10 ChatGPT Prompts That Actually Work for Real People

Real-life situations. Real results. No guesswork.

If you’ve ever typed something into ChatGPT and thought, “That’s not what I meant at all,” you’re not alone.

The truth is: a good prompt makes all the difference. It’s the difference between confusing fluff and clear, actionable help, especially when you’re facing something serious like a legal issue, financial stress, or a tough conversation.

Below are 10 real-world ChatGPT prompts that work, because they’re built the way prompts should be: specific, strategic, and plain-language.

1. Explain the Divorce Process in My State

Prompt:

"Explain the divorce process in Texas for someone with one child, no major assets, and low conflict. Make it easy to understand and avoid legal jargon."

Why It Works:
It gives location, family structure, tone, and legal complexity, all the clarity ChatGPT needs to return a helpful overview.

You don’t even need a prompt; just use the Divorce Advisor Tool to get an answer now.

2. Negotiate Rent with My Landlord

Prompt:

"Write a respectful letter to my landlord explaining financial hardship and requesting a rent reduction or payment plan."

Why It Works:
You specify both tone and purpose. That’s exactly what AI needs to produce a letter that’s firm but fair.

3. Build a Budget Plan Based on My Income

Prompt:

"Help me build a monthly budget plan. I make $3,200/month and pay $950 in rent, plus car and student loan payments. Keep it realistic."

Why It Works:
You give income, key expenses, and a tone request (“realistic”), helping the AI tailor the budget to your actual life.

4. Prepare for a Job Interview in My Industry

Prompt:

"Give me 5 smart questions to ask during a job interview for a mid-level marketing role. Include one that shows I understand current trends."

Why It Works:
It defines role, level, and even a strategic goal, helping ChatGPT craft questions that make you look sharp and proactive.

5. Write a Parenting Plan Outline

Prompt:

"Give me a parenting plan outline for 50/50 custody with alternating weeks, low conflict, and a child in elementary school."

Or, if you want an instant answer tailored to your situation, you can try our free Parenting Plan Builder tool.

Why It Works:
You describe the arrangement, age group, and conflict level, letting the AI generate a realistic, co-parenting-friendly outline.

These prompts follow the same principles behind what makes a good ChatGPT prompt: clarity, context, and format.

6. Understand If I Qualify for Bankruptcy

Prompt:

"Based on $65K in unsecured debt, $3K monthly income, and owning a car worth $6K, do I likely qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy?"

Why It Works:
AI can’t give legal advice, but with this level of detail, it can explain if your scenario matches common eligibility patterns.

Need a faster solution? The Bankruptcy Advisor on Goat Answer gives you expert-level help in seconds.

7. Draft a Letter to an Ex About Custody Changes

Prompt:

"Write a calm, respectful message to my ex explaining that I’d like to adjust our custody schedule to fit new work hours."

Why It Works:
Tone + intent = a letter that avoids drama and helps you communicate clearly and respectfully.

8. Ask About Foreclosure Alternatives

Prompt:

"What are my options to avoid foreclosure in California if I’ve missed 3 payments and lost my job?"

Why It Works:
Location + urgency + context, this gets you a list of specific strategies that are actually relevant to your situation.

Want to skip the prompt-writing? Just use our Foreclosure Advisor; it’s built for this exact scenario.

9. Negotiate Job Offer Terms

Prompt:

"Draft a professional email asking for a salary adjustment and hybrid flexibility based on a recent job offer."

Why It Works:
AI is great at polite scripts. This prompt sets up the request and gives it context, helping you come across as confident, not demanding.

These prompts follow the same principles behind what makes a good ChatGPT prompt: clarity, context, and format.

10. Simplify a Legal Term I Don’t Understand

Prompt:

"Explain what 'deed in lieu of foreclosure' means in simple terms, like you're explaining it to a friend."

Why It Works:
Telling ChatGPT to use a “friend” tone is powerful. It prompts the AI to drop the legalese and actually communicate.

🚀 Bonus: Want a Smarter Way to Craft Prompts?

All of these work because they’re well-structured. But you don’t need to learn prompt engineering to get great answers.

Instead, try the Goat Answer Prompt Builder, a free tool that helps you build prompts for real-life legal, financial, or personal questions, with zero guesswork.