by Hope
Debt sucks. You work hard for your money and watching it go to someone else is no fun. But it is such an overwhelming cycle and no matter how many self-help books and blogs you read, experts you listen to and advice you get, it’s a hard habit to break. The only thing worse than debt is when you’re in debt and not in control of it. I’ve been there for a very long time and finally feel like I’m beginning to see the light. I never want to go back.
I made minimum payments but never came up with a plan to pay it off. It has been incredibly stressful. To add to it, I went through a divorce, adopted a couple of kids, bought and sold way too many cars and had lots of job challenges. Years later, I’ve finally come up with a plan, got my mind right and I’m happy to say I am making great progress and feeling better than I have in years. There have been many amazing side effects from paying my debt off.
Emotional Well Being
There is an indescribable feeling that comes with having full control over your money. When you finally know how much is coming in and going out, is an amazingly peaceful feeling. The anxiety goes away. Though it’s never fun sitting down to calculate debt, it’s necessary and brings a sense of control when you finally know. As you start paying your debt down it just feels good, an accomplishment that you can see as you log into your accounts.
You Have More of Your Money
As your debt is paid off, more of your money is actually yours. Now that I’ve paid off the bulk of my consumer debt, I can really plan how to use my money.
You Appreciate What You Have
When you’re not in a situation to drop a wad of cash on new clothes for example, you appreciate what you have much more. You become resourceful too. There were times I thought I needed something but many times made do without whatever it was. Once the debt is gone, and I have more disposable income, I know my appreciation for things (including my money), will stay. I will always choose quality, but be a conscious consumer.
Getting started is hard, breaking those bad habits, sacrificing in the now for the future is hard, but facing your debts will be one of the best decisions you ever make.
What was the best thing that came from paying your debt off?
Hope is a digital marketing manager and foster/adoptive single mom to five kids. She has run her own consulting company for over 15 years and took a leap of faith returning to the corporate world in 2021 to a job and team she loves! Hope began sharing her journey with the BAD community in the Spring of 2015 and feels like she has finally mastered the balance between family first and wise financial decisions.
