Why do people hate debt?
The truth is, we hate debt around here because of all the problems it causes. Debt robs your present and steals from your future. Debt keeps you stuck in a cycle that makes it impossible to build wealth. And debt can weigh you down so much you can't see a way out.
Having too much debt can make it difficult to save and put additional strain on your budget. Consider the total costs before you borrow—and not just the monthly payment. It might sound strange, but not all debt is "bad." Certain types of debt can actually provide opportunities to improve your financial future.
It takes away your cash, it limits your creativity, it hampers living beneath your means, and debt lines the pockets of someone else. And I'm not saying I hate debt from a moral high ground—I've carried debt before. No, this is about the simple fact that debt restricts your freedom.
These and a million other things are what people fear may happen with being in debt. Things are getting more & more expensive to buy. People worry What if I run out of money before I die?, What if I lose my job & can't get another one before I run out of money?, so they're scared about where will I go?
Think about it like this: facing financial struggles can be seriously stressful. It can trigger anxiety, depression, you name it. So, rather than dealing with all that emotional baggage, some folks simply choose to ignore it. It's like sweeping the mess under the rug, hoping it'll just disappear.
Myth 1: Being debt-free means being rich.
A common misconception is equating a lack of debt with wealth. Having debt simply means that you owe money to creditors. Being debt-free often indicates sound financial management, not necessarily an overflowing bank account.
Debt can be considered “good” if it has the potential to increase your net worth or significantly enhance your life. A student loan may be considered good debt if it helps you on your career track. Bad debt is money borrowed to purchase rapidly depreciating assets or assets for consumption.
Bad debt can lead to stress by limiting your ability to enjoy life. Without a system to manage your loans and pay off credit card debt your stress can increase and take years off your life. Not to mention the constant stress debt collectors can place on you to pay off your debts.
Being debt-free is a financial milestone we often hear about people striving for. Without debt, you can focus on building more savings, investing those extra funds and just simply having more peace of mind about your finances.
Borrowing To Create Wealth
This is called “gearing.” Providing you invest wisely and your assets increase in value, gearing helps you create wealth, as the income (and capital growth) from the investment pays off the debt and exceeds the costs of servicing that debt. Property or shares are often a good strategy here.
Do millionaires avoid debt?
They stay away from debt.
One of the biggest myths out there is that average millionaires see debt as a tool. Not true. If they want something they can't afford, they save and pay cash for it later.
The key features of good debt are that it is used to acquire income-producing assets and has a reasonable cost structure compared to the expected returns. If this is the case, that is how debt leads to greater wealth creation.
Poor budget choices and failure to follow basic financial principles can send even the richest people with a high net worth into debt. Millionaires have more money than most of us can imagine. To put into perspective $1 million equates to 588 months, or 49 years, of the average rent price in America.
Some for the first time, others seeing their existing debt get worse. Here's the thing I want to say – and this is important: There's no shame in having debt, and it's completely understandable to be stressed and anxious about it. I say that because so many people in debt do feel shame. And guilt.
Rising debt reduces business investment and slows economic growth. It also increases expectations of higher rates of inflation and erosion of confidence in the U.S. dollar.
There's a strong link between debt and poor mental health. People with debt are more likely to face common mental health issues, such as prolonged stress, depression, and anxiety. Debt can affect your physical well-being, too. This is especially true if the stigma of debt is keeping you from asking for help.
Less than a third (30%) of U.S. consumers are debt free. 19% of Americans say their top financial goal for 2023 is to pay down debt.
However, 35% of Americans reported that they're in the most debt of their lives. New York Fed data shows that U.S. household debt swelled to $17.5 trillion last quarter, with credit card balances making up about $1.13 trillion of it — a new high for credit card debt.
Are people with less debt happier? Yes, 97% of people with debt say they would be happier without it. People with debt are more likely to suffer depression or anxiety.
Proverbs 22:26 - Do not become guarantors for debts. Matthew 6:12 - Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Matthew 18:27, 30, 32, 34 - Forgive because your debts have been forgiven. Luke 7:42-43 - He who is forgiven much (debt) loves much; he who is forgiven little (debt) loves little.
What is the 20 30 rule?
The rule is to split your after-tax income into three categories of spending: 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and 20% on savings. 1. This intuitive and straightforward rule can help you draw up a reasonable budget that you can stick to over time in order to meet your financial goals.
The average debt in America is $104,215 across mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and credit cards. Debt peaks between ages 40 and 49 among consumers with excellent credit scores. Washington has the highest average debt at $180,462, and West Virginia has the lowest at $64,320.
- People aged 40-49 hold the highest amount of debt with $4.21 trillion in total.
- By 2030, Millennials (born between 1981 to 1996) are expected to have the most total debt at an average of $228,891 per person.
If there's no money in their estate, the debts will usually go unpaid. For survivors of deceased loved ones, including spouses, you're not responsible for their debts unless you shared legal responsibility for repaying as a co-signer, a joint account holder, or if you fall within another exception.
Debt-to-income ratio is your monthly debt obligations compared to your gross monthly income (before taxes), expressed as a percentage. A good debt-to-income ratio is less than or equal to 36%. Any debt-to-income ratio above 43% is considered to be too much debt.
