The Impact of Debt on Life Assessing debt can be an uncomfortable or unsettling experience if large numbers are used, relative to individual circumstances. However, it can also be a relieving or empowering experience if numbers are small or non-existent. Whichever scenario accurately depicts an individual’s current situation, assessing debt is always beneficial and can be productive if an individual is willing to work for financial health. Hamm (2011) explains assets entail not only financial possessions, but also impalpable relationships and benefits. I have three types of assets which secure my debt. First, my husband’s active-duty military career is an asset because it provides capital income which supports our household. Second, the aforementioned capital income is a traditional asset and easily liquidated. Finally, the three vehicles I own help to secure my debt because they are assets which could be liquidated to provide funds. My debts finance two major assets: my husband’s car and the credit cards we maintain and pay in full each month, used primarily to …show more content…
Debt can create feelings of hopelessness and Clue discusses it in a lighthearted way. However, the video is not funny because it belittles serious situations and problems. It is unfortunate that so many people relate to this video because an audience reflects American society. Further, Clue’s (2007) professed responses to debt poke fun and encourage dishonesty in accepting and planning to remain in debt indefinitely. Sweet, Nandi, Adam, and McDade (2013) have found debt decreases health by increasing a person’s blood pressure and perception of personal health. In short, joking about perpetual and life-long debt is like joking about bullying: both are real problems within American society and neither is improved by mocking its serious
What would you do if you had $15,000? Would you give some to charity, or perhaps buy a new car? Maybe you could finally get that watch or purse that you’ve always wanted. The problem is that many people thought they had this much money. Unfortunately, it was all on a credit card and now they are paying 18% extra on their purchases; in some cases, even more than that. That equates to you paying roughly $18,000 dollars for something that only cost $15,000. Many Americans are faced with these bills today, but there is hope. There are people out there who want to get us out of debt, and back on our feet. This essay will look at two of those people; Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman. You will have to decide which will work best for you. Hopefully
Debt is heavy. It sits on your shoulders and weighs you down. Debt is also addictive. It 's easy to throw something on credit when you don 't actually have the money to buy it. It gives you instant gratification, and that can feel good - in the moment. But, for many people, there comes a point where they can 't use their credit anymore and debt is all they are left with. The stress of having to pay it all off can take its toll on your happiness and health, so you must come up with a way to get out of debt and start living a debt free life. Following are two things that will help you get out of debt once and for all.
The first major point that Gretchen Morgenson makes in her article “The Debt Trap” is how lenders have found ways to make a bigger profit from borrowers in the recent years. Shes states that for example, “the rates that credit card companies charge borrowers rose from 17.7 percent in 2005, to 19.1 last year”. That difference added to billions of dollars charged annually. She stated that overall, these lenders increased “junk fees by fifty percent in recent years”. In the capitalistic society that we live in, these lending companies are doing everything they can to make as much of a profit as they can. If this means shoving Americans into the ground in the profit, they do not seem to feel bad about it one bit. This has created a problem with
For debt, it begins with a simple late or missed payment. These missed payments allow companies to punish card owners without discretion. With this, lenders hike up interest and payments on their customers for negligence, regardless of what their reason may be. Whether it was a tough month for the family or someone died and expenses had to be payed, lenders do not care one bit. From 2013 alone, student debt was at 1.21 trillion dollars, and mortgage standing at a whopping 7.9 trillion (Miller, R. K., & Washington, K. (2014). These loans also feed into why we as a country are in debt, which currently stands at seventeen trillion. These missed payments also greatly affect interest rates from lender companies. Companies wait for payments to come late, which allows them to impose fees and hidden charges that must be paid along with the delinquent payment. With increased rates comes...
Many people would agree that our country’s young adults have and continue to incur a lifetime of debt by enrolling in college. It’s become an almost acceptable understanding that if you plan to attend college, you might as well expect to graduate with an enormous amount of debt. Robin Wilson, a reporter for the “Chronicle of Higher Education,” and author of “A Lifetime of Student Debt? Not Likely” suggests student loans are very real and can be life altering.
As of today America’s national debt is 18 trillion dollars and approximately 5 trillion of that is held by foreign countries including China and Japan. In the last few years we seem to hear more about balancing the country’s budget and politicians raising the debt ceiling so we can pay on this debt. How have we gotten into such an overwhelming and complicated problem with our nation’s money? Ironically the same can be said for our individual household debt as well as making the same mistakes and trying to find creative ways to be accountable to our financial responsibilities. Teaching the basics of personal finance n our schools can culturally change our financial practices, leading to a more financially literate public and a stronger, more stable, America. If the younger generations can become more financially savvy, then there is an opportunity for our nation as a whole to become less dependent on debt to survive.
There is a disease that is sweeping the U.S. at an alarming pace. It is called affluenza it is very contagious and growing at frightening rates. In 1997, an amazing 1.1 million debt plagued spenders filed for personal bankruptcy that was a 28.6% increase from '96. Economists predict another 1.6 million to file by the end of this fiscal year, (Shop 'til We Drop [STWD], 1997). These are two vivid examples of the amazing rate at which affluenza is growing. These numbers are occurring despite the strong economy and perhaps because of it. With the economy in the U.S. going so well credit card companies are issuing more credit. Consumers are then using their new found credit to buy without even thinking of how they will pay for the products. They get the credit cards because of the appealingly low 5.9% introductory rate and go for it, but the credit card companies usually run those rates up to 18% or more in the first six months before the consumer pays off the purchase, (Insight into the News IIN, 1997). This in turn leads consumers into over extending themselves. Although 96% of all consumers are using credit cards responsibly according to American Bankers Association '97, the typical person who files for bankruptcy takes home less than $20,000 a year and has more than $17,000 in credit charges and of that's not overextending oneself what is. It seems that debt and affluenza go hand in hand and that combination can't be good for relationships.
