What if you had a friend that was always begging you for money — hitting you up for $3 here, $10 there. You know, nothing big, but they were very consistent. You felt bad for them, so just kind of kept them around as your friend.
Now imagine this. Your new lover just simply adores you and cannot stop calling you. What you thought was love, is quickly turning into harassment. Unwanted calls and letters — you feel like you lost your sense of self and cannot escape.
Let’s consider another situation. You go to a job and do all your duties, but when you get paid, you only get half of your check, because your employer thinks you owe them for giving you a job.
Would you put up with any of these situations?
I hope there is a resounding HELL NO.
And if that’s the case, why are you putting up with the same crap from debt? Debt is personified in all of these scenarios. Debt is your conniving co-worker, your harassing lover, and your broke friend.
You wouldn’t put up with that, so don’t put up with the same crap from your debt.
It’s time to DUMP DEBT.
Break up, already.
Debt is SO out of style.
Don’t think about how you don’t know what to do with your life without debt. You’re so much stronger than that. Your life will mean so much more without debt and you’ll finally be able to see all the beauty you alone possess.
I want to preach the gospel of getting out of debt, because I too am sick and tired of being in debt. I’m sick of feeling used and sick of seeing my hard work go to debt.
I know I can reclaim my life, my finances, and my future at the end of this journey. And so can you!
Are you with me?
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22 comments
I’m definitely with you. Debt is a huge hassle that I plan to avoid the rest of my life. I just don’t like knowing that I owe anyone money. Debt sucks.
I hate the idea that my money is never really mine.
It is amazing how we are not willing to put up with situations in our personal lives but we put up with them in our financial lives. We accept debt as a necessary nuisance when we should just say no.
Exactly! Why is that?
ha yes that is indeed a good way to put it. It’s amazing how a spin on something can change your perspective about it!
Sometimes you need to see things with fresh eyes!
Ouch! This was well set up — I really didn’t know where you were going at first. (I thought the post was going to be about a rotten job situation.) Nicely done, and very convincing, for sure.
Ha, thanks! Wanted to try a different perspective 🙂
I love these analogies!
I had never thought about debt in this way. Love this example. Thanks Melanie for reframing debt’s behaviour.
I love this post because it made me think of debt in an entirely new light. You are right – I would NEVER put up with a loafing friend, but I tend to tolerate my debt. Ridiculous! I’ve heard the expression “frenemy” for a person who acts like a buddy but really stabs you in the back… I think you’ve identified my “debtemy.” Time to take it out – Pop-POP!!
So true! You work hard for your money and then a majority of your paycheck just disappears almost immediately when you have debt. Why put up with that?! I paid off my car recently and it feels so good on payday, knowing that the money is MINE!
Totally with you Melanie! We just had to pass up an opportunity to move to our dream location because the job involves a slight pay cut and we just can’t do it while we are still in debt for our student loans. Ugh! However, the situation has lit a huge fire under us to get those damn things gone as soon as possible!! Here’s hoping that we can break up with debt within 18 months…
I agree we put up with debt (of our own acts!) much more and longer than a free-loafing family member or friend.
I no longer allow that behavior in my life. Cash basis & debt free for almost 9 years! Not ever going back to it either!
Totally with you when it comes to debt. Definitely won’t put up with the crap that comes along with debt.
I’m tired of all my money going to debt as well. And I know exactly what to do with my life when my debt isn’t weighing me downThanks for the much needed motivation today!
Guess I’ll be the odd ball here. I like the post (very motivating), however, most people need debt. For example, I’m a PA, I work at a hospital and make 6 figures. I pay about $900/month in student loans, but guess what, I didn’t have the $85K to pay in cash for my education straight up. So I live with debt. Does it suck? Kind of. Do I have a wife, 2 kids, 3200 square foot house and still manage to put away 15% towards my retirement ($5K/year to the kids 529’s), yes I do! Debt is part of life, just don’t be too stupid about it. $10K of credit card debt on cloths, computers, cars, trips, ect IS STUPID. $60K on education/mortagage IS NOT! There is no black and white in life, only a mixture of colors we flow between. You can have debt and still have it all now and in the future. Just my two thoughts.
I totally get that sometimes you need to get into debt — I couldn’t go to school otherwise! I’m more passionate about people GETTING OUT of debt. It’s easy to get complacent and just think “everyone has debt” and not work to pay it off, which I think is super important.
Ha! Great analogies. Debt drains us; demands from us relentlessly; rips us off. You want to spread the gospel of getting out of debt? Preach it, sister!
I knew my Fruclassity sisters would enjoy this 🙂
The unfortunate reality is that we’re taught this abusive/usury-style relationship is a normal, necessary…even desirable part of life.
Amazingly, this view of the world is only about 30 years old. We can definitely eliminate this with a paradigm shift.
Thanks for getting the ball rolling.
Thanks for your comment! It’s time we shift some perspective.