A call from sil two days ago and brother is dead. He shot himself in the garage of his home. He left behind a loving wife, 10 year old step daughter that was crazy about him, two 20 something daughters and three precious granddaughters. You may wonder how this belongs on a financial website.
He had recently lost his job and like many of us on this board was in debt for things and could not see a way out. Even with the support of his wife it was going to take selling many of the things that were important to a certain lifestyle. We are only talking about the middle class keeping up with the Joneses' but nevertheless it was due to feeling that he had to maintain a certain lifestyle or his brothers and mom might consider him a failure. While this is not how we would have felt at all that was his feeling. He will be missed by everyone who life he touched. He was not a old man by any means but going to be 50 on his next birthday.
How this as opened my eyes. After we return from the memorial we will be selling everything that we can - items of extravance, diamond rings, big screen tv's, home three times the size of what we need for two people. I cannot let his death be without any meaning and neither can my dh. Perhaps not the best reason to downsize but finally the slap in the face we need to make some serious changes.
Any one who reads this that may be having the same feelings of hopelessness that he did, please talk it over with some one. Your loved ones will not be
better off without you.
Make some serious changes now. Don't live to impress anyone.
Please say a prayer for our family as we try to heal.
Suicide because of debt
August 11th, 2007 at 09:47 pm
August 11th, 2007 at 10:29 pm 1186871364
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August 11th, 2007 at 10:57 pm 1186873050
How devastating. I am so sorry.
August 11th, 2007 at 11:22 pm 1186874548
August 11th, 2007 at 11:24 pm 1186874641
Thank you for sharing your heartbreaking story, surely it will help someone just when they need it.
August 11th, 2007 at 11:33 pm 1186875198
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August 12th, 2007 at 05:02 pm 1186938165
I'm not suicidal, but I do know the feeling of financial desperation. That's why I am the way I am today as well, trying to sell everything and live a simple, manageable life.
Yes, let's not let his death be in vain. Let us all remember him by becoming financially well.
August 13th, 2007 at 02:09 am 1186970974
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August 18th, 2007 at 01:59 am 1187402359
I have had two family members die in that manner, and you never get over the disbelief that someone could be that desperate, and not see a way out. He had to have been suffering from clinical depression. If so, nothing you or his wife and kids could have said to him would have helped.
Prayers go out to you and the family.
August 24th, 2007 at 09:34 pm 1187991256
"carol Says:
August 11th, 2007 at 03:50 pm
(wipes away tears)Heart breaking stories like this convince me more than ever to keep urging everyone to get out of debt asap. No amount of material possessions is worth this price."
Amen Carol...I own a credit card site and this is the last thing that you want to find out about. On my site I have articles to teach people the importance of debt and how to find the best credit cards for your needs. If you have a lot of debt I always suggest trying to balance transfer your debt. It can significantly lower you bills and it doesn't look bad on your credit. I still believe that credit cards and business loans are very important in todays world, but you are right "No amount of material possessions is worth this price."!
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