When a person is overwhelmed with a large amount of debt, the thought of continuing on with a debt payoff goal is, at times, nearly unfathomable. This, my friends, is called debt fatigue. Most people working toward a debt payoff goal or any other goal toward financial success have to deal with battling debt fatigue at some time or another, so if you’re in the throes of dealing with debt fatigue and are feeling like giving up on your goal of being debt free, don’t despair. It happens to the best of us. We’ve been on our journey toward debt freedom now for nearly 2.5 years. I can’t count the number of times that one or the other of us have wanted to give up. Last summer, after a particularly hard month, I pretty much spent a month with a proverbial pillow over my head. I just couldn’t go on.
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Yes, it does get tiring to constantly have debt to repay. But just remember how quickly spending can occur. A dinner out because you’re too tired to cook. That fabulous handbag on sale. A vacation put on credit cards because you work so hard to pay off debt, you need a vacation. How long do you have to work to pay off that spending moment (plus interest)?? I’ve begun thinking that way with losing weight. How long do I have to walk/run to burn off that Snickers bar? If I decide the taste is worth the extra work, I better not complain about another lap running.
Smart comment as usual, Kathy. That line of thinking has helped me to lose 26 pounds to date. I think about the after effects of a food choice and 9 times out of 10, I decide it’s just not worth waking up with an extra pound on the scale, dealing with the guilt, remorse over the food choice, etc. I choose something healthy instead, or choose to exercise instead of sit, and feel SO much happier the next day.
Debt fatigue is the worst feeling I think I have had. It was like the down fall moment or no way out situation. It felt like I did want to give up and it made me cry and be sad at all times. I hate those moments. But, I am thankful for that experience because it taught me some greater lessons in life.
Jayson, wise words here. Thank you so much for sharing, my friend.
This was a great article Laurie. I definitely experienced debt fatigue especially when I was at the end and so close to it being over. I just wanted to be done.
I hear you, Maureen. It’s like walking through the waist deep mud, you know?