Think back to when you were a small child. What did you want for yourself? A nice home? A super-fast car? If you’re like most Americans, you dreamed of all of them and more. Now think about how you thought you would pay for all of it?
…………
You didn’t did you? That’s okay. Most of us don’t.
As we grow, we learn very early on about how those things are paid for. It’s usually a pretty simple thought process that goes something like this;
- Get a job
- Get a loan
- Buy a Car
- Buy a House
Here’s the thing though: That process? The one we’re taught so early on? It’s all a lie and it’s a big lie. The idea that we have to take on debt to have nice things is the lie. It’s so easy to get caught up in and believe it too. My family has also done many of these things leading to our current problem and our past bankruptcy. We are hoping to change the trend and teach the kids to go about things differently.
Living with debt is a norm is our society or at least we’re told it is. It’s acceptable to take a loan out on a home you can’t really afford and to buy an expensive car that we can’t really pay for. It’s okay! Be instantly gratified and take a loan! Your parents did it, your friends did it, you should too, right?
We fall for the lie because it is the norm. Everyone else is doing it, so we need to as well, right? It must be the correct way things are done if everyone else does it that way, right? The lie can help you ruin your financial future.
Wrong. The debt lie is a surefire way to damage your finances for the vast majority of families. Instead, take the time to learn to wait patiently and pay cash for the things you want in life. Yes, it is possible to buy a home with cash. Yes, it is possible to buy a car with cash. Yes, it is possible to do it all without taking any debt on at all.
Believing the debt lie doesn’t get you anywhere in life. Instead, it only serves to cause you to end up paying more for the items you need (or even things you think you need), to spend your days trying to pay people back and extra stress on both your body and your wallet. Instead, save your money for the things you want and life a happy, calm and stress free, debt free life.
Have you been able to ditch debt?
Sandra Watts says
We have no credit cards any more. It is way to easy to get in debt using them. Now we pay in full, sometimes a layaway but I think that is different.
Julie Wood says
I am proud to say that I have never been in debt. I have not fallen in the lie about taking out loans for things that I can have a hard time paying. I stay away from debt, and watch what I spend.
Jerry Marquardt says
Thanks so much for the tips to stay out of that type of trouble. It is very easy to fall into the pitfalls, especially if you aren’t careful.
Cheryl Reinhardt says
Yes, we all fall into the debt trap… We moved and got rid of all credit cards except for a few for emergencies.