Coral addiction is real

B-ridge · Jan 10, 2019

Some may beleive others may not but our hobby addiction is real. I came home from work a little while ago and a reefing buddy of mine asked me to stop by. I stop by his house thinking it was about his fish tank. I take a look at his tank and it looks terrible. Very disorganized. We sit down and talk and he shows me a letter he received and his house is in foreclosure. In less than 30 days his house will be sold at some foreclosure sale. I’m thinking in my mind wow. I can’t fathom this. How could this happen? Dude has a decent job making 100k a year. Subtract the 30 something percent for child support and he’s still making decent money. We’re talking and instead of sending his mortgage payment out he was buying corals and fish related stuff. Before he realized how bad his addiction was getting it was too late. He was already behind a month. Then 2 months. Then 3 months. Now I read the letter and it’s been 15 months. I ask him how. He says once he realized it he was already behind 3 months and didn’t have enough to catch up. I ask him about programs or anyway he can save his home. This man has a wife and kids. Granted the wife doesn’t work and my buddy was hurt at work and has been out of work for since July. Says he’s been in touch with a lawyer and he needs 4,000-4,500. And he’s filing for bankruptcy to save his house. I’m no lawyer so I don’t know what to say. We go for a ride and I take him to my bank and I withdraw $1,000 for him. We go to ny house and I give him a bunch of corals for him to sell off that I know he could easily get another $1,000 for. He’s now in the process of breaking down his tank and selling his items. It pains me to see another grown man cry and in such a predicament.
I say that to say this. Be careful everyone. Coral addiction is real

Daniel91 · Jan 10, 2019

You know what, this is really depressing and I wish all good fortune for your friend and I am sure with the right mind-set, he’ll be able to turn things around for the better.

With that being said, there’s different kinds of addictions. Once you let an addiction dictate and control your life and/or expenses, you need professional help.
Especially being this selfish when he has kids/wife to think off.

Cudos to you for being there for him but I really can’t phantom why would would give this man $1,000 cash when he clearly can’t manage his money. This money would be so much better to invest into a financial manager, who could provide him the much needed guidance and reality check.

As an ending note, again - I wish him all the best and he should be very thankful to have somebody like you to be there for him.

Evan28395950 · Jan 10, 2019

Wow..
Hopefully everything works out

cancun · Jan 10, 2019

Wow....hope things work out for your buddy....he is lucky to have you as a friend! Yea moderation is key in this hobby....and stay out of local fish stores! LOL! I make a LFS stop every couple of months to prevent from being tempted!

B-ridge · Jan 10, 2019

I gave him the money because that’s what I felt in my heart was the right thing to do. It’s up to him to decide what he values more. At this point I’m not sure what a financial advisor/planner would do. If I remember correctly he only has till the end of the month before the foreclosure sale. I’m not sure what else he could do at this point. If anyone has any input I could relay to him it would be much appreciated.
I hate he’s even going through this but in the same point he did it to himself. But even still I would hate for anyone to lose there home for any reason. And the person I am I would do whatever I could for anyone in the same situation