Comments on: A Life Without Debt: I’ll Never Be Debt Free

By: bill kid

bill kid — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:16:07 +0000

My house is paid for,no car payment,no credit cards and have a good job.Ive learned you will never be free because dont forget about state,county,city taxes,income tax,utilities,home and car insurances,life insurances cable,phone,internet,food,clothing and essentials,gas for vehicles,maintenance of everything and the list goes on.

By: anon a. mouse

anon a. mouse — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:17:19 +0000

I have a friend who tells me that her and her husband can’t live on a budget b/c they don’t make enough money/have too many bills!!! (How does one respond to that?)

She also told me a few months ago that I should trade my paid-for car in for a new one “before it breaks down.” I told her I’d consider it (no way, was just being polite.)

My favorite is when she buys her husband 5 expensive gifts for Christmas, or when he buys her a big rock a month after taking her to Mexico on vacation.

They live on one income, have two children, “own” a house, and make less than us (and we’re living on a tight income, too.)

They are having terrible fights right now, and while he’s a jerk, I know it has to be in part b/c of all the debt they’re in (she doesn’t “do” finances, so he’s left to deal with everything on his own.)

By: Monkey Mama

Monkey Mama — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 15:57:55 +0000

@Fern – it’s all about choice. I chose to buy an extremely old clunker (first car) and to go to a very affordable college. Because avoiding debt has always been important to me.

If avoiding debt is a choice – you will make it work. (Don’t get me wrong – I took a loan for my first car – but it was only $1k, while my average friend borrowed $20k!!!) The only difference between me and my friends was our debt mindset.

By: crazyliblady

crazyliblady — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 21:25:09 +0000

I just got an email from another listserv that pointed to this website. The video talks about 4 steps of changing your mindset from one of “I can’t” to “I can but I don’t know how” to “I can.” It is very simple and I plan on doing it myself.

http://www.breakthrough-to-brilliance.net/Video/495%20OFFER/495OFFER.html

By: Becky

Becky — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:46:20 +0000

Great post, very informational. My husband and I have made a pact to get out of debt and have been reading Anthony Manganiello’s book, “The Debt-Free Millionaire.” The things listed on your post really does coincide with what he teaches in his book. Another affirmation to me!

http://www.therealcashflowceo.com/Meet_Anthony_Manganiello.html

By: Gail

Gail — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 19:01:38 +0000

I live in hope that within 6-7 years we will be debt free, that is when our mortgage should be paid off plus the mortgage on a rental home we have and by that point if we keep plugging away at them the credit cards will also be long paid off. I have hope and am willing to work towards this goal, even though I no longer have the ability to earn high wages and do overtime to get extra to pay things off faster. I think it is sad that so many people have no hope and so continue on the way they are. They have no hope and can not believe that any other life style is available to them. Saddest of all are those so weighed down with debt but refuse to give up their lifestyles saying they can’t.

People have lived for thousands of years without cable TV, why in the last 20-30 years do people find themselves so attached to it and the money drain each month? I personally can’t understand it. Not with all the books in the library!

Or even this silly thing. Giving up things like paper napkins and using cloth ones. Minimal cost for cloth and they can get tossed in with the regular laundry so no extra cost for the maintenance. Same with using rags instead of paper towels. Those little things add up over time and no one will go back the 50 years to pre trhow everything away time. I’ve even found that using hankies keeps my nose from getting so irritated like paper tissues used to do to it!

By: Larry White

Larry White — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 17:11:38 +0000

My wife and I have gone thru losing our jobs–well over 100K and within 8 months of each. We developed a accounting business instead of going back into Corporate, paid some stupid tax and learned to be debt free and enjoy it. I offer no apologies to anyone as to our lifestyle. Any major purchases are planned for and paid for in cash even if it is a trip to Isarel, as in January.
I do debt counseling with families and and one of the hardest concepts I had to understand was that there were many people who chose to live by the “Yes, But” symptom to excuse their lifestyle and debt and could/would not change. But others that would be debt free by changing there lives and understand the sacrifices that must be made to be able to do more later.
It has always amazed me how people consider you rich as a excuse when you are just being good stewards of your financial assets.

By: fern

fern — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:56:39 +0000

Anne, I guess it depends on when you went to college. I, too, graduated from college with relatively little debt, but that was over 20 years ago. But my annual tuition was in the $12 to $15,000 range. These days, tuition easily exceeds $100,000 and even with scholarships, p/t work and grants, if you’re lucky, it can be tough for middle-class families to tackle.

I’ve paid cash for my last 2 cars, but again, I think I’m the anomaly here.

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:39:12 +0000

@fern, while I agree that for most people, purchasing a house without going into debt is difficult, the other two you mentioned are not all that difficult, if you plan ahead and lay good plans.

I got out of 4 years of private college with only $4,000 in student loans. Yes, my parents were very helpful but I also applied for every scholarship under the sun and worked hard. We are currently paying cash for my husband’s education. That means public university and part-time, but it is possible.

Many people here would contend that a brand-new car is never a necessity, but if it is, the way to pay cash for it is to keep paying yourself your car payment when the car is paid off until you have enough money to purchase a new car in cash.

By: LuxLivingFrugalis

LuxLivingFrugalis — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:09:54 +0000

ABSOLUTELY enjoying being TOTALLY debt-free!

A stubborn can do attitude on my part went all the way past my Hubster’s objections as to why we couldn’t possibly to finished, mortgage and all!!!

The air smells fine over here!