Credit card debt is one of this nation’s leading internal problems. When credit was first introduced, and up until around the late 1970’s, the standards for getting a credit card were very high. The bar got lowered and lowered to where, eventually, an 18 year-old college student with almost no income and nothing to base a credit score on previously could obtain a credit card (much like myself). The national credit card debt for families residing in the United States alone is in the trillions (Maxed Out). The average American family has around $9,000 in debt, and pays around $1,3000 a year on interest payments (Maxed Out). Many people have the concern today that these interest rates and fees are skyrocketing; and many do not understand why. Most of these people have to try to avoid harassing collecting agents from different agencies, which takes an emotional and psychological toll on them. While a lot of the newly recognized “risky” people (those with a doubted ability to make sufficient payments) are actually older people who have been customers of certain companies for decades, the credit card companies are actually consciously targeting a different, much more vulnerable group of people: college students. James Scurlock produced a documentary called Maxed Out on this growing problem, in which Senator Jack Reed of (Democrat) of Rhode Island emphasizes the targeting of college students in the Consumer Credit Hearings of 2005
We now live in a society where kids start their adult lives “in the red”, as their debt exceeds their income. (Draut, 2005) 60 years ago this wasn’t the case, as told by Studs Terkel in Hard Times-An Oral History of The Great Depression, “I had no idea how long $30 would last, but it sure would have to go a long way because I had nothing else. The semester fee was $22, so that left me $8 to go.” (Turkel, 1970) Imagine that! 60 years ago tuition was $22 dollars a semester! Furthermore, 45% of adults under 35 state they find themselves resorting to credit card use for basic living expenses like rent, groceries and utilities, (Draut, 2005) adding to their mounting debt. This use of credit puts them into an entirely different category of indebtedness: survival debt. (Draut, 2005) Imagine being forced to borrow to live! (Draut, 2005) If a car breaks down or someone gets sick, the only option available is using a credit card. (Draut,
Daniels Jr.’s editorial regarding college student debt, it is clearly stated that college student debt is known as one of the biggest financial burdens on adults in the world today. In fact, “After tripling in just ten years, college debt totals more than $1.3 million” (Daniels 2*). That is more money than credit card and auto loan debts combined. Daniels illustrates this fact with pathos, drawing out the seriousness of the situation and the effect on the national debt. A solution for college student debt is almost immediately introduced following the presentation of facts. Daniels introduces Income-Share Agreements, which is a program under which, “A student contracts to pay investors a fixed percentage of his or her earnings for an agreed number of years after graduation, offer a constructive addition to today’s government loan programs and perhaps the only option for students and families who have low credit ratings and extra financial need” (Daniels 2*). Here, Daniels approaches the situation by persuading his audience to understand the seriousness of the situation, and open their minds to this idea of controlling how debt is paid off so that the effects of it are not detrimental to the student. Daniels concludes his editorial with an emotional appeal, stating that without implementation of the ISA, student debts will continue to rise, thus hindering not only their life progression, but the progression of the country’s
“The Total Money Makeover” is radio star and financial speaker Dave Ramsey’s viewpoint, ideas and techniques on the financial world put into words that are not only simple, but super helpful to those seeking motivation in their financial lives. Throughout this book Dave Ramsey projects his attitude on how to begin a debt free life. In this particular book Dave Ramsey constantly presents the ideas of an emergency fund, myths and truths, savings, loan and credit card use. Out of all these chapters the most important and useful information I learned was the obstacles in getting to a debt free life, Ramsey’s Seven Baby Steps and the priorities of money.
Through my research I hope to explore the consequences of education debt on college graduates’ lives, including career choices, consumption pattern and lifestyle choices. Meanwhile, I want to discuss some feasible alternatives to minimize student loan debt. My intended audience will be the American college students and their families. The other audience I want to reach is those education policymakers. The contribution of this research will be to help students better understanding the consequences of indebtedness and making informed and careful decisions on paying for college. Also, it will raise the awareness of education policymakers, prompting them to improve our existing student loan policy. As a college student, how to finance a higher education is closely related to my personal life. Through the research I hope that I can acquire enough information on the pros and cons of student loan, and other options to minimize the student loan debt, so that I can make careful decision on financing my college education.
...gency (CCMA) (2012), the main reasons people fail to pay a debt were poor financial planning (25%), high medical expenses (22%), business failures or slowdowns (15%), loss of control on the usage of credit cards (13%), and loss of jobs or retrenchments (10%). Therefore, Lea, Webley and Walker (1995) found that debt with economic, social and psychology factor are closely related.
Mortgages, car loans, student loans, and having children, are all situations that can drive families to the overwhelming doom of debt. Debt is mostly overlooked for the simple reason that it may be considered normal. Certain types of debt, like car and mortgage payments, are almost always expected. Debt is sometimes very difficult to evade, especially if money is not managed sensibly. Many families accumulate debt due to overspending, medical bills, and unemployment.
The lack of knowledge plays a big part in the debt young people are getting themselves into. Credit cards are often offered to young adults as soon as they get out of high school. Many take advantage of having a credit card without even thinking about the responsibilities that come with it, instead they think about the things they will be able to buy. In “Generation Debt” the author Tamara Draut says that young people are getting into debt younger than ever before. Two of the reasons that are more costly on young students that hit hard on the budget are car repairs, and travel for students who have families and friends in other states (231). From my experience I know first-hand what it was like to be offered credit cards right out of high school, and I didn’t hesitate to get any of them. I st...