I will suggest this for the detractors who feel despondent after Phil "evaded justice"
Do the math on the the minimum monthly payment on $1,000 at the maximum legal interest rate for 8 years. Then multiply it by 7 or 8, because there's a 50/50 chance that Phil is gonna rack up every scummy credit card he can get to the limit. We have observed the spending habits that got him here, after all
For those wondering: typical after bankruptcy cards have a 17-23% interest rate. Assuming he continues his behavior, for every $1000 in credit card debt he carries, he will pay an additional $511 in interest, and said original principal wont be paid off for 6 years at 17%. Not to mention, most of those cards you ALSO have to pay $~30 every year in fees just to use the card, which is no far off from the $40 a month minimum payment. Assuming he keeps the card loaded (he will) he will pay $3840 towards that $1000 limit by year 8.
Not quite. He's broke today. At the end of the month he has 10 to 12k, less mortgage, car note, insurance, utilities that he can easily cover and also suddenly has a magic credit card debt sized pile of money that is equivalent to what many families survive on per month
Freeing up that chunk of money really puts him in a frankly enviable financial position going forward. If he has suddenly learned some restraint, he will live like a king, have a retirement plan, etc
"if you have no debt and $5 in your pocket, you are wealthier then most Americans"
Wiping out the credit card debt and the CONNdo is great, but keep in mind he already wasnt paying on the CONNdo since april and maxed out all his credit anyway. He'll easily whip up that much debt within a year and be right back to where he is now. High income but still poor as dirt.
"if he has suddenly learned some restraint" LMFAO dude. Cmon, this is phil. You REALLY think that, even if hell froze over, he'd learn a damn thing? He'll dig himself into even worse debt, since he cant discharge it for another 7-8 years, banks will throw credit at him and rape him in interest and fees. He'll keep taking out cards, maxing them out, then taking more cards to fuel his hobby, ESPECIALLY if he is in a good mood following the BTFOing of the 'TRACTORS. I predict within a year, he'll rack up over $30-40K of credit debt, plus whatever he has to pay tot he IRS this year. Remember, the new consoles are coming out this year, and someone might "gift" phil a PS5 mysteriously.