Filing for bankruptcy can be a difficult period to cope with, especially if you do so during the summer. Your friends have been posting pictures of their lush vacations or expensive events all over their Snapchat and Instagram accounts while you have been feeling defeated and in a financial dead alley. And there’s still a month before it’s over, leaving you wondering what you can do.
Luckily, every experienced San Diego bankruptcy attorney can tell you that summer can be a great season to plan your finances and start working towards a better life. Disregard all the false myths about bankruptcy you may have heard. Learning how to save and cut unwanted expenses will go a long way in securing your financial future. Here are a few tips on how to use this summer to your advantage.
Saving for the Future
If you’ve recently filed for bankruptcy, you will likely lack the funds to afford a summer trip or visit an expensive event. Don’t despair, and remember that you will always have the summer after this, and the summer after that. This summer, however, is the great place to start saving money for a fun trip next year. Save up a small amount from your salary every month, and start planning the budget for next year’s fun trip. Planning in advance might also help you save some money on early bird arrangements.
Fun is Free
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have fun, contrary to what you might believe. Look for free festivals in the San Diego area. A lot of libraries offer fun activities for children that are free of charge, such as story readings. You could organize a family picnic – San Diego is rich in exciting picnic areas. You can look for free activities or discounted tickets for the movies or the zoo on Facebook. You would be surprised how much money you could be saving on these free activities and how many of them you can find in your area.
Use Cash Whenever You Can
Finding a free or a discounted event is just one step towards smart spending. Allocating money you are allowed to spend on such events is the other. Whether you are buying souvenirs at the zoo or expensive junk food for the picnic, the expenses can quickly go out of hand. This is why it is important to use cash instead of cards. Having cash will help gain more control over how much you spend, and if you think you might still be tempted to use it, leave your credit card back home. Fighting impulse shopping will vastly improve your financial situation.
Prepare Your Own Food
Whether you are going on a picnic or packing food for the kids, preparing your own food can save you a lot of money. Fast food is not only ridiculously expensive, it is very unhealthy. Nothing can beat food prepared in your kitchen, which is why you should stop spending money on junk food and buy groceries and prepare meals yourself. This will give you a chance to be creative, try different dishes and flavors, and have fun while cooking up a meal for your family.
The Leading San Diego Bankruptcy Attorney
Filing for bankruptcy can be stressful, which is why the professionals at Chang & Diamond, APC, are here to answer any questions you may have on planning your life after bankruptcy and share their expertise with you. If you are about to file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy, do not hesitate to contact us for legal advice and a free consultation.