Archive for April, 2007

Freedom is Avoiding Debt

Monday, April 9th, 2007

When you go into debt you become the slave to someone else. We don’t usually think of it in those terms, but in reality that is what happens. You are no longer in control over how you spend your own money–some of it belongs to someone else. Credit cards and loans for quickly depreciating merchandise are both ways that you can quickly become a slave to the entity that loaned you money.

If you want to live free, you are going to have to learn how to live without debt. Most people don’t really think about the ramifications of debt. Being in debt forces you to stay with an employer that you don’t like. Being in debt can force you to stay in a city you hate. Being in debt can force you to do all kinds of things that you would never do if you weren’t in debt.

There are times where it makes sense to take out a loan. But not all debt is created equal. Someone who decides to put 20% of their salary into a house payment is in a completely different boat than someone who is living with $45,000 of credit card debt and buying new electronics every day. Regardless, all debt takes away some of your freedom. So be very careful what debt you are willing to take on.

If you truly want to live free, you will have to learn to live without things that take away your freedom. Debt is one of the biggest enemies of a free life. Debt is one of the biggest enemies of doing what you really want to do in life.