Looks like some folks cracked the code: pile up every credit line you can get your hands on, max out those cards, drain the home equity... and THEN file for bankruptcy protection. The logic? If you're going down anyway, might as well go down swinging with a fully loaded shopping cart. Recent data shows consumer debt hitting fresh peaks right before bankruptcy filings surge - coincidence? Probably not. This debt-fueled spending spree before the inevitable crash isn't just individual behavior anymore; it's becoming a playbook. When the system rewards leverage and punishes saving, can you really blame people for gaming it?