Month: May 2016

Summer has officially begun in the Mankato, Minnesota area, which means folks are ready to get outside, work on their suntans, and celebrate three months of sunshine and fun! Although there are a lot of fun activities available during the summer months, it can be challenging to pay for expensive tickets or experiences while on a tight budget or while going through bankruptcy.

Fortunately, there are a lot of free activities available in the Mankato, Minnesota area. There’s one that’s especially exciting that also allows for a little physical activity: the Little Free Libraries scattered around Mankato and surrounding towns. Here’s how to make the most of those little libraries while keeping your bankruptcy budget in check:

Look for Libraries! There is a website available that can help you find all the Little Free Libraries nearest to you. How cool is that? Once you know the locations, sit down with a friend or family member to set your route. The more walking in the sunshine, the better!

Walk it Out! Once you’ve got a plan in mind, grab a book you’re ready to part with and start walking! Take time to enjoy the adventure between little libraries, and to see the neighborhood or town in a whole new way.

Lend or Borrow: Little Free Libraries rely on consistent donations and borrows from folks that pass by. If you see something you like, drop off your old book inside the library and take one that’s new. It’s yours to keep. That is, until you find the next book you want to borrow!

A Little Free Library walk is the perfect free summertime activity to kick off June in the Mankato, Minnesota area. Regardless of your budget or the status of your bankruptcy filing, this free outing will keep you happy and well read. Bankruptcy is not always fun, but that doesn’t mean your summer has to suffer!

For more information about your personal bankruptcy budget or bankruptcy filing, call the professionals at Behm Law Group Ltd. today!

 

It’s almost summertime in the Owatonna, Minnesota area, which means folks are preparing to travel and enjoy the sunshine! Though you may be boarding a plane sometime in the next few months, you’ll notice something is glaringly absent. Although you’ll still have access to those individually packaged peanuts, tiny glasses of ginger ale, and in-flight movies, Skymall will be nowhere in sight due to a bankruptcy filing from this past January.

There are a few different reasons why SkyMall succumbed to bankruptcy over the past few years, but here are the major reasons why you’ll be missing SkyMall on your next trip:

Phone Competition: Rather than perusing pages of neck pillows and pet accessories during flights, folks have recently preferred to look through their personal devices. This has decreased the amount of traffic through SkyMall, consequently decreasing their overall sales and taking them one step closer to bankruptcy.

Touch Down and Take Off: Although this had already been a problem during flights, SkyMall still took advantage of that precious time when customers couldn’t use phones during touch down and take off. When flights changed their policy on cell phone usage and folks didn’t have to turn off their phones, SkyMall finally had to file for bankruptcy.

The Cost of Paper: Under increasing pressure to go paperless—for either environmental or cost-based reasons—airlines have recently found it difficult to justify carrying magazines or catalogues.

In the Owatonna, Minnesota area, folks are getting ready to take flight without SkyMall to keep them distracted and entertained. Fortunately, in recent months SkyMall has found a new buyer based out of New Jersey . Perhaps they’ll be back in business, out of bankruptcy, and ready to fly just in time for you to purchase a festive cat hat for Aunt Muriel this fall.

For additional information about bankruptcy filings, contact the professionals at Behm Law Group Ltd. today!

 

It’s important to look fashionable and fun in the Marshall, MN area, especially with summer just around the corner. While shops in the area are pulling their shorts and sundresses out of storage, one teen-focused retailer will be pulling out a “Closed” sign instead. Aeropostale filed for bankruptcy earlier this week.

Though Aeropostale may have once been a go-to destination for teen shoppers, it’s recently slipped out of the public eye. After a few years of struggling, they finally filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Here’s all the information you need to know:

In total, this New York-centered retailer will close 113 of their 739 stores across the United States and Canada. This process will begin soon, and may have already begun in certain store locations. Stores slated to be closed in Minnesota are located in Blaine, Coon Rapids, and Woodbury.

The market for teen shoppers has changed in recent years. Rather than looking for logos, polos, or high price clothing, teenagers are looking to stores like H&M and Forever 21 for their quick fashion fixes. These types of stores have pushed Aeropostale out of the current youth market and into bankruptcy.

Though Aeropostale stores near you may be closing, they hope to reopen as a “standalone enterprise” after their Chapter 11 filing is complete. This will mean higher efficiency and a lower number of stores.

Aeropostale recently tried a social media revival, which ultimately fell flat. This failed marketing tactic was a sign that bankruptcy may be the best option for this teen clothing retailer.

Although Aeropostale is filing for bankruptcy protection, that doesn’t mean you’ll be without fashionable clothing in the Marshall, MN area. After their bankruptcy filing is complete, this retailer should be up and running once again.

If you have questions regarding bankruptcy or feel you need to file for bankruptcy protection contact the professionals at Behm Law Group, Ltd. today!

 

It’s Mother’s Day in the Waseca, Minnesota area, which means folks will be reaching out to thank their mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, friends, and all the other important women in their lives. While it’s important to express our gratitude for these wonderful, hardworking women, it can be tricky to purchase gifts in the midst of financial struggles or a bankruptcy filing.

Rather than spending top dollar on a dozen roses or an expensive box of chocolates, why not try a thoughtful, homemade gift this Mother’s Day? Here are a few ideas to show appreciation without further increasing the need for a bankruptcy filing:

• Get Creative: Make special cards, coupons, or books for the important women in your life. All you need is a good set of markers and some colorful construction paper, as well as a helping hand from your kids or other family members!
• Time: Is your mom a bike-riding enthusiast? Does your aunt have a garden that’s the envy of the neighborhood? Take some time to get outside and go for a bike–ride, walk, or other adventure with the wonderful women in your life!
• Breakfast in Bed: This one is an old classic for a good reason! For families going through bankruptcy or other financial troubles, breakfast in bed can be the perfect way to help Mom relax and enjoy the day. Pancakes and eggs always taste better under the covers!
• Game Time: Family game night is a great way to spend time together and have some fun. Scrabble, Monopoly, or Apples to Apples are all great ways to relax and laugh while enjoying one another’s company!
• Bankruptcy can be challenging around the holidays or on special days in the Waseca, Minnesota area. But with a little creativity, you’ll find that there are all kinds of ways to show your appreciation for the women in your life this Mother’s Day.

For questions about your personal bankruptcy filing, or to learn more about bankruptcy processes, contact the professionals at Behm Law Group Ltd. today!