Shhh, I want to talk to you about something, ok? I don’t want people to get the wrong impression or nothing, but I want to talk to you about…..debt. Let’s talk about debt baby, let’s talk about you and me, let’s talk about all the good things and the bad things that may be (props if you got that reference).
Not enough people in this country do it. We don’t want to talk about debt, because it’s our own fault right? We must internalize the shame of our debts and keep it secret.
Some people can’t even utter the number. It’s as if we’ve been financially slutty, and we don’t want to reveal “the number”. And I’m not judging the people who do that, but our society that makes it easier to make racist and sexist jokes than it is to talk about our money and our debts.
Yet, we live in a nation built upon debt. Debt upon debt upon debt. That is our foundation for a nation.
I am advocating for more conversations around money and debt. When I stood outside of my school and begged for tuition money, I was making a statement. This was one year before Occupy Wall Street and still many people did not want to talk to me about student loan debt.
“Oh, well it’s your choice to go back to school, and to an expensive one at that”
Yes, this is true and for that I will take responsibility. However, we also live in a culture where millennials have been told we could do whatever we want, and that if we do something it should always be the best. So why not go to the “best” school for the “best” opportunities?
I digress…I’m glad that the Occupy movement started to open up these conversations. A silenced nation protested its secrets. When I was protesting at Occupy Wall Street, I met an older woman who at 72 years of age told me the government was taking money from her social security check because of an outstanding student loan. My heart broke for her. I was determined not to be in that situation.
With debt, there is so much blame and shame that people don’t want to speak up. But what change could occur if we did? Sometimes you don’t know something’s a problem until someone says something. We don’t know what hurts are lying behind our cool exterior.
We can change ourselves, a community, a city, a neighborhood and a nation. We might not see it today, or tomorrow or in our generation. If I thought I couldn’t change anything, I would have given up long ago. It can get frustrating at times, like walking in circles and still feeling lost.
But let’s start the conversation about debt. Why and how did you get into debt? Imagine the money we spend on debt, and what we could do with that elsewhere?
It starts with us, and it starts now. You with me?
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33 comments
I’m with ya Girl! Let’s talk about debt. Or better yet…write a blog and document it??? 😉
Yes, let’s change the conversation around debt! EMPOWER people and get rid of the shame and blame. People in debt are people too, lol.
I got the reference from the title before I even read the blog. 🙂 Debt is a dirty little secret. I know someone right now who told me about a MASSIVE and unnecessary debt (too long to explain) and who I constantly see on FB going out to events that cost a lot of money. I think there is so much denial going on there, and talking about it is actually admitting there is a problem. I really think it can be that bad. It’s like a two year old covering their ears and saying, “na na na na…I can’t hear you!” 🙂
So, now I’m going to have Salt N Pepa in my head for the rest of the day.
I still don’t discuss debt “in real life” too often, but I get that debt-discussion outlet with the blog and the PF community. One of these days I’ll bring it up with my real-world friends… I guess I’m not helping the issue 🙂
Haha, I played that song so many times during writing. My bf is so sick of it, lol. You are helping as you are in the pf world. You are not wearing blinders of denial. You are part of the change!
Debt is such an important topic to have conversations about. If it’s hush hush like it has been in the past, it’s just going to mount and mount.
Keeping secrets is how things fester and get worse. I totally agree. Conversations and support will change the situation. And of course changing bad habits.
financially slutty.
i’m dying.
Haha glad I could make you laugh/cry/uncomfortable?!
Financially slutty, lol! 🙂
I agree, money is such a taboo topic and we need to change that! Being a part of the PF community is great, because money and debt aren’t taboo, and we can help support each other 🙂
Hehe 🙂 Glad people enjoy that phrase. Sometimes I like to make language feel awkward, silly and controversial, just for fun. I love the pf community for opening up these conversations — I just wish the PF world was a realistic microcosm of how the world is, but it’s definitely not.
I am still VERY new on my debt journey. I am still ashamed about my debt, unlike you mine is mostly consumer debt. I did get myself into it by trying to keep up with the Joneses. I haven’t “come out” to anyone in “real life” about my debt problems or about my new debt/simplifying blog. I do think people need to be more open about debt and it may sound terrible, but I’m not sure I want to be the one to open up about it in “real life” right now… Good for you for being brave enough to do so! I’m not there, at least not yet.
It’s ok — feeling ashamed is the “normal” feeling related to debt. I’m trying to open up some space for other feelings. Really changing the dynamic and perspective of debt. You don’t have to be the one that opens up the conversation — you can support others. You are already part of the conversation, just by being here.
I get the reference-and I’m in!!
Yeah girl! I’m glad you did 🙂 Let’s talk about it, get rid of it and empower others.
Good for you for opening up the conversation and taking debt-talk out of the closet. You are S-O-O right that people would rather talk about anything than how much they owe–and yet go to jobs they hate to make money to pay of their bills! My husband and I have seen both sides of that story–we were miserably in debt for many years and then five years ago we went debt free (including our mortgage) and it was the best thing we ever did! Stick with it and keep spreading the news that “Debt is the WORST poverty there is!”
