You Don’t Live Here Anymore

by Melanie

Hey friends! I have another awesome dear debt letter from my friend at Even Steven Money. I have to admit you guys are rocking my socks off lately — I completely fell in love with this letter. My whole blog is about our relationship(s) to debt and this letter just took it to a new level. Enjoy!

Dear Debt,

I have welcomed you into my home for the last 14 years. I have had many members of your family come to visit and in some cases even stay a long time. It all started with your friendly brother, student loans, he told me he would only be around for a couple years. He even said that I needed him, if I wanted to go to school, graduate and become a major success. 14 years later he is still staying at my house. He takes money from me every month in the form of payments; these include principal aka the promise to leave, and interest, aka the promise to make my working days last 12,000 days.

That is just the beginning; I met your sister Credit Cards shortly after letting student loans enter my home. I dated your sister and to me she is one of the worst people I have ever met, some people say there are good ones out there if you find the right one, but I have been damaged and beaten down by her, I don’t think I will ever find the right one. It did not help that I didn’t know how to treat a woman so early in my financial life, but she made things painful. She charged me a high interest rate, fees, and told me I had to pay at a certain time otherwise the interest rate and fees would go even higher. It was like when I would pick her up one minute late, she would make me feel guilty the whole time we were together and it would cost me.

You must have a lot of sisters because this is not first or the last one I have ever met. Sometimes they are nicer, offering you low interest rates, but they are all the same eventually they go back to the high interest rates and fees because they have you locked in, they know nobody wants your sorry minimum payment of a relationship or maybe it is everyone wants your minimum payment relationship, but they don’t really care about you. I quit them all together a couple years ago; I was through jumping from girlfriend to girlfriend of credit cards. I held on to one and gave her extra money to go away. Finally it worked your sister(s) left for good. Despite others saying how attractive she is I refuse to date her, I found what I like to think is my new girlfriend, Cash. We have been getting along great and she doesn’t expect things from me, she’s not secretive and manipulative, she’s honest and I can see myself with her for a long time.

During my time with your sister, credit cards, I also came across your Uncle, the car loan. I didn’t see him until I was out of college, but man is he a talker. He saw that I needed a car and had no problem showing me the most expensive car I could afford, a nice Mercedes Benz. He didn’t even care I wasn’t making much money; he just wanted to stay at my house with his expensive car loan. He told me things to get me on board: you worked hard throughout college, you have been in the same car since high school, you have a real job now, get the car loan, that’s what everyone does. The good news about your Uncle is he did not stay long, I was able to sell the expensive car he talked me into getting and thinking I deserved and I kicked him out, but not before hurting me with car maintenance, gas, insurance, expensive monthly payments, loss of car value that I had to pay, and to make matters worse I used your sister to pay for all of these except the last one because I didn’t have any Cash. I have not had your Uncle in my home in over 4 years and not having your Uncle, made getting rid of your sister that much easier, funny how that works.

The last family member that is currently staying at my house is your child, the mortgage. They say having a kid is a great thing, that kids are the good kind of debt. I’m not sure I agree. When you already have a whole family living of debt staying in your house it makes caring for your child that much harder. Your child is going to grow up with us for 30 years is what they told me, assuming I make all the payments on time. The good news is I will not be raising your child for you; I am making extra payments on my own and even have come to an agreement with a couple other families to help pay off this debt, only then can this child go out into the world on his own. If I have your child stay in our house for 30 years I’m not going to be able to make all of the choices I want, I want freedom; I want to be able to live a debt free life. I’m sorry debt that’s just the way it is.

I’ve made a plan to kick out your friendly brother, student loans in April 2015, he’s just annoying. He won’t go away, he’s not hurting me financially, but I don’t want him living in my home anymore. I have 2 of your children staying at our home, but I don’t plan on them staying long. One will be gone in December 2016 and the other in July 2020. That’s the day the home is really mine, the day I can kiss your family goodbye. The day I can declare financial independence  and I don’t plan on ever asking or inviting your family to come visit again. I don’t care if you write letters or send emails, advertise on my favorite website, or talk to me when I’m going to grab some Cash; the answer is a loud NO! Our time is soon to be over, I may have had some fun with your family, but it was short-lived. The foolish thought that you would help me was my own fault, I should have known better. I’m sick of taking care of your family like it is one of my own. I’m ready to never see you again, it might not be tomorrow but I have plans to kick them out forever.  Debt I’m going to share my story with others so they know about how terrible your family is and how they are using almost everyone out there to drag them down, I hope they will read this and realize Debt, your family is the worst.

Gone Forever July 2020,

Even Steven Money

Melanie
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34 comments

Laurie @wellkeptwallet October 1, 2014 - 6:04 am

Another AWESOME post. I can’t tell you how motivating these are: thank you, Mel and Steven!!!

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Even Steven October 1, 2014 - 11:54 am

Thanks Laurie, anything that can keep us more motivated to get rid of debt!

