My Debt Free Journey Part II: It’s The Worst and There's No Avoiding It

 Getting into trouble is the fun part.  

Living off junk food, staying up all night playing games, sleeping all day instead of getting work done (unless you work the night shift!), skipping class, and reckless spending are all fun.  

Getting out of trouble sucks.  There's no way around it.

Trying to reclaim your health after months of living off junk and being sedentary is brutal.   Trying to power through the day after spending all night on your phone is miserable.  And, as a teacher, I see the kids frantically trying to catch up after slacking all semester (and it usually doesn't get them very far!).  

Digging your way out of debt is brutal.  There's no way to make it easy.

I love a creative challenge.  I had fun going to the dollar store and picking out my glass containers and marbles.  I've had fun tracking my journey on social media and sharing what has worked and what hasn't.  I love teaching Financial Peace classes and helping my friends budget.  

But that didn't make this journey pure fun.  

Answering a text message with, "I'd love to see you tonight but I have to work," is a bummer. 

Hearing your colleagues talk about going home and relaxing while you slip into the bathroom to change into your uniform to go to your other job for the evening is a killjoy. 

Having a needle shoved into your arm so you can give plasma hurts.  Knowing you might save someone else's life is well worth it, but it still hurts.  And having a reaction because you didn't hydrate properly beforehand really, really hurts.  

Going a month without ever being able to go to bed without setting an alarm is soul-sucking.  

 Selling things that you really like but don't need is draining.  Not being able to travel (when there isn't a global pandemic) or buy that cute thing you saw at Target is crushing. 

But you know what would be worse? 

Being that crabby old teacher who should have retired 10 years ago, but can't afford to would be worse.  Even the most passionate of teachers reach a point where they need to step down or step back, and the kids deserve better than someone who is literally only there for the pay. 

Having to pay increasingly expensive rent all my life because I couldn't afford a house would be worse.  Being stuck in a house I couldn't sell and couldn't afford to keep would be worse.  Having to stay on top of car maintenance and repairs on top of a car payment all my life would be worse. 

Not being able to travel would be worse- especially not being able to travel to a loved one in a time of crisis.  

Having to sell the irreplaceable would be worse.  A few years ago, my mom showed me some jewelry that she wants me to inherit- I'll probably offer some of it to my niece and my sister-in-law, and I don't know if I will keep all of it, but there are some pieces that brought back instant memories of my mom wearing them at a special time. I can't imagine having to sell those just to stay afloat at any point in my life. 

Being dependent on others all my life would be worse.  To be trapped in an abusive situation- with a romantic partner, an employer, a roommate, or anyone else- because I didn't have the means to leave would be far, far worse.

I can remember a point in my life where my bank account balance was overdrawn and being charged daily, my credit cards were maxed out, I had no money for food, rent, or gas, and bills were due.  God provided in ways I did not understand (not without making me swallow my pride and deal with some hefty late fees, though), but nothing on my debt-free journey has been worse than those times were.  

There's no non-sucky way to get out of debt.  There's no fast way to get out of debt.  "Fast and easy" ways to get out of debt (buying lottery tickets, trying to impress a wealthy dating partner, get-rich-quick schemes, etc) almost always put people deeper in financial despair.  

But ask yourself, what is your "why" for wanting to get out?  Is owning a nice home worth having a plasma needle shoved in your arm?  Is being able to retire at 55 worth a few years of two jobs in your 20s and 30s?  Is never having to talk to a bill collector again worth denying yourself new clothes or makeup? 

The journey was brutal.  And I haven't been able to reap all the benefits of it yet.  But, I can tell you already, it was well worth it!