I’m trying to open up the conversation! I know it can be shameful, but shame and blame isn’t going to improve the situation. Debt is the worst poverty….and it’s hard to work your way out, which is why we need to support each other and talk about it.
Yeah, now S-E-X is everywhere! You can’t blink without seeing it. I love the pf world and hope it rubs off on the rest of the world. More conversations, more support, less stigma!
I am still kinda in the closet about my debt. My family and close friends don’t even know that I blog about it. I guess this is my way of slowly dealing with it. At the end of the day, I just won’t to divorce debt forever.
I love you blog….by the way.
It’s ok – you are making the first steps to acknowledging it. I’m so glad you stopped by. I’ll have to stop by yours, I love the name 😉
There are people who do shy away from talking about debt, and I try not to be one of them. I can’t believe that it’s still taboo to talk about money even though we might be able to help others in their situation. No one’s perfect, but we can definitely learn from one another.
Exactly. We can learn from each other, support each other and try to break down the taboo!
Do I get extra points if I sang the last sentence of the first paragraph as I read it? Or if I went and YouTubed the video and watched it a couple times? 🙂
I am over $95,000 in debt because I went to a for-profit school. You could say I was scammed but ultimately it was my own ignorance that got me to where I am. However, I could go into a huge spiel here about how we live in a nation whose motto should be “In Debt We Trust.” I could blame previous generations for blindly following political scumbags who lead us into a time where debt seems to be the norm and everything is all about money and making a profit. The concept of debt is the stupidest thing ever and has driven the cost of things up and up and up. Once upon a time, higher education could be afforded by working a summer job. These days, unless you’re whoring it up in the Playboy Mansion, fat chance. Whew! I’m going to stop myself here and rant about it on my own blog!
You win so many cool points!!! 🙂 Girl, you don’t even need to get me started. Education used to be free in parts of CA and NY. FREE. Everything is so backwards now. It really would be a huge economic boost, if we could at least have interest relief, or lower interest rates.
I just realized I forgot to answer your second question…I was too busy listening to 90’s music. Salt-n-Pepa led to En Vogue and the wheel kept turning…
Did you read the article from 2009 about forgiving student loan debt to stimulate the economy? Finding that FSLD group was the turning point for me to truly understanding the mess I had gotten myself into by going to a for-profit. If I wasn’t putting 100% of my paychecks to my debt, I’d be seeing a reproductive endocrinologist about having kids. I could never justify having children with the burden of over $95,000 hanging over my head. I also can’t justify purchasing a house with that kind of debt. I can’t even begin to save for retirement. I’d be more inclined to start a business, help out my family who needs it, volunteer more and donate to charities instead of lining the pockets of my servicers.
I strongly feel this country needs a clean slate, which is why I was so greatly disappointed that there was no apocalypse in December, 2012. Perhaps a jubilee like Iceland did would help, but without drastically changing things, we’d just end up right back there in the future. Le sigh.
I didn’t read it, but it makes so much sense. I am barely saving for retirement and thank goodness having kids and a house is not in my life goals. It’s sad. We are starting our “adult” lives so much later because of all the debt.
Haha, I remember I used to love that song, and my mom would just pray for my soul every time I played it since it was quite racy back then… now it’s just kids’ stuff! 😉 I agree debt needs to be a more open topic, as well as getting into the mindset that it doesn’t have to be a ‘normal’ for someone! Great post, Melanie. 🙂
I can see how your mom would be worried — you probably didn’t even know what it all meant.
I agrees, conversations and openness will bring progress.
I am going to have this song in my head all day, LOL… I guess it’s better than “Push It” or “Whatta Man”, right? 😉
Debt should definitely be talked about, and the fact that we are all in it, holding on for dear life, speaks volumes.
Yes, I totally agree! Haha, I love Push It though. Push it away!
I’m with it! I got into debt because of my student loans. They tell you that you can finance your education and pay it off when you start to make money. Well, if only I paid my school off and borrowed less then I would be able to put more money aside for savings and investing. It’s hard to get ahead when you owe money.
Here’s another Salt-N-Pepa song switched up for debt: ” Hey yeah, I wanna Shop (shoop) baby! shop , shop pe duupe!!”
I think debt is definitely something we as a nation should discuss, but it’s also something I think each person should discuss if they find themselves in debt. Unless there is fraud involved (which is obviously highly debatable), I tend to lean towards the line of thinking that debt is an individual responsibility. The worst thing I see people do is just bury their head in the sand and make minimum payments.
And is there anyone who didn’t get the reference???
Yes, I believe debt is an individual responsibility as well, however, I think there are collective forces that push us towards getting into debt. It’s normalized, encouraged, “the only way”,etc. If we started talking about it more, maybe less people would end up in debt! I think most people got the reference – but you’d be surprised. I love pop culture references and not everyone gets it.