as crucial too.

Here are some things you might want to do before you file for it.

Is It Really The Last Resort

In most cases, filing for bankruptcy is only the last resort. While it does help some people lessen the burden of debt on their shoulders, there are major drawbacks for it. If you own a business, for example, filing for bankruptcy is going to put a dent on its reputation and it might be impossible to recover as well.

Before you file for it, it’s a must that you know your options. Is filing for it really the last resort? Are there ways for you to pay your debt?

Usually, people sell some of their assets and properties to cover the heavy expense of debt on their shoulders. Other people take out bank loans to help cover their current debt. Remember that filing for bankruptcy is often done as a last resort so try to weigh your options before doing so.

Ready Your Documents

Filing for bankruptcy results in a ton of paperwork. Basically, you’ll have to prepare your tax returns, financial reports, and even bank statements. When you are sure that it’s time to file for bankruptcy, make sure to ready your documents beforehand as these are going to be needed to file the claim.

The claim can take a long time to get finalized. Readying all of the necessary documents beforehand can make the wait significantly shorter. It might seem troublesome to read your documents early but it will help you out big time if you want to get it done as quickly as possible.

Seek Legal Assistance

Filing for bankruptcy takes a lot of work and it’s not easy to do so as well. If you have the budget for it, it’s a must that you seek help filing a bankruptcy claim because you’d want to do it as properly as possible. It can be a lengthy process, especially if you don’t know what to do.

A legal expert will not just help you file for bankruptcy, they’ll also help you see the potential drawbacks and outcomes of doing so. It’s best to see them as more of a guide rather than a lawyer as it’s exactly what they do – help you file for bankruptcy without taking too much of a hit on your life.

When filing for bankruptcy, keep in mind that you are also securing your future too. As such, a legal expert can help you determine how your life will turn out from that point onward. It’s going to be crucial that you know what happens next so that you can make a complete recovery.

Understandably, this is another expense on your end but it’s going to be well worth it as lawyers can do a lot more for you than you think.

Let Your Attorney Do The Talking

Creditors and other institutions that you have debts to are going to begin consistently reaching out to you once your due date reaches its limit. While you are free to talk to the creditors, it’s better to have your attorney do the talking instead as they are going to represent you from here on out.

An attorney will help talk to your creditors and find a good means to settle things that’s fair for both you and them. There are a lot of complications that go into filing for bankruptcy and creditors hounding you is going to make things a lot tougher.

Open A New Bank Account

It’s very likely that once you file for bankruptcy, the bank accounts that you currently own are going to be closed down too. Before this happens, it’s advisable to ready a new bank account to accommodate your remaining money as well.

Don’t be afraid to do so. Banks aren’t going to hold it against you if you’re filing for bankruptcy and you need to open a new account in their institution. So long as you have the right documents, the banks will accept your request, and set you up with a new account.

Do Not Bury Yourself In More Debt, Try To Lessen It Instead

If you are filing for bankruptcy, that only means that you are in a considerable amount of debt already. The last thing you’d want to do is put an even bigger weight on your shoulders because of the case.  Your lawyer will advise you to avoid taking out more loans as this can affect you heavily in the future.

Instead of taking out more loans, you might want to lessen the debt you have currently. It’s likely that you are going to have to sell your assets and this is normal. A good way to spread the money you get is to use a portion of it to kickstart your life while using the other portion to lessen the loans you have.

Filing for bankruptcy isn’t always the end of things. In fact, it is mostly a fresh start for you. Doing it as properly as possible is a must as it can assure that you make a complete recovery in the future.

If you’ve decided to get that house or that place for you and your family – congratulations! Getting a new place now would allow you and your family to have a more comfortable time in a neighborhood and community that would open up a lot of opportunities. Moving to a new home means getting closer to work, being closer to a better schooling, or even access to more amenities and amazing tourist locations. If you’re doing this by yourself, with a partner, or with your entire family, then you’re going to open a new and better chapter in your lives. Unfortunately, given today’s reality, you may have to manage your house move alongside your obligations at home, your tasks at work, or even your schooling. Sadly, this might mean being pressured and overwhelmed with your house moving process.

Thing is, there’s no need to be pressured at all, even if it’s your first time! In fact, if you have smart devices with you – your smartphone, a tablet, or even a laptop – you can manage and fix your move wherever you are, and whenever you need! Here are some quick steps:

• Opt for digital conferences and submissions for your household paperwork. If you’re decided on your move, one of the first things you’d have to do is get a hold of your household paperwork – various documentation, requirements, and even calling services such as your best long distance movers. However, instead of wasting time and money on gasoline and trips to offices for submissions, you might want to digitize this part of the process. In terms of paperwork, you may want to ask your local office if they ask for digital submissions you can send over services such as DocuSign. This way, you maximize your time and stay at home where you’ll be able to go anywhere you really need to throughout the day.
• Use organization apps to manage your inventory. Instead of using a physical ledger or notebook to list down your belongings, you might want to use organizational apps in order to be able to list down as many entries and data as you could regarding your belongings. A spreadsheet or an organizational app may be able to list down things such as quantity, quality, and weight, take pictures, or even indicate which items you want to keep, sell, or even throw away. This is a handy reference to keep, as movers may be charging you for their services based on the weight of your items overall.
• Get familiar with your community via social media and the internet. Instead of being surprised with what kind of community you’ll be having once you move to your new home, the internet can be a surprisingly handy tool in getting to know your location even before you go there. You can use your smartphone or your laptop to become aware of the local news, any new developments, or anything that goes on in your community throughout the moving process. That way, you won’t be surprised with new developments, what kind of neighbors you have, the establishments around you, and more importantly things about school or at work. Instead of directly going to your new area, the internet may be able to provide you the necessary facts you need with a bit of research and asking around forums. 
• Streamline your moving timeline with your routine calendar. If you rely on a calendar app to organize your needs on a daily basis, this should also be the exact calendar you’re using for your move. You may do this, or use an organizing app that fits into your calendar app but separates your moving timeline. That way, you know exactly the days where you have your time off, or if you have any urgent meetings, or whenever you have your breaks. Instead of risking your status at work or at school with too many absences, maximizing your free time with your moving timeline can help you accomplish more things with the time that you have. 
• Hire and communicate with services online. If you’re having a rough time with your moving timeline, you might not necessarily have to do it alone. In fact, you’ll be able to hire professionals such as a moving company to help you out with the heavy-lifting of some of your tasks. Thanks to social media and the internet, you may be able to reach out to these services via their websites, social media pages, and even online directories. Likewise, your services may be able to accommodate you via virtual calls in order to avoid having to travel far. Thanks to video conferencing applications, you simply need an internet connection to connect with your movers. 

Digital House Moving 101: Make It Possible For Your Needs

With the above tips in mind, it’s important to understand that it’s completely possible to have a very “hands-off” move by relying on your smartphone and gadgets to do much of the work for you. Thanks to modern apps and modern methodologies, you can use various programs and services to digitize and streamline your house move for you and your family’s benefit. With this process, you may be able to have a much more comfortable time with your house move without having to worry about missing out on your important obligations or even missing items and belongings along the way.

If you are like many people, there’s a big chance you make small payments regularly to friends, relatives, and even strangers. Perhaps you need to settle a bill for your BFF, pay back borrowed money, or send some cash for gas over your mom; traditional payment methods can sometimes feel tedious and overwhelming. Imagine driving over to the ATM just to get ten bucks or having to write 20-buck checks every once in a while? Well, this is where peer-to-peer payment services come to your rescue.

Basically, P2P apps allow you to send money instantly to other individuals from the comfort of your favorite hand-held gadget. They are often quicker and more convenient compared to other payment options, especially for smaller transaction amounts. To send money to a specific recipient, all you may have to do is search their phone number, username, or email address. Some of them even allow you to send payments to complete strangers, who can then access the funds using a special computer-generated code.

As anyone would expect, there are more than just a few P2P apps available on the market today. You just have to pick one that suits your convenience and preferences. Read one below to discover some of the most popular P2P payment apps that you might find interesting.

1. Square Cash 

If you are familiar with apps like PayPal, Apple Pay, and Venmo, then you should have an idea of what this app should look like. Also known simply as Cash, the Square Cash app comes with dozens of merits as far as P2P transactions are concerned. The app allows you to load money from your credit card or bank account, with the former attracting a small fee of 3%. It is touted by many users as having a simple interface, with easily accessible features for account settings, balances, transaction history, and much more. It will be interesting to discover that you can also buy or sell Bitcoin using the app, not to mention that they are also rolling out a debit card to enable physical purchases and cash advances from the Square Cash account. 

2. Venmo App

As mentioned earlier, Venmo has some similarities with Square cash. Using the app, users can send and receive money to and from each other. The PayPal-owned app can be linked to a bank account or credit card, even though users can also load funds into the Venmo account using PayPal. Apart from sending, users can also request money from other users on the platform. The best part is that it is free to open an account. It is also used by millions of users according to the parent company, and you can opt for a Venmo debit card for physical cashless transactions and purchases. The main catch is that transferring funds from Venmo to your bank account attracts a fee of one percent, capped at 20cts to 10 dollars.

3. Google Pay

This is another peer-to-peer app that many people should know by now. It is sort of a digital wallet that allows users to make online purchases and transfer money to others without sweating it. As long as you have a device running on android 5 and higher, you should be good to go. For those using Apple devices, the app can also run on iOS 7 or higher. You just need to visit the respective app stores, download the Google Pay app, set up an account, link your bank account, and start making transactions. The app also has a feature that allows users to split costs for various payments, including bills such as rent, meals, utilities, and everything in-between. The main drawback is that this app is that credit cards are not accepted, and it is only limited to users in the US. 

4. Zelle App

Finally, Zelle is also among the most common P2P apps in the US. The Zelle app comes from Zelle, a service with the same name, which most major banks in the country offer. Accounts can be set up by users through the app or their bank accounts. 

Sending or requesting money to or from other Zelle users is quite easy. You just need the user’s registered phone number or email address. The app is often praised for transaction speed and compatibility with many banks/credit unions. However, it is limited to US users and doesn’t support credit cards. 

We live in a world where time is more than money. Sending and receiving money doesn’t have to involve time wastage and inconveniences. Luckily, one of the apps could help save time and money while adding convenience into your life as far as P2P transactions are concerned.