A Tall Drink of Noodles.

I have come to a point in my life where the level of debt has reached unimaginable heights! This has led me to believe that we, as Americans, live far beyond our means. I don’t live a lavish lifestyle by any stretch of the imagination. I’ve calculated that if I pay just slightly over the minimum balance that I’ll be debt “free” in about, oh…say…2 years! That’s 2 years of NOT even touching or even looking at the card! That’s insane! Obviously the goal is to pay it off as soon as possible, but at the same time I need to resupply my savings. It’s a tricky battle of “what should I put this money towards?” Do I put it towards paying debt off faster? Do I put it towards paying my rent? Do I put it towards my savings?

It sure as hell as obvious that it should go towards whatever issue is the most important like RENT and FOOD. It doesn’t take an astrophysicist to figure that one out, but over a longer period of time other things need to be taken care of as well…

As soon as I am debt “free”, I am cutting up ALL my cards but 2 cards. Emergency cards for just in case I don’t have cash on me. Have one VISA/Mastercard and one American Express. There is no way in hell I am going to raise a family with THIS kind and amount of debt hanging over my head and neck like an albatross to an ancient mariner.

I am serious when I say this, “GET RID OF YOUR CREDIT CARDS!” These companies are sucking you dry and destroying people’s lives.

Of course there is THEIR side of the story that they are not responsible for what people purchase, which is true to a certain extent. They are like drug dealers that prey upon the weak willed. Especially, college student who have no clue as to what DEBT really means or how long it will take to pay it off. Young people believe they have all the time in the world to pay anything back. I know this because I was once young and foolhardy. Well…I’m still SORT OF young still, but less foolhardy. SOMETHING happens when you turn 30. You don’t feel it right away, but SOMETHING happens to your perspective on just about everything. And if it doesn’t then something is wrong with your priorities…(sorry for preaching there…lol)

For me, it was when I looked at younger people. I realized that I am neither a teenager, a college student, nor a retiree. I was now a grown man. I am a professional. I am now what young people tend to call older people. I’m now a SIR! “Excuse me…Sir.”, or “How can I help you Sir?”. That’s when you know you have finally crossed the line of youth and adult. I looked around at people that LOOK like me…(early thirties, a few gray hairs, balding, a sense of calm) and see them with children in strollers and stuff. If you don’t get your credit in order raising children is near impossible. Seriously, how do single moms or dads do it? How in the world does anyone raise a kid with a limited income?

Answer is: YOU FIND A WAY! (Legally, of course…) You make it happen.

I’m glad to know and be aware of my thoughts and consciousness at just about every moment of my life. I am glad that this awareness instills in me a better sense of frugalness. I just wish I was a bit more frugal a few years ago.

Then again, a few years ago, we were all doing much better and spending a hell of a lot more money.

When will we ever be stable in terms of our growth and resource spending?

Answer is: Never. We’re Americans for G-d’s sake! We don’t know how to be anything but what we are.

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