 |
| How I Went From $30,000 In Debt, To Debt-Free In 36 Months (Part 1) |
Three years ago, I was $30,000 in debt, making $35,000/year. Today (Oct. 2006), I am debt-free. I paid off all of that debt by changing how I looked at debt, by making the hard choices, and by doing whatever it took to get out of debt. I don't work in the financial or lending field. The only reason I have put my thoughts into writing is to try to help other people. I am 46 years old. This is my story.
Three years ago, I was $30,000 in debt.
I had $15,000 in consumer debt (credit cards and an auto loan), and I owed $15,000 to my mom. I felt like I was swimming in an ocean of debt with no sign of the shore.
My income as a real estate agent was around $35,000/ year. Scary, huh?
I got myself into this trouble the way most people get themselves into troublesome financial decisions based upon taking the easy, instant gratification, tons of justifications path.
Today, I am debt-free except for my mortgage, which I consider good debt.
I'm going to tell you how I got out of debt. These ideas are a bit difficult to put into writing, but if you read this article carefully, my experiences and suggestions may help you achieve the debt-free life you dream of.
What has worked for me can work for you if you are willing to follow a more difficult life path than you are on right now. The choices I made to get out of debt only worked for me because I was willing to do whatever it took to get out of debt. Whatever it takes, philosophy was essential to my success and will also be very important to your success.
Selling your future self into slavery:
Most people, including me, prefer to take the easy path in life; Buy now, pay later. We do this not realizing that we are putting our future selves into slavery for the debt we create today. What you buy on credit today, your future self will have to try to pay back when you get your credit card statements.
If you think about it, why would you do that to yourself? You wouldn't do that to a friend, and you wouldn't do that to your Grandma. Why do it to you? You need to learn to like yourself enough not to create this future slavery. You have a choice. You can look forward to a future filled with freedom and prosperity or a future of slavery to your debt. Don't intentionally give up your freedom. Your choices can create future heaven or a future hell for you.
It will continue...
Photo: https://pixabay.com
