Good question maryellennaco ... why does Iguana seem to not mind the HGs going the bandruptcy route? She seems to encourage it, actually. Sure you have to live with your decision for a number of years once you declair bankruptcy but I have always thought that, unless there is a true emergency, bankruptcy is just another way of stealing what you feel entitled to but can't afford. SO seems to treat bankruptcy ever so nonchalantly ... as an everyday part of anyone's life. Allowing someone like Allison or Antonia to wipe away their debts resulting from frivolous purchases just seems wrong to me. Both these women have had some serious issues with buying clothes, accessories, etc. just because ... well, they WANTED them. Thankfully Antonia has some scruples left and plans to pay what she owes rather than declair bankruptcy. I hope she means it and doesn't later change her mind ... when she's tired & doesn't want to go to one job, much less two, and when she misses the adrenoline rush of shopping and non-stop partying. If she sticks with this decision, in the long run she will gain self-respect, self-pride, and an ample amount of self-esteem knowing she can rise to a tough situation and accomplish something difficult. Sadly, isn't respect, pride, & esteem what Allison kept looking for? Too bad she was never willing to do what it takes to gain those things.

SR ~ I loved the story about your parents debt "crisis". I was also raised by parents who never used a credit card, even tho they too had difficulty at times feeding 4 children. And to this day, except for the house and occasionally a small short term car loan, I still prefer to save first, buy later ... rather than buy now, then pay & pay & pay & pay looooong after you've forgotten what you charged to begin with and, including the accrued interest, you end up paying twice the original cost of the item.