You're Greedy and Just Want to Get Rich

Oh please! If wanting to improve your financial situation makes me greedy, then I guess I’m guilty as charged. 

Look y'all, I grew up watching 90% of the people around me struggle with money—keeping it and multiplying it. I saw how this struggle bound them to jobs and locations that were far from appealing, despite their daily facade of “I love my life.” Most lived a bearable, but their expectations for quality of life was much higher before they encountered debt and those relentless monthly minimum payments. This led to a pre-designed life, fabricated by an insatiable market that creates chains between debtor and creditor.

So, if you want to know why I think you should avoid debt like a plague, it's because quality of life matters. Keep a 3-6 month emergency fund on hand at all times and invest at least 15% into accounts like a 401(k), Roth IRA, and a simple brokerage account holding solid index funds and/or mutual funds. Why? Because quality of life is greatly tied to choice, autonomy, and the ability to negotiate your life.

When I’m tied down by what seems like playful spending but is really a bullying act from banks and credit card companies, I lack that ability to negotiate my life. Saving and investing as much as possible each month is crucial. Do this for 10-15 years, and you’ll build a solid nest egg. Then, you can confidently say “No,” “I won’t,” or “I choose to.” Minimizing monthly expenses and figuring out unique ways to cut back is vital; the less you owe, the quicker you get to a place of real choice and a better quality of life.

Be generous with your gained wisdom. Share it with like-minded people who are tired of living on the debt and bondage train, and work toward a life free of those chains. Go and gain as much wealth as you can! Money isn’t evil; it’s the love of money that spoils the soul. God wants you to be wealthy and generous along the way.

As Proverbs 10:22 says, “The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it.” Never borrowing money, never going into debt, and investing in simple index and mutual funds that return 10-12% annually is one of those free-of-toil blessings. While everyone should do good work in life—that’s natural—hard, exhausting heavy lifting isn’t mandatory. It’s God’s grace that brings financial blessings into your life.

Lastly, you may say, "Well, how do I get out of debt and begin a life free of loans?" If you're in a deep hole of debt, the first thing you should do is stop digging. This means cutting up the credit cards, quitting taking on loans, and stopping any engagement with entities that want to put you in debt, no matter how appealing they make it seem. Watch your quality of life skyrocket over a few years.