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What if You are Frugal but Still in Debt?

Whoever is sharing content on social media about working adults being broke because they keep splurging on Starbucks and avocado toast did not have you in mind. If anyone knows where to find a discount, it is you. In fact, it seems like you spend all your time looking for discounts. You belong to Buy Nothing groups on social media. You and your friends take turns buying groceries in bulk, dividing the spoils, and sharing the cost. What little time you have away from work, you spend being productive. Impulse purchases are an alien concept to you; you do not even remember the last time you made one. Why, then, do your credit card balances hold steady in good months and climb higher in bad ones? Your frugal habits are commendable indeed, but to get out of debt, you need an Oakland lawsuits, collections, and creditor harassment lawyer.

Signs That You are Adept at Frugality

These are some habits of frugal people, according to Go Banking Rates:

  • Meal planning is an ongoing project. You research weekly specials and find or invent recipes that use this week’s sale items, plus foods that are already in your kitchen.
  • When you get a paycheck, any money that is left after you pay your current bills goes to savings or to pay more than the minimum payment on one or more of your debts.
  • You choose leisure activities that do not require you to spend a lot of money. For example, you go to free concerts instead of events that charge admission. You sit through the ads on YouTube instead of paying to buy or rent movies. You invite your friends for board games and snacks, or drinks and karaoke, at your house instead of going out to a restaurant or bar.
  • You keep the same stuff for a long time instead of buying new stuff. You know you are frugal if your teen drives the same car that once bore a “Just Married” sign at your wedding.
  • If you are single and don’t live with your family, you live with housemates. If you live with your family, your house has fewer bedrooms than occupants.

What to Do if You Pinch Every Penny But are Still in Debt

If you are still in debt despite your frugal habits, do not blame yourself. Necessities like groceries and transportation are astronomically expensive, but wages are stagnant. One relatively minor illness or injury can leave you paying off medical debt for years. You might be able to get debt relief by filing for bankruptcy protection, taking out a debt consolidation loan, or negotiating with creditors to settle your debts outside of court.

Contact the Law Office of Melanie Tavare About Debt Relief for Frugal Folks

Sometimes, it takes more than a budget and a few additional penny-pinching habits to get out of debt. A debt relief lawyer can help you break free from unaffordable debts. Contact the Law Office of Melanie Tavare in Oakland, California, or call (510)255-4646 for a free case evaluation.

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