The string cheese and gourmet cookies aren’t going to kill your budget (unless you buy the cookies and the cheese and a new pair of boots and a scarf and . . . every week). It’s the bigger stuff that’s the problem. Cheaper rent or childcare or other big budget items are the ones that really matter. Having $100 less rent means that you can apply $100 to your debt or stick it in savings every month. Having $10 because you didn’t buy nice groceries doesn’t add up nearly as much.

Bankruptcy is an option, but it really only helps if you are able to live within your means afterward. Otherwise, you end up right back in debt again.

Good luck finding a balance between buying a few luxuries and living on a budget (If you allow yourself a few small luxuries, you may feel less wanting and thus more inclined to save otherwise). If you have any decent amount of disposable income, it’s doable. And if you don’t have disposable income, good luck rustling up a little.