That's the whole thing, 11th_VA. Ben Franklin warned us about debt. It sounds SO simple, but it truly is the thing that makes you free.
My parents followed that credo in the '70s and '80s. They bought an old house they could afford and we all had fun and learned a lot fixing it up together. We had dependable cars, and if one went south, there was usually a family friend who wanted to unload his ride at a reasonable price, and would even come over to the house to help fix anything that went wrong with it. My folks cooked and barbecued A LOT with good food that fit into the budget. We even had enough left over for Summer vacations into the American Heartland which all of us now-adult kids remember as some of our most cherished memories.
What's happening now is people spending FAR beyond their means for things they don't really need, who try to keep up with the "Joneses" they see on reality TV. It's a shame. Real life is a lot more fun, and -- amazingly! -- actually so much easier to do!
I became debt free in my 12th year of work. Paid off the house. Moved several more times and paid cash with a check. I have never paid a dollar of credit card interest in my life.
Debt will kill you. How can you make a productive investment until you’re rid of it?
Sadly, there is a contingent of ‘Christian’s’ who don’t think the saying is Biblical, by saying it’s contrary to Grace. And not understanding The saying is about idleness - which is strongly condemned in the Bible.