Jennifer S

Lost my job three years ago and it's been a real struggle since then. I am finally starting to make a little money having reinvented myself in a new (freelance) field. Could not keep up on the credit card payments, though. Planning on filing bankruptcy. One card (Discover) has been nasty and got a court order against me. Deposited my first (for me) big check the other day and it was garnished in two days. Did they know I had money in the bank or where they just lucky? The injunction was taken out over a year ago.

My nephew is only 22 years old and facing a lengthy stay in federal prison (he really messed up his life, obviously). He is not street savvy and has led a sheltered life. He sent a letter from county jail saying that if we pay $200 to another prisoner (he provided the prisoner number so that funds could be delivered to him) this will ensure that he (my nephew) isn't hassled by other prisoners once he gets transferred to federal prison. We have been providing my nephew with funds to buy over-priced items (deodorant, toothpaste, some snacks) for two years while he sits in county waiting for sentencing. I don't know what to make of this "protection money" request, though. Seems like a real scam. Anyone out there have any advice? I'd appreciate hearing from someone who knows what it's like on the inside.

He's 26 and attending community college. She's 86 and loves him dearly. He uses her place like a crash pad and has been treating her like an ATM machine--to the tune of 500-plus dollars a month. He hasn't accepted student loans, smokes pot, and hasn't even tried to get a part-time job. He does have low self-esteem and apologized when I confronted him about the massive "loans" (to the tune of thousands of dollars now).. However, I don't know how to stop him from abusing my mother's great love for him. His father--my brother, isn't in the picture, and my mother isn't capable of saying "no" to him. However, she's not made of money, and even if she's not fully financially savvy or able to see what's wrong with this picture, she's in great physical health for someone her age, could live well into her 90s, and will need her income. Even worse, I foresee this escalating as he seems to be increasingly dependent on her largess. No, I don't think I can get her declared mentally incompetent, and don't want to take such extreme measures, but I just don't know how I can get the nephew to change what strikes me as predatory habits. Any suggestions?

Discover card served me with summons via a law service/collection agency. This was four months ago and I've heard nothing since, so I guess I was found guilty. Now I'm filing for bankruptcy under chapter 7 and don't know if this is a secured or unsecured debt.

I love a man who drinks too much. He is 55 years old. My friends do not think I should expect him to change--drink less or quit drinking. What do you think? I am certain of his love for me.