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Tonya@Budget and the Beach October 1, 2014 - 6:23 am

I like how you put them in the context of a family. Some I think are worse than others, but still they all feel pretty awful!

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Even Steven October 1, 2014 - 11:56 am

Just like everyone they have their own crazy family members to deal with, but either way they are very difficult to deal with yet alone live with!

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Natalie @ Financegirl October 1, 2014 - 7:20 am

Very well written. I love “Gone Forever 2020” and I really like how the brother “just won’t go away” #storyofmylife

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Even Steven October 1, 2014 - 11:57 am

Thanks Natalie. If I tell Debt that I have an eviction notice and they need to be out by 2020, maybe they will listen.

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Kassandra October 1, 2014 - 8:43 am

It’s crazy how large the debt family is! It’s great that you have a solid plan to get rid of them all Steven. More power to you!

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Even Steven October 1, 2014 - 11:58 am

Debt has a very big family and I’m sure others have a bigger family than me, those are just the ones that decided to live with me.

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Shannon @ Financially Blonde October 1, 2014 - 9:00 am

Great letter Even Steven!! I honestly never thought of debt like a family overstaying their welcome in my home, but I love this. Good for you for having a plan to kick them to the curb!

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Even Steven October 1, 2014 - 11:59 am

Thanks Shannon. Yeah I could probably do a Dave Chapelle like skit on all the crazy family members, it wouldn’t be as funny, but it would be entertaining I’m sure.

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J. Money October 1, 2014 - 10:32 am

YES! Haha…. Brilliant.

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Even Steven October 1, 2014 - 12:00 pm

Thanks J. Money!

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Brandy @ Busted Budget October 1, 2014 - 10:47 am

This is an awesome concept – debt as a family. I think most of us can relate to having multiple forms of debt and this letter just makes it come alive. Great job on knocking them out one by one!

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Even Steven October 1, 2014 - 12:04 pm

Thanks Brandy, yeah kicking them out one by one has been my motivation, telling the whole family to leave at once is more difficult, at least my debt family.

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Even Steven October 1, 2014 - 12:05 pm

Big thank you to Dear Debt aka Melanie for using my Debt Letter, she even sent me a little motivation my way. Thank you again!

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Melanie October 2, 2014 - 8:07 am

Thank you, friend! We are on rockstar finance!

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Ciel Belle October 1, 2014 - 12:24 pm

This is an awesome post! Good luck getting rid of the rest of the family

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Even Steven October 2, 2014 - 7:39 am

I will do my best, I promise!

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Jason @ Islands of Investing October 1, 2014 - 3:47 pm

Love this Even Steven! I’ve always had a pretty small family, from both perspectives, but I can only imagine how annoying some of these family members can be, and how hard to get rid of when you don’t want them in your life!

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Even Steven October 2, 2014 - 7:40 am

Having a small family sounds nice, now with the debt family I don’t want them at all!

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Jason October 1, 2014 - 4:06 pm

I love this letter and unfortunately I am still acquainted with some of the sisters and brothers, but I plan on excommunicating them from the family soon. Remember the old maxim “never borrow money from a family members.” These are the worst kind because they want their money back. Excellent post!

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Even Steven October 2, 2014 - 7:41 am

Sometimes the brothers and sisters overstay their welcome, it’s our goal to let them know they need to leave!

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Debt Hater October 1, 2014 - 6:27 pm

This was a great letter and style of writing. I love the way that you turned each type of debt into a family member or relation. I’m still trying to get rid of friendly brother, but soon enough he’ll be gone!

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Even Steven October 2, 2014 - 7:43 am

Thanks Debt Hater, by your title I’m guessing you don’t like the debt family very much either;)

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Lance @ Healthy Wealthy Income October 2, 2014 - 9:00 am

Everyone has that crazy uncle that invades your personal space and makes everyone uncomfortable. Good job to kick them out and make the separation.

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Even Steven October 3, 2014 - 6:42 am

The good old crazy uncle, but yeah he can’t stay because he’s CRAZY!

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Erin @ Journey to Saving October 2, 2014 - 9:21 am

I never thought of debt in terms of a family, but it makes sense! Your payoff dates/FI are so close, no losing motivation now! =)

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Even Steven October 3, 2014 - 6:43 am

I’m hoping 2020 is great, thanks Erin!

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Hayley @ Disease Called Debt October 2, 2014 - 11:46 am

What a great post, I absolutely loved this, thank you for writing about your break up with the family Even Steven!

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Even Steven October 3, 2014 - 6:44 am

Whether it’s a disease or a unwelcome family member, we have to work on sending debt packing.

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Michelle October 2, 2014 - 4:18 pm

I absolutely loved this! Why does Debt have so many relatives?

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Even Steven October 3, 2014 - 6:53 am

Thanks Michelle. Debt does funny things I guess.

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catherine October 6, 2014 - 5:56 pm

Love this Steven. Good luck with everything and thanks for sharing Melanie 🙂

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Melanie October 7, 2014 - 10:39 am

Thanks for stopping by! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

Reply

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