DECLARE WAR ON DEBT

Every year around this time I like to post something on this topic because SO MANY people struggle with debt issues.

At an earlier time in our lives, Debbie and I struggled with enormous debt.  It drove chronic depression in me for years!  I was personally convinced that we would NEVER be out of debt!  I dreaded retirement because I knew it would be horrible!

Then, God (and a few friends He directed our way) awakened me to new truth based on His Word!  I acquired new teachers to help me grow in knowledge:  Larry Burkett, Dave Ramsay, along with a couple of wise men that God brought to my side.  Eventually, we entered into a planned process to eliminate our debt.  It took about nine years and we completed the process while we lived in New Middletown, Ohio.  The completion of this process is what allowed us to go to China for three years!
 
Two years ago, we deliberated obtaining a Capital One card to take advantage of the cash-back perk.  We had been taught by our instructors to 'declare war on debt'!  Taking on a credit card did not fit in with the plan we had set in motion.  However, we had maintained no debt for nearly ten years and the benefits seemed worthy.

At first, we charged everything on this card in order to qualify for the promised bonus and to maximize our 'cash-back' incentive.  However, after two months we morphed into just using the card for major purchases.  [Charging everything was just too scary for us!]  We've done fine and have appreciated the benefit of hundreds of dollars returned to us!

We've enjoyed owning two brand new cars during our marriage:  a 1974 Mustang II, and a 1979 Ford Fairmont.  Other than that, we've driven used vehicles.  Currently, we own a 2003 Toyota Camry (which was given to us when we returned home from China), a 2005 Toyota Camry (which I purchased in January to be my Lyft car), and a 2008 Ford F-250 (to pull our 2001 Forrester 5th-wheel camper).  :-)

Having older vehicles suits me fine, however, occasionally they call for repairs.  This fall was one of those times!  All three vehicles made trips to Schultz's garage for repairs and maintenance.  Actually, each of the Camry's had to go twice!  We wound up charging over $2,000 on our Capital One card!  Uh-oh!  We were in debt again - for the first time in years!

Now, I confess, we have reserves that we could have used to liquidate that debt, but we are VERY cautious about dipping into that pool!  After using what was left from our 'emergency fund', we still owed a sizeable amount on our Capital One account!

So far, we have managed to make sacrificial payments on the account that have prevented us from paying any finance charges.

To further advance our cause, I have been Lyft-driving almost every day for the last two weeks.  Two days this week, I was on-the-road for over eleven hours!  As a result, we now have sufficient funds to pay off the card and (once again) eliminate our debt!  Woo Hoo!  PTL!

Debt has phenomenal power to rob you of your joy and destroy your life!  We must declare war on debt!  Don't use 'charge cards' this Christmas!  Better yet - don't overspend!  Your children won't remember the things you bought them, but they WILL remember the time you spent with them!  Do family projects.  Bake cookies and decorate them!  Play games.  Take walks.  Have snow-ball battles!  Build snowmen!  Watch movies!  Play video-games together.  Read books together!  Talk while sharing a meal!  Put a puzzle together!  Make home-made Christmas decorations!  String popcorn!  Play 'Hide-n-Seek'.

If you're in the process of paying off your debts - STICK WITH IT!  You will feel so much satisfaction and freedom when you've reached your goal!  Don't sacrifice your tithe to pay off your debts!  Honor God and He'll honor you!