The Psychology of Being Debt Free

You ever want to feel like you're on top of the world?  Like you are secure as you can get?  Like the future is promising?  One crucial ingredient to feeling like this is having few debts.

On the page titled "The Psychology of Easy Credit" we explored some of the ways that marketing people and credit card companies having us believing we need things and we can pay for them tomorrow.  Now let's look at the psychology of being debt free.

Is all debt bad?  No.  Smart debt is something that appreciates.  Your home mortgage is one such debt.  A student loan is another.  Always invest in yourself, the pay back is tremendous.  Should you go into debt on a car?  Well, most people don't have $20,000 cash laying around and you really need to get to work.  So a car loan is acceptable, to a point.  Let's look at how we can limit our debt. 

Fighting Back

If marketing people can create demand by playing off our feelings of inadequacy, then we can fight back by not falling for these tricks. 

Here's something worth repeating to yourself many times... Things won't make me happy, but being something will! 

What does that mean?  A new car, a bigger house, high end jewelry, a better brand of clothes, do they really make you happy?  Do we get these things so our friends and neighbors will admire our possessions and that's supposed to make us happy?  Think about it.  We really buy the 'extras' so people will think we are 'successful', that we've 'got it'.  And once you get all these things what do you want? More.  That's right, more of it because what you have really didn't make you happy so perhaps more will.

What competing in the field of goods normally breeds is resentment.  Some people will resent you for what you have, not admire you.  And you will resent the never ending road of needing more and more.

Staying out of Debt with self esteem

Let's look at 'being' something.

I bet your 'known' in your circle of friends for something good.  A great cook, someone very generous, a smart coach, and so on.  Isn't that what really matters in life?  Isn't that what's important?

If you don't think your known for anything good you can start today.  Join a community group, help out in the Church, hospital or school, there's an endless list. 

Once you start to change the way you view yourself, you can change your lifestyle.  You will become immune to the high pressure marketing we're exposed to daily.  You'll be able to say "I don't need these things to make me feel good", because you will know you ARE good.  Other people know it too, and they'll tell you.  Then you will be fulfilled.  You will truly be happy.

Sure, as you can easily afford a few things that can make your life easier that's great.  But I bet you will find yourself giving away more money because you want to do good instead of pamper yourself.  That's when you know you've really 'made it'.

An older man once said to me that he came into the world naked and broke, and he's going out in an old suit and a net worth not worth mentioning.  But his life mattered to other people, he made a difference.  He was a success.

All the best to you.