Debt Sucks: Why I’m Not a Fan of Leverage
No, Virginia, You Don't Have to Carry a Credit Card Balance
Earlier this year, my Pastor asked if I "knew anyone" who could teach a nine-week session of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University at church. We both knew what that meant. I raised my hand.
I've never carried credit card debt — call it a personal rule bordering on paranoia. But sitting through Ramsey's material gave me a new appreciation for just how much damage revolving debt does, and how refreshingly simple the fix actually is.
It takes discipline. It doesn't take luck.
The Trick Nobody Talks About
Here's the part that surprised me. Paying off debt — credit cards, student loans, your car, even your mortgage — doesn't just free up cash. It rewires how you live.
When you go all-in on debt payoff, more of your income gets redirected there, which means less is available to spend day-to-day. Live that way long enough, and something shifts: your baseline for "normal" spending quietly resets, lower than before.
Then the debt disappears. And the money that used to service it? Still not going anywhere — except now it's yours to redirect. You never miss what you'd already stopped spending.
Nobody tells you that part. It just happens.
Why Bother?
Because debt-free means choice. The choice to work less, or not at all. The choice to give generously. The choice to say yes to your family without doing math first.
None of this is easy. I won't pretend otherwise. But it's absolutely doable if you're willing to commit to it. If you're on the fence, let's talk it through. If you're ready to get serious, Financial Peace University is a great place to start.
Don't wait on this one. The day you make that last payment, you'll wonder why you didn't start sooner.
Would You Like More Support?
- Do you have a well-defined Investment Policy Strategy that is used to drive your investments in support of a comprehensive financial plan?
- If not, would you like to partner with someone who is used to helping people get through these struggles and (then, with confidence) implement portfolio strategies in a systematic manner while focusing on your desired outcomes?
If so, feel free to send us an email or give us a call. We’d love to have the opportunity to help you find a bit more peace of mind when it comes to investing.
F5 Financial
F5 Financial is a fee-only wealth management firm with a holistic approach to financial planning, personal goals, and behavioral change. Through our F5 Process, we provide insight and tailored strategies that inspire and equip our clients to enjoy a life of significance and financial freedom.
F5 Financial provides fee-only financial planning services to Naperville, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Aurora, Oswego, Geneva, St. Charles, Wheaton, Glen Ellyn, Lisle, Chicago and the surrounding communities; to McDonough, Henry County, Fayette County, Atlanta and the surrounding communities; to Venice, Sarasota, Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, Cape Coral, Osprey, North Port, and the surrounding communities; and nationally.
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