Using Debt for Growth Without the Guilt

Or good.

It just is.

Debt, like money, is just a TOOL.

Debt is a choice to purchase something NOW, and promise to pay it off OVER TIME. That’s all it is.

We wig ourselves out over debt. The Millennial generation seems especially intent on declaring the evils of debt, and pride themselves on avoiding it, and paying it off *pronto.*

Which is GREAT! IF that makes you feel good and show up as you want to show up in the world, as the best version of you. 

BUT - you don’t HAVE to avoid debt on principle. Avoiding debt doesn't mean you'll be your best you. Your best you isn't tied to zero debt. You see? 

Your best you is only tied to zero debt if you decide that's your truth. Another option is to be perfectly comfortable with the tool that is Debt. Truth? 

Debt CAN help you show up bigger and brighter in the world. Here’s an example of what I mean…

I launched my first business by selling a car to pay for groceries until I started making some money. BUT, that only covered living expenses, and didn’t touch the cost of the tech equipment I needed, building a website, marketing material, all the things. So, I purchased All The Things with debt.

I put it on a credit card. No clue when I’d be able to pay it off. No proof I could! After all, I was LAUNCHING a business, so I had zero history. 

I could have REFUSED to use any kind of debt, as a value judgement against it, and maybe or maybe not have started the business when the extra cash was saved up.

I also could have chosen to utilize debt, and then felt BAD about myself, my choices, and my financial future, until every single penny was paid off!

OR, Option C. Use debt. Get the things I need now, and pay them off over time. Feel pumped about the business and future I’m building. Show up every day excited to create something. Enjoy the journey. ENJOY HAVING TOOLS.

I chose that one. Option C for me, please. 🙋‍♀️

But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t have moments (ok, whole friggin days) of tripping out about the negative possibilities. WHAT IF I CAN’T PAY IT BACK?!!?!

(Well, then you’ll cross that bridge, one step at a time, if and when it comes. But it's utterly absurd to waste your present day worrying about a future result that may never come.)

My tripping out over my terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad debt served exactly zero positive purpose, and probably derailed my positive progress from time to time.

My point is simple. Debt isn’t good or bad. It’s a tool. Period.

If you’re REFUSING to allow yourself to use debt to make some changes in your life that would allow you to show up big and brighter, and to make the impact you dream of making, I urge you to reconsider!

I DON’T MEAN to spend money you can’t pay back. That’s never a good choice.

I DO MEAN that you shouldn’t refuse to utilize the tool that is DEBT to get the ball rolling on something that will change your life, if you feel (mostly) confident in your ability to pay the money back.

And let me just say - WHO GIVES A SHIT THAT YOU PAY A BIT EXTRA TO DO IT?!

Seriously, like REALLY, seriously. If paying a little MORE for the thing you want to purchase would allow you to change your life NOW, rather than maybe never, would you do it?

That’s the choice you’re making with debt.

I think as moms we build up some extra drippy mom-guilt about using debt, especially for something for ourselves, for lots of reasons. It’s time to ditch that drama, momma!

Money in neutral. Money is a neutral tool.

Debt is neutral. Debt is a neutral tool. 

Period.

Now go do what you need to do to start showing up as your most impactful, fulfilled and purposeful self!

Because that serves you. That serves your babies. That serves your partner. And that serves our world.

Period.