If you are one of the almost one million federal employees furloughed or forced to work without pay during the government shutdown, you are likely suffering financial hardship. Although the government shutdown appears to be over as of today, it is far from settled. The government has three (3) weeks to resolve their differences over legislation or face another lengthy government shutdown. The most recent government shutdown of six (6) weeks has resulted in federal employees missing at least two (2) full pay checks. For those employees that are living pay check to pay check, that has meant having to choose between eating and paying your rent/mortgage, vehicle payments or other vital obligations. What can you do? You do have financial options.

What the government shutdown has exposed, is just how many Americans live pay check to pay check waiting for the inevitable other shoe to drop. This is no way to live. In a perfect world, you would be able to save money from your pay checks for disasters such as government shutdowns, which are no fault of your own. If you are stuck in a rut of living pay check to pay check you may want to consider what your Bankruptcy options are, under either Chapter 7 Bankruptcy or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Contact a local Bankruptcy Attorney that can explain what your options are based on your unique financial circumstances. What we have learned from the most recent government shutdown is that our government is often playing with our lives without truly acknowledging the financial hardship their decisions may cause. You need to be prepared for disaster before it strikes, even if it’s a disaster not of your own making.