I went debt free for about 8 years. Had no credit cards and no loans.

Suddenly two of my three credit scores went from excellent to zero.

I now have a number of cards I use infrequently just to play the game.

Because I have never met the right woman, never been married and "0" kids, plus I've never bought a house, I am comply debt free. I do not owe $1 to anyone.

I don't own a lot property, but own "my current" stuff.

I live in a nice townhouse in a very nice area near Collin Creek Mall/190 area.

I'm not saying being "alone' is the way to go, but it's been my way of staying debt free...so far.

My last gf was the closest I came to finding the girl I was going to marry, but it didn't work out.

If I ever do get married, I doubt I'll become a dad at my age, but I'd surmise she and I would probably buy a home near the mountains or near the ocean, but who knows.

I've got fantastic credit, and several business ideas. I will not be an educator/teacher after this year. I'll probably get some debt coming up dependent upon what I choose to do with the rest of my life.

I hope I make the right choices!

...wisdom?

Doesn't offend me in the least, and it's a good question.

Rather than sell the house, it would probably make more sense (in most cases) to take out a home equity loan, assuming that the interest rate & monthly payment made sense. Even though the interest on the new loan would probably not be deductible, it would still allow one to payoff the debt much faster, and you would keep the appreciating asset as it increased in value. Eventually, the house would be paid off and worth much more.

*edit* BUT, if the monthly debt service was so high that you couldn't meet the monthly payments anyways, then yes, selling would make more sense.

In my experience, Debit cards are protected from fraud just like credit cards. Your risk is being broke until you are refunded. I experienced this last year.

I always had a decent job I enjoyed, but never really made 'big bucks'.
Except during 'the first wife' years, I always spent less than what I earned.

That, and being able to build, rebuild or repair our cars or house myself-
I've saved a gazillion dollars by not taking a car to the shop since I was in High School, or buying one for much over $1500-
then driving it for 10 years.

Except the first wife's credit cards, the only debt I've ever had was $1,000 at $100 a month to pay the other half of a new 1977 Yamaha 750.
And $30,000 for a old house in 1983 that was paid off in 1988 when I tore it down and built the new one 'out of pocket' for my life's savings of $50,000.

Moving through to the present, we've paid cash for everything. But we seldom eat out, buy a lot of fancy stuff, or travel much either.

getting close to being debt free and I can't wait. So sick of owing other people

I save plenty and owe plenty of reasonable debt. However I can't imagine being so worried about becoming debt free that I sacrificed living. We love experiences and making them. When my time comes I hope my last check bounces!

I just can't seem to get myself in debt, I have so much money, I can't spend it faster than it comes in.

I know a lot of debt free broke people.

House paid off in 2006 , we live on about a third of what we make.

Ok Sturgil.

My wife owns our home out right. Well, maybe. Plumber just left. There was a leak in the wall, leak is fixed but now we get to deal with the mold and sheet rock issues that may devolve into a minor remodel of the kitchen..

One thing about house construction, sheetrock, wiring, tile sort of projects- the more of them you do, the faster you get.

You never know, some broke people aren�t broke and some out of debt people aren�t out of dept.