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All Debt Is Bad Debt

By: Curtis Ophoven

12/15/2008 - 5 Comments

When the economy was booming, there was a debate about if debt is always bad.

Some argues that there was ‘good debt’ and ‘bad debt’.  The good debt was debt that was used to generate a positive cash-flow, such as borrowing money to buy rental property with a positive cash-flow.   Bad debt was debt that on depreciating consumer goods, like cars and clothes and furniture.  The money borrowed to purchase these items creates a negative cash-flow.

Today, the quickly collapsing housing market and the tightening of the entire economy feels like a rope around our neck.  This recession has brought a new appreciation for debt.  Like many other personal financial concepts of the old economy, good debt and bad debt no longer apply. 

The only thing we know is that all debt is bad and is capable of enslaving the borrower.  One day we were skipping down the bunny trail enjoying the land of milk and honey, and the next day we found ourselves chained to the door of the fox house, while he sharpens his knife inside.  Last year all we could think about was eating cotton candy at the next summer fair and now all we can think about it surviving until next summer.

Debt has always been bad. The only reason that it appeared to show some good qualities was because we were living in a phony economy - that was propped up by the Federal Reserve and congress.  The phony economy is quickly disappearing. Our understanding and appreciation about money is changing with the deepening recession.  The way money was used for the last decade along with most of the teaching about how to use money were wrong.

Money Revolution

We are at the beginning of the ‘money revolution’, where new ideas about money are gaining momentum and new agreements are forming in every house hold in America. We have been fooled, debt is not as fun as we thought it was. Debt is slavery. America must get out of debt as fast as we can and then change the way we live to never become a slave again. Make it a goal next year to free yourself of the bondage of debt (slavery). 

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Reader Comments

Comment 1
ConnieBrz Says: on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 10:16:30 AM

I hate for my first comment on your blog to be one of disagreement, but...

All debt carries with it an element of risk. But that does not make it inherently good or bad. Debt is simply a way to leverage capital. Leveraging for toys like big screen TV's and 4-wheelers has always been a Very Bad Idea Indeed.

Leveraging captial for an investment such as a rent house can be a very good thing-- *if* you're not in an area experiencing a housing bubble and *if* you're not speculating that prices will always go up, up, up and *if* you have enough equity (IMO, at least 30% is about right) to weather the ups and downs of the real estate market. ( And, I might add, *if* you have enough cumulative cashflow to start paying off those mortgages so you can own your investment free and clear in 10 years or less)

I do, however, agree with about 90% of your post :) Nobody should be taking on consumer debt... period. No credit card debt, no car loans, no buy-now-take-it-home-tonight and pay forever at 22% anything.

And no more investing in real estate unless you dadgum know what you're doing and use sound business principles.


Comment 2
Curt Says: on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 10:43:13 AM

@ConnieBrz - I agree, there are many times that business has grown because of their ability to get loans, which allowed them to increase their production at a much faster rate than they could have done without the loans.

But, at this point, I'm willing to let the pendulum swing to the other side and say that debt is bad and our nation needs to get as far away from it as possible.

Thanks for the comment.


Comment 3
Bob Says: on Monday, December 22, 2008 7:47:01 PM

I disagree with this article. Assume I can borrow a lot of money at fabulous terms (0%), and put it in an FDIC insured bank for 3% interest. If I borrow $100,000 then I will make $3,000 in one year. Is this 'bad debt'?

What about using credit cards? Do you ever take advantage of the monthly 'float', allowing you to use their money for free? If so, then you are a victim of 'bad debt'!


Comment 4
Curt Says: on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 8:45:10 PM

@Bob - With respect, I think you are living in the past. In the present and future economy, borrowing at 0% is no longer an option and getting 3% for your money is not a good deal. Credit cards are changing the rules and increasing their rates.

We are no longer skipping down the bunny trail enjoying the land of milk and honey. We are chained to the door of the fox house. The average household debt is about 100k.


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