We live in a world built on fear
We live in a world built on fear—especially when it comes to money. One of the most common manipulation tactics we face is the belief that we need debt to survive. Take credit cards, for example. Society pushes the idea that you can’t make it in the modern world without one. The message is loud and clear: "If you don’t have credit, you’re falling behind."
But here’s the thing: some of you will live a life of debt and monthly payments solely because you’re driven by the expectations of friends, family, coworkers, and cultural norms. Think about it: you must have a home by X age, you must drive this type of vehicle, you need to portray a certain financial image. I’m here to tell you: that’s all BULL****.
I’m all about patience and waiting my turn. If the people around me don’t like it, so be it. If it takes me another 10 years to buy a house cash, then that’s what it is. I refuse to voluntarily give up my freedom, choice, autonomy, and negotiating strength just to sign my life away to a bank or creditor for debt payments. I don’t care how much "living life without debt" slows down my progression or forfeits my ability to "rapidly" get rich (and yes, I’m laughing). I’m ok with growing slow. Because there’s literally NOTHING in this world I want badly enough to go into debt for. I’ll pass.
And you know what? This current life I’m living—without a payment in the world on the 1st of the month—is a blast. I don’t even know how I used to live with debt. This debt-free life I’ve built now? It’s pretty damn enticing to keep.
Here’s the kicker: If everyone around you is living on debt payments, you might want to question your efforts. According to a 2023 study by the Federal Reserve, 60% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, and about 70% of Americans have less than $1,000 in savings. This suggests that the vast majority of people are trapped in a cycle of debt, living with little financial security.
I’ll say it again: to live a decent life in this world we are all occupying, YOU DO NOT NEED DEBT.
Think about that. If the majority of people around you are trapped in that cycle, maybe it’s time to rethink the whole "follow the crowd" mentality.
You see, fear makes us believe we need things we don’t. The system tells us that without credit, we’re trapped. But the truth is, we don’t need debt to live. We can choose to break free from that fear.
As Dave Ramsey puts it:
"You cannot make me afraid, happy, or greedy enough to go into a deal. There’s nothing I want that bad, ever. I want to be debt-free more than there’s anything on the planet I want, and I will never trade that because it has given me that much freedom, that much peace. And I’m convinced it’s one of the reasons I’ve become wealthy."
Action Step: Add Living Debt-Free to Your Values
Living debt-free isn’t just about avoiding credit—it’s about making it a part of your values. Your values are your standards for life, the guiding principles that shape how you make decisions, live, and show up in the world. If you choose to adopt “living debt-free” as one of your core values, it becomes a non-negotiable part of how you approach money and life in general. You won’t let fear or societal pressure sway you into making decisions that go against your principles. Instead, you’ll find creative solutions, set clear boundaries, and commit to living on your own terms.
You don’t have to buy into the cycle of scarcity and lack. You can live debt-free. Don’t let fear control your choices—whether it's about money or anything else. There’s power in living on your own terms, and that’s the real freedom.
Imagine what life would be like without debt for 10 minutes. You may not get rich quick and have every luxury, but think about the freedom you would have without the $299, $790, or $1275 minimum payment every month. Payment sucks! Yet so many people voluntarily sign up and give their life away to such a one sided scenario. I refuse to be a slave. A debt-free life starts with cutting up the credit cards and never signing up for debt from here on.
