Debt Doesn’t Have to Feel Isolating #WSPD16

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Many people have some form of debt. Student loans, credit card debt, and medical debt are common types. Debt  has become more of a burden for many people and yet, we still don’t talk about it enough. People still feel isolated and alone. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Debt doesn’t have to feel isolating.

Often times, being deep in debt can leave us with a crippling feeling like there is no end in sight. The debt feels big and there seems to be no one to turn to.

We’re scared of discussing our debt, scared of being judged, worried people will think we’re dumb. According to a survey conducted by NerdWallet, 55% of millennials with credit card debt said they would feel judged if friends or family knew how much debt they had.

Debt doesn’t have to feel isolating. We can change the conversation.

Discuss money topics more

When I started talking more about my student loan debt around friends and acquaintances, a wonderful thing happened: people responded back to me and talked about their own situation with debt.

By talking about my debt repayment plan with people around me, a new door of discussion opened up and friends, co-workers, and family started to talk about money as it fit in different areas of their life. A friend asked me questions about debt repayment methods and co-workers would ask about budgeting resources. Money became more comfortable to talk about.

Seek assistance if you can’t make your payments 

Look into different debt repayment methods, talk to your creditors about your situation and see if you can get payment lowered. There are options out there.

Realize you are not your debt

Your debt isn’t your identity. You are important and necessary and debt doesn’t define you. Talk with yourself every week or every day and think about who you are without your debt. Visualize what debt-free life would be like. Write down your interests and desires. Share these with people. Use them as a goal to hold onto.

Check out the resources below for guidance:

Books: 

Dear Debt: A Story About Breaking Up With Debt: A wonderful book by Melanie Lockert, who climbed her way out of $81,000 dollars of debt. The book is part memoir and part-how guide on getting through the emotional impact of debt, realizing your worth, and breaking up with debt.

The Antidote: Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking: a book for people who have had a hard time fully embracing optimism and positive thinking. It talks about helpful habits to build and ways to use negative emotions to fuel your goals.

Articles: 

Don’t Kill Yourself Over Debt

Please Seek Help

Assistance: 

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

Crisis Text Line

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Colin // RebelwithaPlan

Colin Ashby is the writer behind Rebel with a Plan, a website dedicated to people who choose to rebel against the norm of living in debt and feeling financially unenlightened. He believes everyone has an eccentric quality to embrace and that lattes are sometimes a necessity (despite what the personal finance community tells you).

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