MasConcepts Incorporated

Chapter 7 filed in late 2025, discharged in early 2026. Total discharge was more than six figures in CC debt and tens of thousands in back taxes.

Backstory: During COVID, I made two major mistakes.

Mistake #1: Credit cards.

I went into the pandemic with some existing credit card debt, and over time it spiraled. I went through a divorce, overspent, had multiple emergencies (including a very expensive surgery), made poor financial decisions, and was in a relationship where I was financially taken advantage of.

I was putting hundreds to thousands toward my cards every month and never missed a payment, but the interest kept piling up. I also used 0% APR balance transfers, but when those expired, the interest hit hard. Eventually, within a few years, my debt grew into the six figures- much of it interest.

Mistake #2: Taxes

I started a side hustle that unexpectedly became very profitable, and I left my full-time job. I filed my taxes but couldn’t pay the balances. With penalties and interest, that also grew into six figures over the span of a few years.

The spiral: My income eventually dropped significantly, and every extra dollar I made went toward debt, but I wasn’t making real progress. It felt constant, overwhelming, and crippling.

By 2025, I had around racked up multiple six figures in debt between back taxes and credit cards. I still cannot fathom that I put myself in that position.

At one point, I was dealing with collection activity related to my tax debt. I contacted an attorney in my state and got on a payment plan with the IRS for about a year to avoid escalation. I was paying a few hundred each month.

During that time, I started speaking with the firm’s bankruptcy attorney about my credit card debt. The idea of filing a chapter 7 was devastating. I felt ashamed and like I had completely failed.

The process: I filed my bankruptcy petition in late 2025. My case hit a delay due to residency verification issues after moving between states and then temporarily overseas. I had to provide extensive documentation to prove my ties, which took weeks of digging, searching, and calls, but eventually everything was resolved.

My case moved forward, and I was officially discharged in early 2026. I was relieved of more than six figures in credit card debt and tens of thousands in back taxes.

Lessons learned:

-If I have a child, I will teach them financial literacy. I don’t blame my parents for my own financial mistakes (I was a grown ass adult when I made them), but I think I would have been more responsible and informed had I had a better understanding of credit cards, savings, debt, etc..

-If I can’t pay a credit card in full, I can’t afford it.

-Interest is brutal and can quietly snowball into something unmanageable. Prior to this, I had a 780 credit score. It’s now up to 675, thanks to my auto loan and student loan payments.

-Getting professional help was absolutely worth every penny.

-There is relief out there, even when things feel completely hopeless.

I feel a lot less shame around my bankruptcy now than I have previously, but I’m forever grateful to have a fresh start.