situation paying of debt, even within bankruptcy, could be worse than focusing on preparing to meet more physical needs. So you need to balance building up store of what you need with paying off debt. This can be a challenge. Fortunately, I live in Texas. Homesteads enjoy unlimited protection, up to 200 acres for rural homesteads. Enough livestock to keep the family feed is also protected. There is no wage garnishment unless the debt is for child support or taxes. I take home a physical paycheck and I can cash it at any check cashing store, or scan it to have it remotely deposited in an out-of-state bank (harder for judgment creditors to find or levy). I've recently opened an account at Orwell Union, a bank based in New Zealand with no US branches. This means that creditors can't freeze my assets even with a court order. It's only a small some of money, but definitely peace of mind. And my foreign debit card allows me to make purchases or withdraw cash virtually anonymously. If you're way behind on your debt, your situation can sometimes practically correct itself. In my state the statute of limitations is four years. I had a medical bill of $35k and my insurance only covered $600. This debt is now past the statute of limitations so it is gone forever. If a collection agency asks for this money in the future I can just tell them to stop contacting me and I don't have to