Chicago Consumers Start Spending on Splurges After Months of Saving

All work and no play might make for good finances - but it doesn't make for much fun.

Fortunately, Chicago consumers are realizing that they can loosen the purse strings a bit and still run a tight economic ship, according to Chicago bankruptcy attorneys - and a recent story on Msnbc.com.

If you've been scrimping and saving these past couple years, you've hopefully built up some emergency savings, contributed to your retirement and - best of all - paid down some of that annoying debt burden (maybe you were lucky enough to receive a tax refund to boot). The good news? You probably have room for a splurge now and then. The key is to monitor the size and amount of those splurges so you don't end up back where you started - stuck with a large amount of debt.

Do you adore coffee? Then don't feel bad about treating yourself to a fancy frappuccino now and again. Have you been such a frugal fashionista that you haven't bought any new clothes for a year? Consider using a percentage of your tax refund - or your monthly savings quota - to pick up some necessary items for your warm weather wardrobe.

Now I'm not talking about going on any crazy spending binges. I'm just talking about adjusting your budget to include room for the things that make you happy. It's about balance.

If you've worked hard to build up savings and lower your debt, you can probably afford to reduce your savings amount by a tiny percentage so you have some fun money. The key is to keep saving money - and making more than the minimum payments on your debt - so that you continue earning more than you spend, and not the other way around.

On the other hand, if you're constantly spending more than you earn because you're trapped on the credit card merry-go-round, then you might find more happiness establishing financial security than coming home with a car full of shopping bags. Nonetheless, everyone needs a small treat now and then - you want to work to live, not live to work. If you're so overwhelmed by debt that you can't spare a dime on yourself, don't put off getting help any longer. Bankruptcy might be your ticket to financial breathing room. Find out for free with a complimentary one-on-one debt analysis courtesy of a Chicago bankruptcy attorney.

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