Marriage~ Debt

So why is debt such a problem?

Debt promotes discontentment. When you're charging things with money you don't have, you are not content with your income. You cannot be patient. You cannot wait. You have to have it right now! But when you acquire things too easily without pride of ownership, it is easy to become dissatisfied quickly.


Debt makes arrogant presumptions about the future. By agreeing to have things now and becoming legally obligated to pay for them later, you make bold presumptions about what the future will hold in terms of money, ability and health. What makes you believe that although you don't have the money now you will have it later? But worse, you also promise that you will be willing to turn over money you don't have yet to pay for things you may not have anymore. What makes you think you will be all that thrilled about spending money you've not yet earned for stuff you probably won't even remember? That's an arrogant attitude and an irresponsible presumption on the future.


Debt requires you to transfer your future wealth to your creditors. If given the choice of sending monthly support checks to the wealthy credit card industry or sending those same checks to build your own future, would you really choose the former? Probably not. However, when you agree to stupid debt, that is exactly what you've done. Your choice has been made, and there is no way out but to make full repayment, no matter how difficult or unreasonable that will be.
Debt limits your options — and heavy loads of debt eliminate them altogether. Debt keeps people tied to jobs and careers they hate. It forces moms who would rather be home with their kids to work outside the home. It can even give Mr. Right second thoughts about taking on a prospective bride because of her heavy, debt-ridden baggage.



Debt steals your freedom and makes you a slave. When you are under a load of stupid debt, you are in bondage. You have no way out but to work off your sentence. King Solomon, the wisest man ever to have lived, summed it up this way: "The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the servant to the lender" (Prov. 22:7).


Taken from Debt-Proof Living: The Complete Guide to Living Financially Free by Mary Hunt.