It is not an accident that most people end up in debt. They are trained to use it. Learn more in this week’s blog.
There are far too many people who end up stuck in debt. They don’t realize the danger until they are deeply in debt and need help. They wonder how they got there, but the answer to that is quite simple. They were trained to be in debt.
My training started when I was in high school. My Dad took me down to the bank and we met with the banker. I wanted a stereo system and my Dad wanted to help me. So we set up our meeting with the banker. Dad felt it was important for me to establish my credit rating. We went to the bank for our appointment and filled out the paperwork. I got my first loan (I am sure my Dad co-signed the loan) and I was on my way to having debt issues myself.
Today the training starts even younger than high school. There was a cartoon when I was young in which the wives would tell their husbands that they were going shopping. As they left, they would shout “Charge it!”. This is a sad example of indoctrinating people at an early age. Do you recognize the cartoon?
College students are frequent targets of credit card companies. Many schools hand out credit card application packets with their orientation packets. With the skyrocketing cost of school, these cards are a temptation that comes at a time when funds are tight. It seems like a great deal, a card that will help you make purchases. While the fine print explains the repayment terms, how many people actually read all those legal terms?
Even college business classes train you how to use debt. Interest is taught as a necessary business expense rather than the price increasing mechanism that it is. Many people accept this explanation without question. It is a part of our debt training.
Once people are out in the work force, no matter what level of school they have left, the credit card offers start coming in the mail. The offers tempt you with low introductory rates that make you think you are getting free use of the credit card money. They never tell you about all the fees that they collect from the merchants. They don’t tell you that the merchants have to raise their prices to cover the fees that the credit card company charges for the use of their card.
Once a credit card company gets you into the habit of using their card, you get to the point where you cannot pay the balance off at the end of the month, so they get to collect high interest fees on your balance. They call it convenience. (For them, not for you). It is convenient to the credit card company’s bottom line. They really like making money off you.
The first thing a realtor will ask you is how much you are able to borrow so you can purchase a house. They have also been trained that only really rich people can pay for a house without financing it. While they have to show you how much your financing will cost you over the life of the loan, financing is sold as s cost of the transaction, not an increase in what you are paying for the house. That doesn’t even take into account the fact that you are giving the bank ownership of your house. You won’t own it until you have paid double the sales price. With a traditional mortgage, you don't pay the note off for 20 or 30 years!
So the next time you wonder how you got into debt issues, remember that you were trained. It's not your fault. It will be your fault if you refuse to learn how to pay off debt early. My workshop is free!
Anything you tolerate becomes normal to you. When you stop tolerating debt, you increase your ability to function without it. It will take you some time, but the end is worth it!- Dan Heiland
Scroll down to the comments and tell me if this post has helped you and how it did! I welcome your Story! Tell me how you learned to accept debt.
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God Bless your week!