Debt is not forever. Too many times, we hear “you’ll always have debt” or that carrying debt is an investment. Debt makes us think that it is impossible to live an amazing life without it. Debt makes us think that we must always have a car payment in order to have a drivable car. Debt makes us think that we can never finish our degree without massive student loans.
Debt is comfortable. For most of us, we have lived our entire adult lives carrying some form of debt around. Even before we can legally own debt, we have been sold on the idea that adult life must have debt. We are told that at eighteen years old we must apply for credit card after credit card in order to build up our credit, but then what? There are no personal finance courses required in college (or at least not at my alma mater), so where do you do you turn when the bill comes due? Maybe you had a parent that was willing to foot the bill – I did not and I thankful for that.
We hear car commercials advertising that “you are what you drive” to convince us that our well-loved, trusty-rusty is no longer an acceptable form of transportation and now must bear the burden of $30,000 or more in debt. Instead of getting rid of the Joneses, we keep them as neighbors and compare ourselves to them daily. We equate status with the type of car you drive, the size of your home, how large your wardrobe is, and if your children attend private school or not.
At twenty-one years old, I had sunk so far into financial trouble that I was near bankruptcy all because I believed the ugly lies marketers sell us on debt. Climbing my way out has not been an easy feat but debt is not forever. In my short timespan on this earth, my hubs and I have paid off just under $40,000 of debt and we still have more to go, but debt is not forever.
For us, debt-free looks like living the life we have always wanted. To live a life that is full of joy and little moments spent and shared with our family. To not feel the weight the burden of debt places on you. We want to live a life full of contentment and happiness and we will never get there if we play the “buy now, pay later” game. We want to be able to give from our time, talent, and treasures like never before. We want all that life has to offer without the price tag.
This is our why, our little boys. Little boys that will one day become men, husbands and fathers. We need them to know that a life free from debt is not only possible, but is one of the most rewarding ways to live life.
What is your why? Why do you want to become debt-free or why have you chosen to stay debt-free? Join me and the other amazing bloggers in the #DebtIsNotForever campaign and share your “why” with the hashtag #DebtIsNotForever on your social media. Debt is not forever and together we can encourage others on this crazy and bumpy journey. You can find out more on the #DebtIsNotForever campaign here.
What is your “why” for becoming debt-free?
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Nichole @Budget Loving Military Wife says
You are absolutely right! Debt is NOT forever! The pics of your boys are so cute and what a great reason to become debt free! 🙂
The lock picture must scream “debt” and “forever”… I had to do a double take when I saw your post on Sarah’s link party… I used the same pic for my Debt is Not Forever post too! LOL. 🙂 Have a great weekend!
Jessi says
Hahahaha! Gotta love PixaBay! 🙂 I really love the color of the door and went through a zillion photos before I picked that one. Great minds think a like. 🙂
Kristia {Family Balance Sheet} says
I love the color of that door!
Kids change our views on everything. I want so badly to set an example for our daughters that debt is dumb and not normal. And the Jones’ are broke!
Your little monkeys are adorable.
Jessi says
Thank you Kristia! 🙂 Little ones do change your views on everything.
Toni says
Needed this today. We are on a debt-free journey and are barely making ends meet. It is miserable and depressing and it feels like this debt will last FOREVER.
My debt-free why is to be able to enjoy life and make memories with my family that I am unable to currently do because we have so much debt.
Jessi says
Your why is awesome Toni! Keep focused on it, because I know it is hard especially when trying to make the ends meet in order to get the debt snowball rolling. It won’t last forever, I promise. 🙂
Aisha R. says
I want to be a better example for my daughter. I feel like both of our parents kind of pushed us to get debt but they did not give us a good foundation on when enough was enough and I feel likes it’s to much of a burden. We would live to do more traveling and I would love to just be free from the burden of debt.
Jessi says
Oh Aisha, I’ve so been there! You can and will be debt free if that is what you truly want. I know that weight all too well and I promise you that if I could/can be doing it, you can do to. 🙂
Brittany at Equipping Godly Women says
I want to be debt free just because I HATE the mental side that comes with knowing we have debt/are behind/whatever you call it. Don’t know if that’s a good reason or not, but I HATE debt and am working hard to get rid of it!
