Another question on Purgatory for Catholics?

Being a former one, I empathize with Catholics who have through the church this massive guilt and think that works and prayers to saints and to Mary will save you. Why would Jesus die for your sins IF He didn't really mean to save you? Think about it. I was brought up in the Catholic faith, being taught that if we prayed for those in Purgatory, they may reach salvation. I don't know if any Catholic will agree with me, but your purification process (Purgatory) starts here on earth once you are saved through your sanctification. When your dead, your dead, you await the final Judgement. You can't get a second chance for forgiveness as Purgatory would give. So start now, read the NT over again and you may come to same conclusion I have.