How much debt?

LivingAlmostLarge · #1 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 04:22 PM

What was the most debt (not including a mortgage) you've had? I was thinking about this, and right now we have $17k in student loans. The most we've ever had. I had $10k after undergrad and paid it off. And DH had $5k car loan. But other than that this is the most debt we've had.

What's the average debt of people here? Or were you always debt free but for a mortgage?

scfr · #2 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 04:47 PM

Maybe $500? Don't remember exactly.

My grandparents loaned me some $ to cover first and last month's rent on an apartment when I got out of college. I paid them back, and if my memory is correct I paid them back at $50 per month. They did not charge me interest, bless their hearts.

Seeker · #3 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 04:56 PM

Other than the mortgage, this would have to be DH's education debt.... because it had been in default it was over 40k at it's peak (don't remember exactly), but now it's down to 12K

Broken Arrow · #4 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 05:38 PM

38k in student loans.

But now it's gone.

zetta · #5 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 06:08 PM

No debt except a mortgage until DH talked me into a $5k car loan at 1.9%. I use credit cards but always pay them in full.

richinspirits · #6 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 07:09 PM

two years ago, at age 25, i was $51K in debt....i had finished grad school and been working for a bit, but my salary wasn't great yet. but i decided just about two years ago to buckle down. that was my highest point....

7836 - Credit cards
10147 - Car
32975 - Student loans

50958 - Total

i took care of the first two things on my list and now have about $26K in loans that i hope to pay off by March 09. about $1500 a month from pay goes towards paying them off, as well as bonus pay. i know i can do it!

here's where I have been blogging about it, tho i don't claim to have any genius ideas or strategies other than just keep plugging along!

Rich in Spirits

safari · #7 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 07:11 PM

I have $136,000 in credit card debt, which will be paid off in April when my 0% balance transfer offer ends.

Snave · #8 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 08:44 PM

When I was engaged to my now wife, I went from $0 to $43K overnight about 5 years ago. There went a good chunk of my frugal savings to pay it off.

16K in wifes student loans
17K car
10K credit card

hellodeli1 · #9 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 08:57 PM

The most debt I ever carried was $0.

Scanner · #10 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 10:02 PM

$52,000 in educational debt and 75,000 mortgage and I didn't have a job.

I guess I had a handshake.

jIM_Ohio · #11 (**permalink**) 02-22-2008, 11:36 PM

80k of student loan debt (paid off 1997-2005)
10k of cc debt (1996, 1998)
20k of cc debt (2006)

Slug · #12 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 06:30 AM

Got about 80k in student loan debt b/t the wife and I. She'll be attacking that once she goes back to work when our son enters pre-school.

Oh plenty of mortgage debt too.

But never CC debt unless I'm playing the 0% game.

maat55 · #13 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 06:46 AM

12,000 car
4000 car
8000 hel
5000 cc

total 29,000

Fortunatly, we paid it off when we sold our home to have another built. NEVER AGAIN

MonkeyMama · #14 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 07:45 AM

I took on a $1k interest-free loan for my first car. $6k for my second car. & a $5k 3% loan for our last car purchase. So I guess the most was $6k.

I intend to never borrow again. I mean those loans were when we were first starting out. Our general rule is to borrow at a low interest rate (preferably 0%) and pay off within the year. Those loans I really don't mind. Helped us get ahead. But now I think we are in a place where we should not have to borrow again.

ktmarvels · #15 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 08:09 AM

3 years ago we had no debt. Then DH got a car upon college graduation (12K), after the wedding I got a car (13K) and now we are picking up school loans (currently 17K ). So our most debt will probably be right after school when we have 60K in debt.

Don't worry that we are heading in the wrong direction having debt now after not having any before....we could pay off all of these, but we are choosing not to right now.

disneysteve · #16 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 08:49 AM

In 1990, I finished school with about $102,000 in student loans. Much of it was deferred until 1993 when I finished residency. By then, I was married and DW still owed a bit on her car, probably a few thousand. Nothing much. So I'd say a total of about $106,000. Neither of us has ever had any credit card debt. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it, I seem to recall DW had a small student loan also but I don't remember how much it was.

Of course, the following spring, we bought our house and added another $113,600 but you said not to count the mortgage debt.

LivingAlmostLarge · #17 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 09:15 AM

Yep because not having mortgage debt is pretty much impossible unfortunately. It doesn't count if you paid it off or had debt then rolled over equity. If you ever had it, it counts.

But this is more I guess unsecured debts like CC, Cars, HELOC, student loans.

maat55 · #18 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hellodeli1

The most debt I ever carried was $0.

How old are you? 10. How did you do this and what is your credit scar, I mean score?

Despite the few disadvantages to never having debt, I think it would be the least stressful way of life. Congradulations!!!!!

Ima saver · #19 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 11:59 AM

I have been mortgage free for 30 years. The most debt I have ever had is $30,000 for car debt. (I only buy new cars)

maat55 · #20 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ima saver

I have been mortgage free for 30 years. The most debt I have ever had is $30,000 for car debt. (I only buy new cars)

I guess someone has to buy them new before I can buy them used. At least your not loosing big on mortgage interest.