I don't know about anybody else but I am happy for everyone who is debt-free. There's nothing like not owing ANYBODY, being able to spend as you wish because after all, you are debt-free. Most people had to make sacrifices to be debt free such as get a 2nd job, budget and cut back on frivolous expenses. If you have a 15-year mortgage on your home and you're paying $650 a month at 4% interest, you can pay off your home in one of two ways: You can pay lump-sum payments. This way, you save on interest and you repay the balance faster (What I mean is you budget $650 each month until the bill is due and you make one big payment). Or, you can pay twice the amount each month and you'll pay the mortgage faster & save on interest. Either way, you'll be debt free before you know it. This strategy has helped me big-time and I'm thankful. Think about it, when you're debt free and you get paid...YOU get paid, not the collectors. You're able to allocate your money towards your 401K and/or mutual fund, Roth IRA or any other choice portfolio you have. You can travel, put money aside for your children's college education, etc. Being debt free allows you to do so much more with your money. Nobody should want to owe anybody for life; I don't. That's why it's important to keep your finances in order so you won't have any worries. Finances are one of the top, if not the top reason most couples get divorced. One person is a saver, the other is a spender. If the federal government used sound financial judgment, the national debt wouldn't be in the 10 trillion range. America would be debt free so we can truly do what needs to be done to get this economy back in order. It's a wonderful feeling to make good money AND be debt free. Most debt-free people are paying for life insurance, putting money into their 401K/Roth IRA/mutual fund, eating out and going shopping everyday. They're living life to the fullest and by right they should, because they're debt-free.
We all have to be smarter when it comes to money. We have to teach our children early how to be smart when it comes to money. Store brands and generics aren't a bad move when it comes to saving money. There are so many ways to save money. My strategy is to eat out less, pay down my debt (student loans, car note, and small cc bill), and reallocate what you saved to a savings account. Income tax refunds is a wonderful time to pay down debt and save a nice lump sum of money. The key to being debt free is to think of tomorrow vs wanting to live frivolously today.
ReplyDeleteYou have to be, especially in this economy. Nothing worse than not having the money when you need it. Bills piling up, low on cash, that's not a good feeling at all. The financial moves you make today set the tone for the rest of your life.
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