Jessi says
I think that is good reason enough Brittany! That’s where I’m at with it – I hate it and I want it gone! Die debt monster, die! Is my motto now. 🙂
dojo says
Back when I was in debt, it just seemed to ‘kill’ any opportunities for me. The biggest one was to go to my husband’s friends in NYC and stay there for 6 month. Come on, 6 moths, rent-free. Who would be dumb enough to pass this opportunity?
Well, I was close to saying no, since I had debt and couldn’t afford the trip. I decided to work harder on my web design business and make it work. Was lucky enough to earn enough to pay my debt and also enjoy 3 times this amazing ‘gift’ from our dear friends.
Jessi says
Wow that is amazing gift! That is awesome that you hustled like that so you could seize the opportunity!
JennM says
I just recently took on a seasonal part time job waiting tables… again. I was on the “debt is a part of life” wagon when I got married. 3 years later and we are still under it (college, house, car & credit cards) plus some because of medical issues and having my amazing son. Although I am missing so much time away from him now, I keep telling myself its only 3 months and this will allow us to live better after. (I have a full time career & now this part time job on the weekends. My husband works 60 hrs a week on average) Every bit of my tip money goes immediately into the bank to pay a debt, even if it’s not the due date. As I pay off the credit cards we are cutting them up… It is so exhilarating to know that our monthly bills keep going down. This leaving us with more money to have fun with later! I am looking forward to the day that I can say we are debt free! (or at least mostly)
Jessi says
YOU ARE AMAZING!!!! Seriously, you are incredible! 🙂
rebecca says
I think it’s important to question consumerism. What are all those ads, all that peer pressure, really saying to you? “You’re not enough.” You’re not good enough, you’re not popular enough, you’re not pretty enough. (But if you buy this toaster, all your problems will be solved!) You’re not happy enough. (But if you buy this pair of shoes, you’ll be ecstatic.)
The thing is, it’s never enough. Because if it was enough – if it really just took that toaster or that pair of shoes – well, the entire system would fall apart. And so if you think that toaster is good, you should see how much better your life will be with this one! If you think that pair of shoes made you happy, you should see how much happier you’ll be with this one!
Part of giving up debt is coming to terms with yourself – recognising that you are enough. And recognising that, even if there are things you don’t like about yourself, a new shirt won’t change it. It’s no surprise most of us get in the biggest trouble when we’re in our 20s and just starting off – we’re full of insecurities and focused on our inadequacies, and so we’re perfect pickings for consumerism!
At this stage, in my mid-30s, my husband and I are debt free. We own our house, we own our cars, the credit card companies owe us money*. Of course I got a big hand-up to make it happen – I’m a trust fund baby. My trust fund was not large enough for me to do anything; but it was large enough for me to graduate from (state) college without debt, and to buy a (modest) house. In other words it was enough to launch me into adult-hood debt-free. I’m tremendously grateful for that.
*A bit about the credit cards owing us money- Where I work, I can automatically deduct a portion of our income and put it towards a loan, mortgage, credit card, etc. We are then not taxed on that money. So, I put several hundred dollars on to my credit card each month, which brings my tax bracket down a level. Since we always have some very large bills in February and March, I’ve been refraining from using my credit card so that we can pay these bills without having to touch the bank account. Sometimes, debt is a good way to make your money work for you!
Jessi says
Contentment is definitely key Rebecca! Thank you for sharing your insights! 🙂
Alana at I have a Future and a Hope says
We have 3 cards to pay off, and hopefully they will be paid off in about 18 months. My husband and I so badly want to vacation, just him and I, so we plan on a cruise after everything is paid off. We need it! 🙂
Jessi says
That’s amazing Alana! 🙂
Shannon @ GrowingSlower says
Great post! I consider myself to be a reasonably intelligent, educated person. I’m even pretty good at math. Yet by the time we were married, we had wholeheartedly bought into the debt myth with two huge mortgages, then a car payment, and of course students loans to top it all off. Luckily, I came across a post by another blogger talking about debt free living. The idea had never even occurred to me, and I didn’t think it was possible for us. Fast forward to last spring, we made our last loan payment, having paid off over $22k in less than 9 months on a low income. It can be done and it is so worth it! I am so thankful we learned this now, so that I will have the chance to teach my now 1 and 3 year old how to be good stewards of their money as they grow up.
Jessi says
Congrats Shannon on being debt free!!!!! That is amazing! 🙂