As I revealed in my last blog, I am a former debtor and this is the first time I am writing about my experience of what it used to be like, what happened, and what it is like now.  I could also call myself The Accidental Economist because as I now have money to use at my discretion, I am forced to think through things like creating a budget, living within a budget, what to do if I feel the urge to overspend (I’d love to tell you that desire is gone), and what I can do to help others live through the same experience.  This is our legacy.

My debt was not created by a medical crisis or losing a home or my job.  I created my debt because my wants were greater than my needs. I can’t even tell you that it’s because I simply couldn’t live within a budget, because I never had a budget. I existed from one moment to the next without being conscious that I was creating economically dangerous life patterns, which would ultimately lead me to being a debtor.   I’m not proud of it but I am very grateful that I finally got from under it.

As I was walking to the bus stop the other day – my reality check each morning – I started thinking about the phrase, “and forgive us our debtors”, and decided that the first thing I needed to do was forgive myself.  Reading testimonials of others who have struggled with overcoming debt provides great comfort.  If others can do it, so can I … and I have.

Recently, I reviewed some testimonials of former DSUSA clients who wrote about their experience of being in debt, what happened, and what is it like now to be debt free.

Debt Settlement USA, located in Scottsdale, AZ, has dedicated its mission to helping people get out of debt.  The people they assist come from all walks of life, not unlike my splinter group, and I find great comfort in knowing their services are available to a nation of people who are hard-pressed to make ends meet.  One cannot turn on the news without hearing about how people are losing their homes, their incomes, and their livelihoods, and must lasso what’s left of their wills to learn a new financial way of life without the cunning and baffling ease of credit cards and sometimes without much, much more.

Some people think of being in debt as irresponsible, but thankfully DSUSA does not.  They choose to believe that the people who contact DSUSA are “not unwilling but unable” and those who leave the program are wiser for the experience.

The burden of living in debt encompasses every aspect of life, but becoming debt free is a freedom that is indescribable.  I know whereof I speak.  I was once $40,000 in debt and I am just starting to learn to live an “economically-responsible” lifestyle.  Admittedly a late bloomer in all aspects of my life, I am continually humbled by the choice I made to become a debtor.  And I will talk more about this experience in subsequent blogs.

But before I close, I want to leave you with a compelling testimonial by a woman who enrolled in the DSUSA program and has become debt free.

“I remember one time when my husband and I were sitting in the car and I had a roll of quarters and I didn’t know if I should buy gas or do laundry. This was when I knew we had hit rock bottom.  I didn’t really shop around for debt settlement people, but the consultant was very understanding and I just felt relieved to talk to someone about my debt and get it off my chest. I felt I was in a dark tunnel and the consultant with whom I spoke started showing me “the light”. I only have two credit cards now with very low interest and balances. Being in debt taught me that credit cards are for emergencies only or for special, planned events like vacation.  If I want to go somewhere I use cash; I don’t use the credit cards. If I don’t have the money, I don’t go. I just keep flashing back to the day I was holding the roll of quarters.”

It doesn’t get much more real than this and it is these types of moments which I carry with me as I reflect on the deeds of my day.