<prompt> Human: My brother confessed to my father that he and his wife have run up about 40,000 in credit card debt. My father talked to me as Im the one in the family with an interest in personal finance, but I dont know what to do about this. Of course, since my brother didnt speak to me directly, I dont have a lot of details. On the other hand, apparently he doesnt even know all the details. His wife has 4 credit cards or so that he never looks at. So even he doesnt actually know how much debt there is on them.Here are the details I do know. My brother is a humanities professor at a University in the mid-west, his tenure paperwork in going through the bureaucracy now, so unless something goes very wrong hell have tenure within a few weeks. His wife teaches a few classes at the university, but that doesnt make much money. Only a little better than minimum wage. They have 2 kids and live in a decent house with a mortgage.So, they make a very secure middle-class living, but windfalls are unlikely. My brother thinks they would be fine if not for the debt burden. Im suspicious that they would just get back into debt, the wife likes nice things.Anyway, my father was thinking the best advice would be to declare bankruptcy after he gets tenure. He doesnt need credit, as hes already in a house. What do people here think? Are there better options?  <response>: my father was thinking the best advice would be to declare bankruptcy after he gets tenure. He doesnt need credit, as hes already in a house. What do people here think? Are there better options?I wouldnt declare bankruptcy on 40,000 of debt. All your brother spouse has to do is stop spending and - after paying for the essentials - dump all left over cash into the credit card debts, starting with highest interest first. 40k can be wiped out just as people have wiped out six figure debts. Your brother spouse needs to re-evaluate their budget and spending habits. 