The financial scare we’ve witnessed in the past couple of weeks is just symptom of the real problem: our country and most individuals are up to their eyeballs in debt, and as such, are becoming enslaved to false affluency and a lack of fiscal discipline.
The bail out is like putting a bandaid on a flesh-eating infection. It’s just a temporary cover. If you are complacent after such a clear warning signal, you have no one to blame but yourself when the REAL crisis hits, which will be sooner rather than later.
You need to get out of debt (and you can!), and you need to start living a financially disciplined life if you 1) don’t want to suffer the worse when the crash finally occurs, and 2) be in a position to minister to others who will be looking for answer and role models when life seems hopeless.
So what if the crash doesn’t happen? Is it really that important to get out of debt?
I’ve clawed my way out of debt more than once. I can tell you that marriage and family is tremendously more enjoyable when you are not in constant stress and turmoil over money and debt. When you do not have to worry about paying bills, you can take that same emotional energy and pour it into your relationships. [TIPJAR]
Every person has a finite emotional capacity. You either spend that capacity on dealing with stress and negatives, or you can use it to cultivate your marriage and family.
I’ve experienced marriage under a load of debt and stress, and I’ve experienced marriage and family with financial freedom (as defined by God, not by the amount of wealth you have).
NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES, no matter how much "lifestyle" you have to give up, it is worth it! Life, marriage, family, and all your relationships are so much more rewarding when the crush of debt is not squeezing the life out of them.
Check out my book, Life Without Debt.