I am not in the process yet, but very close to filing. My whole financial situation is a mess, although my credit cards are all still current. Up until now, there still are no non-pays, late pays, or penalties, etc ... yet. But, because I lost my job, and am forced to work only part time, plus a little unemployment (UI) income, I am in dire straits. I have to borrow $500 from a relative to pay my rent on 11/1, and it just keeps getting worse.

So, next month, I am likely going to not pay any of my credit cards for which they are going into default/penalty status.

I do have an attorney, who has advised me on some of these things, but I have delayed filing because I was trying to move to a new apartment before filing, which is what he advised me to do. (since I mentioned to him I wanted to move into a new residence before filing)

Now, a month or so later after talking with him, that is all going to fall through, as I cannot get a better paying job, nor full-time work to qualify for another apartment. So moving is out and I am stuck in my current residence. Now - I am in survival/damage control mode, and the money situation isn't good at all.

I am having to pay some of my bills (ie - cable/internet) that I owe past due amounts on, and these are considered "luxury" items. I also need to buy a few more things before I file that are also considered luxury items. So, I am trying to plan my expenditures the best I can. If I ask the attorney to help me with all these "minor" issues, he is going to charge me more.

He quoted me a very good fee: a flat fee of $800, including the $300 filing fee ... for everything, the whole case from start to finish.

So, I am trying not to bother him, and keep things as simple as possible for him, without causing more complications ... for which he is going to charge me more for.

The reason why I may want to cancel the petition is b/c there is a remote outside chance that I could land a very high-paying job, as well as another possible highly lucrative business venture, in which may come into fruition in the next 2-4 weeks. But, because my current situation is getting so bad, I no longer have the luxury to delay filing the petition for any more than a few weeks.