People who file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy will have to watch their spending throughout the course of the bankruptcy. This is because you will have to make payments to the bankruptcy court in an effort to pay off your debts. There won’t be much money left once this is done, so you will need to determine what you can do to cut expenses.
One thing that you will have to do at the start of the case is to write out a budget. Know where your money is going so that you can determine where you need to cut expenses. There are some smaller things that might help you out here. You can eat out less or cut back on online shopping habits. Take steps to save on your electric bill and cancel cable. Stop going out so often until you are back on your feet after your case is closed.
You might find that you feel a bit more secure about everything if you start a small emergency fund. This could help you cover major expenses if they come up without you having to try to have your bankruptcy temporarily modified. Just remember that you have to claim all income you make, so even trying to find a side gig might not work out in these cases. Your attorney can help you find out what is possible for you.
Living on a shoestring budget isn’t easy; however, doing without some of the wants that you have now might set you up for a better financial future later. You can learn to live on what you have so that you don’t have to rely on credit. This might help you avoid having to file bankruptcy again. It also puts you in control of your money.