The Debt Dance

How many of us want to get out of debt but we don’t? We have a hundred reasons why we don’t but rarely think about why we want to get out of debt.

Debt is often very comfortable. And continuing to debt is even easier. Run low on cash and you’re tired and don’t want to cook? Charge a dinner out. Kids need shoes…get them what they really want and charge it. Car breaks down, no money in an emergency fund? You guessed…get that plastic out and warm it up.

So, why would we want to get rid of that debt/debting?

Because in the end it prevents us from sleeping at night, from achieving our dreams, from peace in our lives.

If you had a bad guy in your house with a gun to your head and he would not let you sleep, he destroyed your plans for a great vacation (new house, new business, early retirement, etc.) and he screamed at you on a regular basis wouldn’t you want to get him the hell out of there?

Then why are you putting up with debt ruining your life? If you really can’t get your head above water and pay the debt down then speak to an attorney about bankruptcy. (This website is great for these issues: GetOutofDebt.org! Lots of wise, free help for you.) And one word about bankruptcy: if this is your option, and this will bring you peace, then do it. We have personal experience with this and I can tell you that you can file those papers, walk out of the courtroom, and the birds will continue to sing, children continue to laugh and play, dogs still wag their tails. And the world goes on.

However you can do it, find your reason to get out of debt, and get out of debt!

It isn’t the HOW it’s the WHY.

FiRsT: Decide what you really, really want out of life, what you only dare to dream.

For example:

–QUIT YOUR JOB AND…WRITE THAT NOVEL, PLAY WITH THE KIDS, SLEEP ‘TIL NOON…

–BE YOUR OWN BOSS—DO WHAT YOU WANT WHEN YOU WANT—CONTROL YOUR OWN FUTURE

–BUY THAT BEAUTIFUL DREAM HOUSE

–TRAVEL  AROUND EUROPE—FOR A YEAR!

–START THE BUSINESS YOU’VE ALWAYS DREAMED OF

–SUPPORT A CAUSE YOU CARE DEEPLY ABOUT

–HAVE A COMFORTABLE RETIREMENT

–GO BACK TO SCHOOL

Etc.

TwO. Decide what you definitely DON’T want:

For example:

–YOUR DEBT AND YOUR CONSTANT WORRY

–YOUR STRESSFUL  JOB

–CREDITORS CALLING

–BORROWING MORE AND MORE JUST TO SURVIVE

ThReE: PRIORITIZE AND COMBINE YOUR LISTS AND MAKE YOUR PRIORITIES MEASURABLE

For example:

–I WILL QUIT MY JOB/HAVE A NEW JOB WITHIN 3 MONTHS

–I WILL START MY DREAM BUSINESS PART TIME WITHIN 4 MONTHS

–I WILL PAY OFF ALL OF MY CREDIT CARDS  WITHIN 2 YEARS

–I WILL DO SOME EXTRA WORK** ON THE WEEKENDS TO HELP MAKE THIS HAPPEN

FoUr: Stop debting  TODAY.  No excuses. Cold turkey. (Think about whether  you would rather have your dream or more debt? What has debt gotten you so far?)

FiVe: Change your life to make your income = or surpass your necessities. Dedicate yourself to increasing your income and decreasing your expenses (move, sell a car, give up the mall…)

SiX: (THIS IS WHERE THE MAGIC BEGINS!)

Design a 3 tiered spending plan that will make your dreams come to life.

–First Tier: Pay everything you “gotta” pay: the rent/mortgage, car payments, MINIMUMS on your credit cards, insurance, daycare, gasoline, etc.

–Second Tier: Slap a substantial amount of money on your priorities: (finally, your money is starting to work for you!)

——paying off your lowest balance/highest interest rate credit card or loan AND

——paying for your new business (e.g. taking a business course or buying a piece of equipment you will need. Every month take a small step toward making your dream happen. As it comes to life your motivation will increase—even in hard times.)

–Third Tier: Everything you can control you cover with what’s left (remember your dreams are the priorities, not steak on Saturday night): groceries, clothing, entertainment, dining out, etc.

Good luck in making your dreams a reality…and getting out of debt as a great bonus.

The dream is the why, the how is irrelevant.

Make this happen now.  Keep visiting TheDebtDance.com for more help, humor, and dreams. Share this with a friend who is struggling.

**For more information on how to make extra money see: GET A HOOT OUT OF MAKING EXTRA MONEY.

NOW HERE’S ONE OF MY FAVORITE FUNNIES:

(A summation of a poem presented by Wayne Dyer)

A woman was in an airport. She had nothing to read. So she went into a small shop and bought a book and a bag of cookies.

She sat down next to a man, began reading her book and eating the cookies.

To her surprise the man next to her reached in and took a cookie. She didn’t want a scene so she just fumed in angry silence.

Whenever she would take a cookie the scoundrel would take one. Finally there was only one cookie left. He smiled, picked it up, broke it in half and gave her half.

She decided this was the rudest man on the face of the earth.

Their planes were called to board and they parted in different directions.

She reached down to gather her things and there was her bag of cookies.

WE’D  LOVE YOUR COMMENTS!