2008-9 wiped me out. I went from having multiple houses and vehicles while working on a PhD (so, unfortunately, not at a job) with a 811 FICO score (having never had a late payment) to living in a friend's extra room without a car and barely finding a place for my Mom to live. Oh yeah, I lost over $821,000 yet "they" still claimed I owed $168k (I didn't). It took me two years to earn enough money to go bankrupt.
It was so much fun to start over as I approached 50 years of age. Especially since I am, apparently, unemployable. All of the jobs in my primary industry (IT) wanted to see two years of recent experience and certifications (which I never needed before). All of the low-level jobs I applied for just to be able to eat and survive (CostCo, Fred Meyer, QFC, UPS, etc., etc.) either never replied or said they couldn't pay me what I was worth and that I would simply leave them as soon as a real paying job came along (Really???). I've made it this far by doing side work (mostly IT stuff) for friends that own businesses. By the end of this month I should FINALLY be back to zero. I should have enough extra to pay off the friends that gave me loans (to buy a cheap car and simply live) as well as just enough to cover month-to-month expenses.
So how did I get screwed? I was one of the few who put down a LOT on each house and was paying my loans on time (so I didn't qualify for the programs that helped those that put down nothing and paid nothing keep their homes). There was several illegal practices done by the banks, but even the law-suit against B of A that I was part of only got me $1,485 (I lost over $590,000 to them). Basically, if you played by the rules, you got screwed. I've got a few more stories, but you get the picture.
Bah.