Hi all. It's been awhile since I havve posted. I have pretty much run out of money. I worked on a 1099 in 2009. I just made the first pass on my taxes, and I will owe over $8k (ouch). Also needed to buy a new computer for my livelihoood. At least I got that expense in in 2009. I'm already late on my home equity loan. Primary mortgage loan default may follow soon. I'm considering declaring bankruptcy too. My nexty step is to speak with an attorney about what options are best for me. In the meantime, I'm liquidating the contents of the house and have moved into my girlfriend's condo.

On a good note. I have an interview for a real job this Friday. If I get it, it may pay as little as 50% of what I made at my peak, but I'll have steady work, benefits, and the opportunity to enhance skills that could be leveraged for something better in the future.

I just filed with my mortgage and home equity banks for financial hardship. I'll keep everyone updated as I go through this process. I'm upside-down on my house (i.e. I owe more than it's worth). The proceeds from selling it would probably pay off the mortage, but not the home equity load, so it will be interesing to see how each lendor responds.

Before filing, as a precaution I opened another savings and checking account at a different bank (I had them at the same bank as my home equity), just in case that lender was able to freeze my assets. Just something to think of.

Hi,

Since I've been underemployed for over 3 years now, I've had to look into alternative sources of income. One thing that I am in the process of doing is renovating a condo. Purchased as a short sale. Needed everything replaced except the kitchen cabinets. Will be able to flip it for a profit. Fortunately, I was able to do quite a bt of the renovation myself, though I did sub-contract painting, plumbing, and electrical. If ou choose to do something like this, be very careful to budget accurately. It's easy to loose money.

Hi,

I got a call the other day. It was a phone screen. After applying to hundreds of jobs I finally got a phone screen. The interviewer said I was one of 20 being screened, out of 350 applicants (for a director level position, no less). Turns out we worked at the same place once in the distant past (though not at the same time), we knew some of the same people there, and reminisced about the situation at that place (the company no longer exists; it was absorbed by the parent company). When he asked my salary expectations, I used the quidelines that were posted on the LSN awhile back (i.e. "...fair, and comparable to my peers").