Clients are gone, lots of debt, what would you do?
skmurphy: I would go forward from where you are. Look for additional contract work and look for additional business that can leverage your assets as they are. Tell everyone you know that you are looking for work and are available to start immediately. Go back to all of your old clients and see if there is any basis to consult/contract or support them--that doesn't involve incurring additional expense in advance.Simplify your life to the point of austerity and pay as you go. Don't "bum" anything from anyone, e.g. find a mutually acceptable quid pro quo for room/board from parents and/or friends. Sell any other assets you don't need for work (e.g. television, videogames, other non-essential and time-wasting items), use the money for food and debt service.On 30K of credit card debt my calculation is that you owe about $500-600 in minimum payment, use the 6K to continue to make minimum payments. Put your credit cards in your sock drawer and only carry one for bona fide emergencies (e.g. car breakdown). Carry cash and pay cash for everything, it will give you a sense of where you are spending money immediately.Don't take any contracts that require you to advance any money or risk more than a week's labor until you get your debt paid off. Don't "pay up front and invoice in arrears," get your clients to cover the up front expenses and take a fee for your services and the use of your software platform.