Ok so this is starting to drive me absolutely crazy. Every day I hear a new excuse for reasons that people are in debt, and a few are even things I have told myself at one point or another in my life but it is starting to get absolutely crazy.  People are racking up debt like Mike Tyson in a tiger store.  Here are some typical excuses:

Excuse #1: I never learned how to handle money
There are a ton of things that may or may not have been specifically taught to you as you grew up. At some point in our lives we have to learn things that we are completely unprepared for, so suck it up, read The Penny Saved every day, and get on track. Wow, I feel like just gave out medical advice. Dr Jesse to the rescue.

Excuse #2: Ads and media are all around me
Do you buy EVERYTHING you see? Didn’t think so. Having trouble with commercials? Turn off the TV. How about the radio? Shut that bad boy off and throw in your favorite CD. Or book on tape if you’re my dad, though I think he might possibly be the last person on earth to actually have a tape player in his car…let alone books on tape.

Excuse #3: I have to spend it going out
This one I myself am guilty of. When I go out, I like to really go for it. My favorite marg is the Patron marg, my favorite dinner is steak. The key here is moderation, make yourself a budget, stick to, and stick to it some more.

Excuse #4: I need to have nice stuff
Im not even going to preach you shouldn’t have “nice stuff” even though that kind of thinking has me more and more disenfranchised every day. You don’t have to spend a lot to have nice stuff. My mother-in-law is the bargain shopper of the century, she can find stuff that should be $100 for $10. Its actually really impressive, it just comes down to knowing where to find deals, and being patient.

Excuse #5: College put me in debt
Me too. Thats not an excuse to rack up more debt.

Excuse #6: I have no self control
Good point

Other excuses: shutup.

Here was the turning point for me: if you are having trouble with your self control its time to do mitigation. Get rid of the credit cards (see my credit card cutup series). Next I want you to think of everything in terms of how many hours of work it will take to earn that. Suddenly those things that may have seemed irresistible before are not quite as appealing.

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