Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy as an Autistic Adult: My Honest Story About Debt & Impulse Spending

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Filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy as an Autistic Adult: My Honest Story About Debt & Impulse Spending


Today I stopped by O’Reilly’s to print out paperwork I’ll need for Monday—because I’m filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Honestly? I got in over my head with bills. Between impulse spending and my executive dysfunction, managing money hasn’t been my strongest skill.

If you’ve ever struggled with debt, you know it feels overwhelming. Being autistic makes it even harder. I don’t always see the financial red flags, and sometimes I act on impulse without realizing the long‑term cost. My mom is stepping in now to help manage my finances, so hopefully this becomes a turning point.

At the store, John and Miranda were there too. They gave me a bit of a reality check about my phone bill—yeah, it’s about $407 a month. But there’s context: it covers my phone, my nephew’s, and my brother’s, plus two tablets and my Galaxy Watch. To me, that’s not crazy high, but I get why it looks that way on paper.

The truth is, I never meant to end up here. I’d get letters in the mail saying I was “pre‑approved” for credit cards or loans. It felt like a good idea at the time. I genuinely thought I made enough money to handle it. Turns out, I didn’t. And now I have to face the consequences.

I’m frustrated, embarrassed, and mad at myself  but I’m also trying to be honest. Being autistic doesn’t mean I’m irresponsible; it means money management takes extra support and planning. And that’s okay.




Reflection


Admitting I messed up isn’t easy. But it’s the first step toward fixing it. With help from my mom, maybe I can finally build healthier habits and get a fresh start.




#BankruptcyJourney #AutisticAdult #ExecutiveDysfunction #ImpulseSpending #DebtStruggle #RealTalk #FreshStart #ChroniclesOfAQuietFighter

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