Bay Area woman, 28, who earns $88,000 a year, reveals she has been forced to move back in with her PARENTS after racking up $36,000 in debt and no longer being able to cope with ‘extremely expensive living costs’

A woman who was forced to move back in with her parents after racking up $36,000 in debt despite earning $88,000 a year says people should not be ashamed of money problems.

Brittney Reynolds, 28, walked on until her ex-girlfriend lost her job before the two split last summer, leaving her to pay all their household bills and rent.

For the brand marketing specialist, whose job is fully remote, the $2,700 per month rent was too much to pay along with her other household bills — and she soon surpassed her $5,000 per month after-tax salary.

Over the past seven years, she had also racked up $36,000 in credit card debt.

After turning 28 in June – and breaking up with her girlfriend not long after – Brittney was forced to confront the state of her finances

In an effort to avoid accumulating more debt, Brittney decided to give up her rental property and move back in with her parents so she could save some money.

In several TikToks, she revealed that she had racked up the debt through “chronic overspending” — namely on a combination of large one-time purchases, including a $3,800 couch and Airbnbs, as well as skin care, tattoos, rent and basic necessities.

After her breakup, she finally opened up to her mother about her finances and eventually moved back in with her parents, leaving the Bay Area for her nursery in Temecula, California in August 2023.

She now pays off $4,000 in debt a month and admits she’s struggling because she was ashamed to ask for help but still wanted “the best” of everything.

“If you live in the Bay Area, the cost of living is extremely expensive,” Brittney said.

“It’s been that way for a long time, but lately it’s been getting worse with the cost of living. Many tech companies are headquartered here, so there are a lot of well-paid people pushing out residents

“My debt has built up over seven years and in the last two years it has gone from $20,000 to $36,000.

‘I had a break-up in a relationship and I just couldn’t afford to live on my own anymore.

‘I called my mother and explained the situation. It was a positive conversation. She was very understanding.

‘There is so much shame about debt and I don’t think it is necessary. It happens and it can happen to anyone.”

Brittney and her ex-girlfriend contributed to the $2,700 a month rent for their one-bed apartment until they broke up.

‘The debt was really all-consuming. “I still wanted to live my life and meet friends, but it just wasn’t feasible,” she admitted.

‘You almost don’t feel human. It’s like there’s nothing you can do but pay off your debts.’

Brittney now lives in the small town where she grew up with her mother Susan, 69, and father, Charles Reynolds, 63.

‘My advice to people with debts is to ask for help. We live in a very individualistic society where we have to hunker down and live on our own,” Brittney said

“I was really happy that you were coming home,” Susan, 69, said of her daughter, who moved back in with her parents at age 28. Susan can be seen on the left of the photo

‘I definitely feel a sense of relief. I’m very impatient about it now, but I’m glad I can pay it off quickly,” Brittney said of her financial recovery.

On her TikTok, where she has amassed nearly 20,000 followers documenting her journey to get out of debt, she also admits to feeling lonely, while her closest geographical friends are still more than an hour’s drive away.

“It’s been an interesting adjustment being back with my parents, but luckily my job is completely remote so I was able to make the transition easily.”

In a TikTok where Brittney ‘interviewed’ her mother about how she felt when her daughter called her asking to move back home, Susan said: ‘I was really happy you were coming home.

‘I was also very concerned about your debts and knew that it was a burden on you and that you were struggling with some things due to the break-up.

“So I was really happy that you came home so that you could process these things in a nice, comfortable environment,” Brittney’s mother said.

Brittney paid off $4,000 last month.

“It’s happening so fast,” she said. ‘My monthly income is €5,000 and I put €4,000 into my debts every month.

‘I hope to pay it all off in June or July.

‘My advice to people with debts is to ask for help. We live in a very individualistic society in which we have to resign ourselves and live on our own strength.’