I watched a riveting Documentary on Netflix today called MAXED OUT. I actually have had it in my que for a while now, but I've avoided it because I was afraid I would be angered. and I was.
I HIGHLY suggest everyone to check this movie out. Its on netflix instant watch right now. Or go rent it. Stream it via Amazon. Whatever. However. Just watch it. Its incredible. Mindblowing. Extremely entertaining and well done.
I have two major vices in my life. One being me overweight and the other is debt. I started my debt in college. I signed up for credit cards. I took out student loans. the MAX amount possible in both cases. At one point, I think I had 12 cards in total. 4 major credit cards. and a bunch of mini credit cards through various shopping centers and more. I've racked up debt then paid it off and then racked it up again. My wife and I, we're heroin addicts when it comes to that. We get through a stressfull week and then its "lets get a treat." Either eating bad food or buying something. We've all got our vices.
Granted, I think I am better off now than I was in the past. I have only two cards now, both inactive and I have been paying on. All the little cards are gone. And I get offers daily for new ones. I toss em immediately. I tear the envelope. Don't even look inside. And really, even after those cards are paid off, and my wife's are paid off, we're still in debt well over that, cause we got student loans I haven't been able to ever touch. And likely never will. I don't even want to know the interest rate on that. I'll bet its $300 a month on them. Yeah, scary!
And believe it or not, my family is far more afloat than others I know. It just fucking scary. Credit cards have us (and our government) by the balls. There's no way out except for when you die. Cause you cannot take it with you can you?
I guess in teh last year, I've realized that. I've got rid of a lot of the crap that I've got via these cards and got rid of them for next to nothing. Say I spent $18.00 on an action figure. With interest on cards I paid for that with, that figure maybe cost me $75 or more. And I sold it on ebay for $4.00. YEah. What a waste. I made the comment today that I get more of a high taking my kids out for lunch, or to the zoo than I do buying a new action figure or a DVD. Thank God for that!
I had to step down from a high paying job because I am the stay at home parent. The wife works her arse off and its tremendous pressure. We live check to check. No savings. Debt paid, barely. Its so scary to think what could happen if something bad were to happen to us. And it could. Maybe will. You never know.
But you know what folks? I got paid today for commissions I did. And my first instinct was to say "Hey, I need a vacation. I want to take this money and blow it on some fun for me. I want to go out of town and buy this and this and this." But I didn't. I got up this morning and paid off three bills I had. And I am not going out of town. I am saving the rest of the $$$ I earned through my art for emergencies this week. I earned it. With my art. HOW FUCKING AWESOME IS THAT?!?!?!!?!?! Hell yeah. And I am proud of that, as I am proud I made the right decision today. I paid my bills. I kept the debt off my ass. I did it. Ten years ago, I wouldn't have.
SO: Am I a saint yet? Not by a longshot. But I am learning. And if you watch MAXED OUT, you can help learn for yourself as well. See the situation and make plans to get out of debt for life. We're all struggling to do it. We all can do it. Keep rockin it. And you young folk: NEVER get a credit card. NEVER sign up. NEVER NEVER NEVER. Don't do it. Save and earn your money. Get a job, work it, be patient. Cause fuck credit cards man. Such a waste of money.
Take your life back!
T
1 comment:
College got me too! I didn't realize how all those small purchases would add up. I really appreciate how personal this post was. Most in people with a bunch of credit just had minor vices or emergency situations however large credit card companies exploited this. It's a really sad situation.
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