Chicago Bankruptcy Lawyer Blog

What's the easiest way to save money this holiday season? It might be as simple as treating the holidays like, well, holidays - and you can start today.

Think about it. Today was once a day to spend with loved ones, giving thanks for food and family. Just like Christmas was once a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus - a time to focus on faith and, once again, family. But this year, it seems like the holidays have become one big excuse to go shopping. Apparently we can't even wait until Black Friday - for the first time ever, many major retailers are open on Thanksgiving, according to Chicago bankruptcy attorneys. We all know businesses need a boost - the problem is, most of us have bills to pay.

Continue reading "How Chicago Families Can Save Money By Relaxing On Thanksgiving" »

If you're more worried about turkey, pies and grocery bills than your taxes this week, you're not alone. But there's a reason you might want to take time out from your hectic holiday schedule to check on your tax situation - especially if you're looking for ways to help lower debt, say Chicago bankruptcy attorneys.

Turns out that more than 100,000 Americans are eligible for a piece of a $164 million pie that the IRS is hoping to serve up this fall. That's the amount of tax refunds that couldn't be delivered this year due to incorrect addresses.

Continue reading "Didn't Get a Tax Refund This Year? Uncle Sam Might Be Looking For You" »

When do folks turn down a discount? Apparently when it involves filling out rebate paperwork.

Along with other sales and specials meant to get us to open up our wallets over the next six weeks, retailers are rolling out holiday rebates. The the idea behind a rebate is pretty straightforward, according to Chicago bankruptcy attorneys. You pay the sticker price with the understanding that, once you're home, you can apply to get money back - a delayed discount of sorts. But stores know something that we don't - in reality, many of us are too lazy or forgetful to redeem those rebates.

Continue reading "Why Holiday Rebates Might Not Be Such a Good Deal for Chicago Shoppers" »

How do you manage debt when the only steady thing in your life is, well, your debt?

It's a question many Americans are asking themselves this season. Just when we're gearing up to buy all the trimmings for a Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas gifts for friends and family, our employers are cutting our hours and paychecks. If you've been able to scrape enough money together to make the minimum payment on your bills - but nothing more - the rest of the year, the holiday season threatens to finally derail your finances. But there's still time to fight back, say Chicago bankruptcy lawyers.

Continue reading "Why Ignoring Debt Doesn't Make the Holidays Happier for Chicago Consumers" »

Once upon a time, the day after Thanksgiving marked the official start of the holiday shopping season. Lately, it seems more like the day after Halloween. And as for this year? Red and green goods were pushing black and orange merch off the shelves by the beginning of October.

Welcome to holiday shopping in an economic downturn. At a time when folks have less money in their pockets and more debt looming overhead, retailers are pulling out all the stops to keep our minds wandering to material things. But we don't have to take the bait.

Continue reading "Early Start to Holiday Shopping Season Leaves Chicago Spenders in Debt" »

Holidays are all fun and games - until you have to pay for them.

Halloween seems to kick off a spending spree that doesn't stop until January. Between candy, food, parties, and gifts, it might seem like you only have two choices - partake and wind up with a mountain of debt, or save money but go without. But you might be able to have the best of both worlds thanks to an abundance of holiday - and year-round - deals and freebies, say Chicago bankruptcy attorneys.

Continue reading "Chicago Shoppers Take Advantage of Free Offers Over the Holidays" »

Pumpkin pies might be in the oven and football on the TVs, but there's something else on the minds of most Americans today - shopping strategies for the infamous Black Friday.

I know, it's old news that Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year. But there's a new twist on the tradition - almost half of sales this year might actually take place online.

With most of us living paycheck to paycheck already, we don't have a lot of wiggle room when it comes to our holiday budgets. And the Internet offers unlimited access to sales and clearances and a great way to compare prices, helping us save time as well as money. Unlike store shopping, online shopping allows you to look specifically for what you want without getting sidetracked by fancy displays or pushy sales clerks. And maybe best of all, you don't have to freeze your butt off standing in lines at the crack of dawn.

But as always, there's a catch. This time, it's online shopping scams.

Continue reading "Watch Out for Holiday Shopping Scams" »