Chicago Bankruptcy Attorneys Say Protect Privacy to Stop Harassment and Save Money

It's bad enough that we have to deal with pushy retailers and their promotions when we go to the mall, but now they're following us into our home, say Chicago bankruptcy attorneys.

When you fill out online surveys, enter drawings at stores or even use your credit card to pay, you're giving retailers access to your personal information. Next thing you know, your mailbox is filled with catalogs and your inbox with ads, and the phone is ringing off the hook with store employees who want to tell you about their next big sale. Ever visited eBay or Amazon and saw a homepage filled with a bunch of stuff you like? It's no coincidence - those picks are just for you, based on what you've been viewing online.

That's fine if you have all the money in the world and don't mind the harassment. But for the large majority of Americans -- many of us struggling to balance paying off debts with making the mortgage - it's just another obstacle to financial freedom.

We're may never again have the kind of consumer privacy we enjoyed pre-Internet, but there are ways to protect ourselves. It starts with the way we pay.

If you save your credit card for emergencies or large purchases (that you know you can pay off quickly, of course) and stick to cash for everyday buys, you won't be giving stores access to your mailing address, phone number and e-mail. Not only that, but you won't have to worry about spending more than you can afford. Nor will you have to spend the next few years paying off today's purchase (really, who wants to pay 20% interest on socks and underwear?).

Along with saving money directly by avoiding interest, you might save future cash by avoiding the temptation of those catalogs and coupons. If you're still receiving them - and you're not happy about it - consider joining the National Do Not Call Registry or opting out of the list of the Direct Marketing Association, a group representing thousands of U.S. businesses.

If you've significantly reduced spending and your debt is still pulling you underwater, it's time to try something else. Bankruptcy can offer a realistic way to lower or eliminate debt, meanwhile protecting your house from foreclosure. Find out more about what bankruptcy can do for your financial situation with a free personal debt analysis from a Chicago bankruptcy attorney. Remember, you don't owe retailers your privacy - or your money.

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