Dear Debt, This Is It

Hello debt fighters! Today we have a dear debt letter from Michele. Michele Giletto teaches women how to move from routine religion to life-giving faith. Founder of Gathered In Grace Prayer Ministry, Michele is called to lead women to experience their own personal relationship with God. A full-time healthcare director, Michele is happily raising her two teen-aged children and miniature poodle, Maggie.  

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Dear Debt:

This is it. We are finished. Our relationship is no longer serving me. You seemed like a good idea when I needed to retail therapy to ‘medicate’ the pain of some very difficult circumstances. However, I have grown so much through the last decade that I now see you for what you are: You have been my master – I have been your slave.

I have tried to get rid of you before, but I had never changed my thoughts and attitudes about money and spending. This time is different. Even though I have made a few regrettable spending choices recently, for the first time I have recognized them as such.  I understand now that I need to pause before spending. I need to sleep with that purchase in the cart and see if it still has meaning in the morning.

You have been a great teacher and for that I say a warm “thank you.” Your lessons have allowed me to mature and grow and see situations in my life with greater clarity. 

Although my financial future is still a great unknown, I recognize that I am growing in appreciation for what I have and who I am. I feel more stable and strong as I walk the path to becoming exactly who God created me to be.

No excuses. No regrets. Simply lessons learned. No one else to save me. No inheritance waiting in the wings. Just me. My decisions – and hard work.
I am grateful to you for all the bumps in the road.

I wish it was different when I look in the rearview mirror, but today I choose to look back with love and gratitude as I keep my eyes fixed on the road ahead. 

The windshield offers a much better view anyway!

Good bye,
Michele

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Melanie

Melanie Lockert is the founder of the blog and author of the book, Dear Debt. Through her blog, she chronicled her journey out of $81,000 in student loan debt. She is also the co-founder of the Lola Retreat, which helps bold women face their fears, own their dreams and figure out a plan to be in control of their finances. She is passionate about empowering women, helping others get out of debt, and focuses on the intersection of debt and mental health. Every September she organizes a Suicide Prevention Awareness Blog Tour, to help share resources for those struggling with debt and suicide. In addition to her love of personal finance, art and music, she is also a karaoke master and a cat mom to Miles and Thelonious.

Latest posts by Melanie (see all)

• Talking About Money and Mental Health - September 12, 2022
• Dear Debt, We’re Better Apart - June 27, 2022
• Announcing The Mental Health and Wealth Summit - May 4, 2021