Comments on: A Life Without Debt: Avoiding Obligation

By: wandaa

wandaa — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:41:25 +0000

“Scott: I have a ’statement balance’ every month in the 4 figures but it gets paid off every month. The stats would have you believe I’m thousands of dollars in debt whereas I’ve chosen to use my CC as my primary purchasing agent and get the rewards while eliminating the risk of carrying cash”

We do this very thing every single month and our card gives us cash back yearly. But I do not consider this debt. We pay it off in full every single month and pay absolutely no interest or fee’s. To me this is not debt but it as you say using the credit card as a tool to our advantage.

By: wandaa

wandaa — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:35:55 +0000

Great post!
I can’t even stand having my time alloted let alone be in debt and have creditors make me dance to their tune.

I’m annoyed if I have a doctor’s appointment but know it’s something that must be done for my good.

I avoid debt like the plague. There is no gadget/trinket/clothing worth the price of your own personal freedom and no one making demands on it.

By: mousid

mousid — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 10:39:43 +0000

Sadie, you sound so much like me! I just can’t get used to pulling out my credit cards, even though i now have a couple. That too got forced upon me and i so regret it. I still, however, use public transport and have not been able to save enough money to buy a car. The problem is, money, if it’s there, just doesn’t stay with me. Sometimes, i think i would have been better off leasing one. But i don’t think i would have been able to live through the entire leasing period because of stress.

By: Linda Hubbard

Linda Hubbard — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:03:14 +0000

My only debt is my mortgage and credit card. I pay my credit card off every month. It was recently extremely helpful when I filed a billing dispute against a local gym who was trying to hijack me into a 2 year membership. The card company stepped in to defend me and got all my money back. Had I paid cash up front I never would have seen it again.Debt of this kind can be very useful if you understand how to manage it. I agree with Scott – choose your debt wisely. More parents should be doing this with their children. Maybe then our society can get out of this recurring debt pit.

By: Gail

Gail — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 14:15:43 +0000

The problem is that so few people have the self control to use debt wisely, making the descision to use the credit card so that you have a couple of extra weeks to receive interest in your savings account. That being said, even though I like getting the rewards, ets. that you can get with credit cards, I try to use my debit cards for most common purchases such as grocery and gas, and pay more than the minimum on all credit cards. The thought of buying groceries and paying on them for the next year or so is crazy yet that is what some people do. What we have on our credit cards is basically a cheap low interest construction loan spread among several cards for when we were finishing our home (worth several 100K) but cost us around 100K or less as we did the work.

Business expenses are charged on the cards and paid in full each month as it is difficult to cram money through the telephone wires when ordering supplies.

The use of credit cards is not inherently bad, it is a problem when people use them to subsidize a lifestyle that they can’t afford. Better to learn to live on what you make or else figure out how to make more than live a better lifestyle while tacking on $500-1000+ more on credit cards each month. People doing that will never get out of debt or have that relieved feeling of not having the weight of crushing debt on their heads.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:23:28 +0000

@Craig

I’m thankful for my debts and I’ll tell you why.

I’m thankful that I was able to get student loans to pay for my BS/MS, I now make far more than I ever would have before in a career I enjoy.

I’m thankful for the mortgage I have, it has allowed me to purchase a home for the small premium of 4.875% interest. I was never going to save enough cash to purchase a home outright.

I’m thankful for my first auto loan (now paid off) as I was able to get a new car to retire my old and falling apart college car when I didn’t have tons of cash on hand to purchase it outright.

As RB said in post 3 – debt can be used as a tool for leverage. If you have a good understanding of debt/equity ratios as well as your cash flows you can use debt as a tool to accomplish goals you otherwise may not be able to accomplish.

You are correct, debt can limit your options, but so does the false idea that you have to save up the cash to purchase everything!

I fully support not using debt for consumer purchases, use debt for what businesses would call capital expenditures.

By: Craig @ Money Help For Christians

Craig @ Money Help For Christians — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 11:55:07 +0000

I can tell a great discussion is about to kick off here.
Very few individuals with debt are actually thankful for that debt. Yes, indeed people are thankful for the items attained through debt, but likely not the debt itself.
Debt does obligate us. Each debt we assume is a commitment to do what someone else requires. We often must give people the right to come and take whatever they want if we do not pay. Personally, I have opted for a debt free life and have absolutely no regrets.
Debt is bondage.

By: Big Blue House Momma

Big Blue House Momma — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 10:55:18 +0000

Debt is bondage…unfortunately so is our government from the looks of our headlines this morning. Looks like those of us who work may be taking on a second job to pay for those who choose not to.
All the more reason to avoid debt….our government is racking it up for us.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:32:46 +0000

Richby30…

You are correct. There is an irrational fear of debt in the personal finance blogging community. When used wisely as a tool it can actually help you as it allows you to leverage your cash on hand to purchase goods or services.

Is there a cost? Absolutely! It is in the interest you pay on the principal every month. But only you can answer whether that cost is worth it to you.

Is there a problem with credit card debt in the US, sure there is. But the statistics are misleading. I have a ’statement balance’ every month in the 4 figures but it gets paid off every month. The stats would have you believe I’m thousands of dollars in debt whereas I’ve chosen to use my CC as my primary purchasing agent and get the rewards while eliminating the risk of carrying cash.

Let me state this simply: there is nothing inherently wrong with debt! It is all in how it is used.

Choose your debts wisely and it can be a great tool. Choose your debts poorly and it will make you a fool.

By: Richby30Retireby40BLOG

Richby30Retireby40BLOG — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 15:41:47 +0000

I used to be afraid of debt, but now I find debt liberating. Debt helps me allocate capital in more efficient ways. Companies do that with equity and debt, so should we.

Having debt also keeps me focused on work and not get lazy. It’s too easy to give up early in life.

Rgds,