Why I’m Filing for Bankruptcy

After sitting with the numbers, I knew something had to change.

My monthly income, after taxes, is around $2,500.

My minimum debt payments are over $1,200. Even with extra income from Walmart Spark, I’m barely covering the basics. There is no breathing room, no margin, and no progress.

I’ve decided to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.

It’s not something I take lightly. I’ve carried this financial weight for a while now. The bills. The high-interest loans. The constant pressure of trying to stretch what’s left.

At some point, survival mode became the norm.

I’m choosing to end that cycle.

Most of this debt came from a year that tested me in every way. I was helping care for my son during a mental health crisis. My mother and I paid $500 a week for a hotel so he had a safe and stable place to stay. That didn’t include food or other essentials. I would make the same choice again if I had to, but the truth is, it came at a cost.

During that same period, I fell into a deep depressive episode. I lost track of time. I stayed in bed for nearly a month. I missed payments. My credit score dropped. And no matter how hard I tried to catch up, I couldn’t keep everything from slipping.

The moment that confirmed what I already knew didn’t come with drama. It came with a tire pressure alert. Two mornings in a row, I woke up to it. Usually, that kind of thing would shoot my anxiety way up.

This time, I didn’t panic.

I had a little money set aside (since I decided not to pay the credit card bills this month) and used it to repair my tire.

That small act of calm told me I was ready for something different.

I don’t want to spend the next five or ten years scrambling to make minimum payments to say I followed the rules. I don’t want to keep building a future on financial anxiety and shame. I want to rebuild with structure, clarity, and a sense of peace of mind.

So here I am. Not proud, but not ashamed. Just honest.

This is not about giving up.

It’s about finally giving myself permission to reset.

If you’re in a similar place, I hope this helps you feel seen. I’ll be sharing the whole journey from here.

Not just the polished moments, but the process it takes to begin again.

— Monique