For some of the background of my now history debt story, you can visit here:
If you read those parts of my past, the glimpses that make up my story, you know that there is a happy ending. I am here, debt free. It was never pretty and really quite hard to get to here. It’s WAY easier to get into debt than it is to get out. Interest is fun when you are making it, but not so fun when you are paying it.
It’s like this. My kids love to dump bins of toys. They love to throw all their books off the bookshelf. It’s so fun to throw stuff around, play with it, and ultimately make a big huge mess. It’s a lot less fun when you have to clean that mess up. My daughter, who never naps, loves to tell me that she’s “just too tired” when it comes to clean up time. When all those hours of fun end in mom saying “put the books back on the shelf” or “put all your toys away”, suddenly she is really sleepy.
Well, if we’re talking spending and debt and having to clean up after that far more consequential mess, it’s not okay to retreat to your room and say you are just too tired. The bills come. The balances are due. The money you made today has to go to something you bought many yesterdays ago, and it sucks.
Just recently, our washing machine broke. Armed with a 10% off coupon if I used a Home Depot credit card, I did just that. For the first time in years, I used an account other than my checking account to pay for something. You know what I did 2 minutes later? Walked from the appliance section to the front registers and paid it off. I saved my 10%. I paid the balance before I even left the store. I walked out with a smile on my face.
I’ll never ever go back to spending more than I have. I’ll never go back to living up to someone else’s standards. I won’t pretend my life is something it is not. I will choose going without over buying what I can’t afford. Why? Because being in debt sucks.
girl, I love this, I love that you are so willing to share and I am in awe of your ability to find balance in all of this, High five mama!!
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I agree wholeheartedly. I just paid my last credit card. It took me over 3 years! How crazy! It certainly was a lot easier to get into debt, than to get out.
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We’ve been out of debt for years now, but I’m not likely to forget the experience any time soon! I hear you.
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I agree.
It’s so hard to get out of debt.
We got into debt due to circumstances and lack of advice / knowledge rather than because of wants Vs. needs or to buy a fat screen TV.
But no matter what caused people to be in debt, it feels bad and it’s so hard to get out of it.
Once I am out of debt, I will never go back, but I will have my house payment until I am 57 and there is nothing I can do about it. It’s just impossible to pay it early. I am not pessimistic, I just count and face reality.
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I totally agree, debt does suck! We are working to get out of our debt now. We have a long road, but it will happen. More importantly we are teaching our boys to never get into debt in the first place. Thanks for sharing something that is so personal!
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Do you know what I think of when I think of the high of having no debt?
That saying that goes with dieting…”Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels.”
It has to be applied somehow to that feeling of no debt.
No possession is worth that awful icky feeling of knowing you owe somebody something???
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*high five* That’s awesome! And great use of credit to get the deal but not to fall for the interest trap.
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Love this! I went back and read the Smarties story again too. I read it when I first found your blog, but was so excited reading that I don’t think I left a comment. I really love that piece. I think it’s wonderful that you share something so personal, but important, in a way that can be helpful. But most of all, I love the words– the analogies, the way you string them together, and the way you invite your reader to connect through them. You are so talented! Can’t wait to go back and read more of the stuff I’ve been missing here…
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AMEN!!! Being in debt DOES suck. Thanks for sharing your story and for being an encouragement that getting out of debt IS possible. XOXO
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Yes it does suck! Paying for something that you bought in the past and probably don’t even have anymore sucks!
Manuela
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What strikes me most is your statement “I’m not going to pretend to be what I’m not.”
I think this gets right to the heart of why so many people are in debt today, that we’re simply all putting on to create and protect and image that we want others to have of us. I wrote about this in my most recent blog post (click on my “name”) and I commend you for being authentic and living with integrity. Well done!
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Yes it does suck! Thanks for sharing your story so openly! We are in a bit of debt ourselves. I see we,but mostly me because my husband don’t doesn’t like any debt unless its good debt like a home loan, or a car that we needed. I, on the other hand, love credit cards. I pay them off, but then I get the itch to use them again.
Its funny how you know something to be true, but you continue to do the same thing. Thanks for making me realize that debt free is possible. Not easy, but possible!
Oh, and I love you on twitter!
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