Rebuilding After Bankruptcy: Car Fundraiser

Hello! I am going against my own ego and pride, and taking some advice from friends, to start a GoFundMe for a new car.

As very few people may know, I filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and was finally discharged in July 2025. This was a huge, emotional, and lengthy process. I moved out and was paying most of my bills by the time I was 19, with some help from family (not without the knowledge they were sacrificing their own needs for me). Without proper financial knowledge and an undiagnosis of addiction for most of my 20s, I was stuck in the same cycle: becoming stable, some massive life event would hit, addiction would take over, money would leave my pockets, taking out loans to just pay rent or groceries, and then not being able to pay them when the next big life event hit. Rinse and repeat.

After years of incurring what I call “survival debt”, I hit a wall. I wanted financial freedom. I looked and tried every option (snowball method, paying off by interest, side hustles, you name it, I probably have tried it), but nothing I tried to do on my own ever worked.

After many talks with friends who have gone through or known someone who has gone through bankruptcy, I decided it was the right choice for me. I gave up on major dreams of mine because of the crippling debt I was under, and realized I had an option that could allow me to dream again. So, I filed. I knew from the start of my bankruptcy journey that I would potentially lose ownership of my car, the only real asset I owned.

About 3 years ago, I was sued by a collections agency. In a panic, I took out a secured loan on my car to pay lawyers. It is the decision I regret the most in my debt journey, as I was incredibly close to paying it off. I would then be sued two more times by two other collection agencies, and it all felt for not. It was never-ending. Since my car was a part of this secured loan, I had to give it up. And on August 20th, 2025, they came and took back possession of my car.

I am asking y’all for help with a down payment for a new vehicle. This is something I would never do. I got into the debt I did because I refused to ask for help (not financially, but emotionally and educationally), look into pantries, or look into government assistance programs. There was (and at times still is) a pride in myself that refused to take a “handout” and has learned through years of education and loving conversations that it’s okay to ask, and if someone says no, then that’s okay too. I will be just fine, whatever the outcome.

If you want to know more how the how and why I got here, I will be putting out a lengthier essay so people can have further education on how someone like me (which I know a lot of people see me as a person who 100% has their shit together) can get to this point and why this option allowed me to start a new life.

Money Breakdown:

- $0-$3,000: Initial downpayment + GoFundMe Fee

- $3,000-$4,500: Car Insurance Covered for A Year

- $4,500+: A Split Between Donations and A Higher Down Payment (60/40 split)

FAQs:

- Why should we donate to you?

All I will say is you do not have to; I understand that there is a need in every corner right now. I am asking for an opportunity to start fresh. I have taken many steps to fix and turn my life over, and a car has always been essential to the life I want to live.

- What car are you looking to get?

I know I want an SUV. It’s the type of car I’ve had since 18, when I bought my first beater back in 2013. I feel safe in an SUV, and it allows me to do all the things I need to on a daily basis and on one-off occasions.

- Why ask for a down payment and not just get a car you can afford to buy cash?

I am someone who takes care of my things heavily. The car that was just repoed was 10 years old, and whenever I told people that, they were shocked. I kept up with cleaning and maintaining it because when I buy something as expensive as a vehicle, I do not go in with the mindset that I’m just going to sell it once I get bored with it or find something else I like. I will drive it till the wheels fall off. I want the best option for that longevity. A beater that will get me from A to B will cause more headaches than not (from personal experience). I drive 100s of miles to camp or road trips. I provide rides whenever I can, ensuring the safety of myself, my friends, and community after long nights out. I have helped haul things for friends in my car plenty of times. I have brought baskets of supplies to protests and volunteer events. A car is not just a source of freedom for me, but a tool for my friends and community when needed.

- When are you looking to buy?

Within the next month, no later than early October. I have public transport options and my roommate, who has graciously offered me their car when I need it, but would like to be on the road again with my own car before the end of this Fall.

- You mentioned donating the excess money. Who will you be donating to, and why?

- I am planning to donate to two orgs: A local org prioritizing community work towards/with Black & Brown Folx, Black/Brown Queer/Trans Folx, and/or Incarcerated Folx, AND The Heart of It Writing Retreat

I come from those identities and these folx, us, tend to get overlooked when it comes to financial assistance, so if I can help fund meals, letters, or a gathering, I would be more than elated to. THOI is THE place that convinced me to continue writing and is why I have 2 books out. Des & Team come from similar backgrounds as mine, and I see the love and care they pour out to their communities. We have not been forgotten as THOI continues to grow, which you cannot say about many places that “grow out” of their initial audience. If I can assist in their continued journey to create a space for Writers in need, I would also love to do that. I will share the receipts of both donations when that time comes. I plan for 60% of excess money to go towards donations and the other 40% to go towards a higher down payment.

- I can’t donate but want to help! How do I do that?

Sharing would be amazing and the biggest help if you cannot donate! If you know of a dealership that works with people with bankruptcies that sells decent cars in the Bay, hit me up (I’m looking through Car Gurus at the moment)! Are you a mechanic and wanna come with me to the dealership when I decide to buy, please do! Carpools, in the meantime, would be amazing!