Debt—Introduction

Debt is commonplace in America.  It’s so commonplace that we tend to accept it as a part of life.  If we want to buy big things like houses, cars, tuition and vacations it’s generally seen as an acceptable use of credit.

Buy now and pay later.

But that just doesn’t seem right to Melissa and I.  We look at the people around us in debt, and we feel bad.

Some of our friends are incapable of seizing the opportunities around them because at 22 and 23 they already have so much debt.  Plain and simple, that sucks.

Melissa and I have been fortunate and we’ve made good decisions.  We knew from the time that we got married that debt would be an unwise burden to carry.

So we decided that it wouldn’t happen.

We have never had a credit card.  Never?  Never.

We had a small amount of student loans that, once we realized our error, we set aside money and repaid immediately.

Whenever we’ve wanted something we’ve saved for it, and when we had enough purchased it.  We lived well below our means and saved our money.

When we wanted a new TV we saved and waited, then purchased it cash.

When our transmission went out on our Dodge Neon and then the fuel pump failed on our Chevy Cavalier two weeks later we didn’t pull out our credit card.  We paid cash.

We knew if we hadn’t been able to afford it we had a community around that could give us rides and help us maintain our schedules.

It is possible to live in America debt free.  We realize it’s much harder to get out of debt than to get into it.

Although I think everyone would agree with us that debt is no fun, I don’t think many people realize how destructive it is.

From our study of the bible, we think we’ve found that debt isn’t just a bad idea, it’s seriously detrimental to our Christian communities and our ability to spontaneously respond to the will of God.

For the next few days we’d like to share our thoughts on debt.  I know that in our society it seems like we need debt to buy a house or a car, but that’s a simple lie.

Even if that is the case, we don’t need houses and cars.  Living debt free is a viable option.

Melissa and I aren’t fortunate to not have debt, we’ve made careful decisions to prohibit it.  We’re also thankful for the people that have helped us along the way.

If we had debt – good debt, bad debt, whatever – it would be nearly impossible to do what we’re doing right now.  Please, as you read, at least consider the possibilities…

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Please leave your thoughts below.  “Oh brother, here we go again,” or “yippee!” are acceptable.

Comments

Debt is for jerks and lesbians.  I hope you all can make it to Denver.

if a landlord wants to do a credit check and you say that you dont have any credit, they wont let you rent the apartment or whatever. good credit is a way for landlords, etc to see that you DO pay your bills on time. i dont really understand the whole concept of having no credit what so ever..... if you have no credit you might as well say that your credit score is 0.

two peas in a pod! cut from the same cloth!  cash speaks volumes! no debt! pay as you go!  I do agree however that a credit rating is necessay for an apartment...but there are alternative solutions to that dilemma…

Wow. How could someone make a comment that “debt is for jerks and lesbians”?  How incredibly hurtful and dismissive. This site is supposed to be written by “radical” Christians who are trying to live for Jesus. As a Christian, I’m really offended by 1) your classing together jerks and lesbians and 2) your suggestion that debt is for lesbians.  What does a person’s sexuality have to do with their temperment or their financial decisions? Maybe you could try loving people and consider how your judgemental words impact other people.

Maggie, you’re right, saying that debt is for jerks and lesbians is an odd comment to make.  Please note that the comment you’re referring to was posted by another reader, not by Melissa or I.

And you’re right, this site is written by radical “Christians” (should you choose the term) committed to loving others. 

But we also encourage all kinds of readers.  What would be the point, or the fun, of writing for a bunch of other “radical Christians”.

Though I agree that Brook’s comment is completely asinine and immature, we appreciate both his or her,and your readership and comments.  For all we know Brook is both a jerk and a lesbian speaking from personal experience.

I guess I’ll be a ‘jerk’ then . . .

I’m more of a “disgruntled lesbian”, but close enough to make me an authority.