I knit a ripple afghan last year for our new grandbaby. I love the classic look of a ripple afghan and you can use different colors to customize the stripes too. Thanks for sharing the pattern!
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Hi - found your article on the Thrifty Thursday linkup. I just wanted to add my comments because I work for a bankruptcy attorney and see many people in this situation and can give a little different perspective.

One common scenario I have seen is a sole proprietor of a self-employment business who has just hung on too long hoping things would turn around. I have also seen people who had one unexpected medical crisis that has left them flooded with tens of thousands of dollars owing. So yes, it always comes down to more money needs to go out for payments than is coming in, but it's not always because of a willful and reckless abandon for more luxuries in life. It's a painful decision for people to make, especially when it means admitting your business has failed.

I have come to look at bankruptcy as a form of grace. Do they deserve to have their debt wiped out? No. Could they have made different and better decisions? Many times, Yes. But sometimes we just need grace, a fresh start, a year of jubilee, and the gift of something we don't deserve.

And remember too that there is means testing in bankruptcy now. It's not just an easy peasy matter of everyone getting their debt completely wiped out. If there is a decent income being made, the debtors must do a chapter 13 and pay something back on their debts. Some debtors in bankruptcy pay back 100% of their debt! It's just done under the protection of the court so they can have some extra time and are not harassed by creditors while they are doing it.