About Movie

"Til Debt Do Us Part" is a TV show by the author of a book of the same name. What was amazingly frustrating watching this show was the fact that these families were on the edge of divorce but that debt was a given in the lives of these families. It wasn't the debt that was driving them apart but addictions or haphazard life patterns of being unable to hold a solid job or self indulgence to the point of neglecting the other partner.

Yet our marriage vows say "for richer, for poorer, for better, for worse". Debt is part of what makes us poorer. And the stress of paying off debt is perhaps part of the worse; yet paying off debt makes us both better off and richer in the long term. It is the long term vision to see that better life that can lead one to make the shorter term sacrifices to achieve that debt-free life.

Imagine driving the car past its shiny "new" status and paying it off. Then save for another year the value of that car payment. At $500 a month (the average car payment) over a year, that is $6000 saved to buy a quality used car when the current one falls apart.

Imagine cutting back on all the extras, from eating out to shopping for entertainment to having stay-cautions instead of vacations. Cut out that 20% of extra frills and only spend money on groceries, rent or house payments, utilities, minimum debt payments and put that extra 20% of your income against the debt. For many people, that amount (from $300 or $1000 a month) went toward movies, fancy clothes, gym memberships, extracurricular activities for the kids, and Starbucks. Put that amount against your debt, and you could find it paid off in 12-24 months.

If you were debt free, that extra money could build up the emergency fund you always knew you needed but never had the funds to have. Or save for retirement, since you can"t borrow for that. Or save up for that house payment or kids college. Once the debt is gone, many other long term goals become possible. Even investing becomes an option, once you no longer pay 15-30% on credit cards and have several hundred dollars a month payments for a depreciating car in the garage.

Once you pay off the debt, the stress that drives you apart also falls away. Part with your debt and habit of overspending, not your marriage partner.