Unpopular opinion: That talk with my uncle changed my whole view on debt

I was visiting my uncle in Philly last weekend, and he sat me down after dinner. He's 68, worked construction his whole life, never made more than $40k a year. He told me he paid off his house in 2005 and hasn't had a single loan payment since. Said most people treat debt like it's normal but it just keeps you stuck. He showed me his bank book with $80k saved up. It hit me different because he didn't lecture, just showed me the numbers. I been thinking about my own car loan and credit cards since. Anyone else have a family member who made you rethink your money habits?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_susan1mo ago

Read something similar in a finance book, debt really does keep you stuck.

rileyb611mo ago

Yeah it's wild how debt just keeps you running in place... @the_susan I've been seeing it everywhere once I started paying attention. Like people I know who have car loans or credit card balances, they end up working just to pay the payments instead of getting ahead. Then they can't save up for emergencies or anything fun because the money's already spoken for. It's like quicksand sometimes, the more you struggle the deeper you go.