Well, friends, here it is Valentine’s Day. Whether or not you celebrate this “holiday”, I do have to admit it does make me think about all of the wonderful people we have in our lives. Over the past year, the readers, commenters and writers in the PF blogging world have really come to mean a lot to both Rick and I, even if he is largely silent on the subject. 🙂
But there’s one particular group of people I can’t stop thinking about today, and that’s those who are contemplating getting out of debt, along with those who should be contemplating getting out of debt but just can’t handle the thought of climbing that mountain.
I want to tell you today, if you’re in one of these groups, that you CAN do this. Not only that, but you SHOULD work toward debt free. You see, you deserve better. No, you deserve best. You deserve to have a life where bills and debt no longer have a stronghold over your lives. You deserve to NOT pay hundreds or thousands of dollars in interest every month to companies who don’t give a rat’s a___ about you and who are taking big, fat profits home on your hard-working back. You deserve to be able to retire when you want to, in comfort and not eating dog food and working as a greeter at Walmart because you have to.
You deserve to be able to have the peace and contentment that comes with financial stability.
The other thing you deserve is financial security. You see, none of us knows what the future holds, for ourselves personally, or for this country as a whole. Things may never get bad, but we are sitting as a country right now on top of a teetering mountain of personal and governmental financial disaster. Our government is 17 trillion dollars in debt and going deeper, and the average American has $15,000 in credit card debt and is saving next to nothing for retirement. If your job went away today due to the still-struggling economy, what would happen to you? To your family? Would you still be able to make your house payment or rent? Buy food? Afford the gas to job hunt?
With all of my heart, I plead with you: if you are in debt, struggling to make more than the minimum payments every month or even to make those minimum payments, please think things over and create a plan to get free from the bondage of debt today. Think of it as your Valentine’s Day gift to yourself. You deserve it, and your family does too!
Many hugs to all of you today – you have added much sunshine to our lives. 🙂
Wow Laurie…what a wonderful Valentine’s wish for all who need it 🙂
If your words can’t get your message across, I think nothing will.
I wish you and your loved ones a beautiful Valentine’s Day and hope that everyday comes across like Valentine’s Day 🙂
Take care and my best to all.
Lyle
Thanks, Lyle. I have such a heart for people who are struggling financially like we were and are chained to their debts. I want them all to be free! Lyle, you have a wonderful and blessed Valentine’s Day too, and know that you are LOVED. 🙂
Just love this! Great motivational message! Everyone owes it themselves. Have yourself a wonderful Valentine’s Day and great weekend, Laurie!
Exactly, Anthony! I totally agree. You guys have a wonderful weekend too. Happy day. 🙂
Great post to those who really need to hear it. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we really do deserve a lot more. Hope you have a Happy Valentine’s Day.
Thank you so much, Amanda. Yes, we do deserve so much more than we often times think we do. You have a wonderful day and weekend too. Virtual hugs to you!
Thank you, Laurie. I needed this today. It looks like I might be owe some money to the IRS from my freelance income, and it’s totally taken me aback. I feel like it’s another setback in my debt repayment process and my goals for this year. But I have to keep going and I have a plan and I will get there.
Melanie, stand strong, my friend. We’ve experienced setbacks like this too, and I totally understand how devastating it can be. This tax bill may set you back a bit, but it will not deter you from reaching your goal. You can do this. 🙂
Thank you Laurie. This is deep and motivational and I needed this. Thank you for all you do. Happy Valentine’s Day!
SO, so glad to help, Brit. Happy day to you!
What a beautiful Valentine’s Day wish. It always breaks my heart knowing how many people want to tackle their debt but just don’t know where to begin and feel so hopeless. While we know it’s not an easy road to financial freedom, there is a road to take and it can be done. Your a great inspiration for those looking to find that road and there way back. Happy Valentine’s Day and enjoy your feast tonight!
So true, Shannon!! My heart aches for these people too, especially now that we’ve “seen the light” and are on our way out of debt. Hope you and the family had a great celebration yesterday. 🙂
What a beautiful love letter Laurie! Even though I’m taking positive steps in getting out of debt, I often feel like I’m still struggling with debt and posts like these help so much. 🙂 Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your beautiful family!
So glad it helped, GMD!! Yes, I know what you mean. I was just talking with John from Frugal Rules about this the other day – it’s weird how your “better” debt situation can sometimes make you feel worse than your “worse” debt situation, isn’t it?
Laurie – this is a beautiful, motivational message. Thank you for writing it! And it is true, a great Valentine’s Day gift you can give yourself is financial relief and less stress. It is a long road, and every positive word of encouragement makes that road less difficult to travel.
Thanks so much, Shannon. 🙂 Yes, often that first step, though it’s the hardest to take, leads to a road full of financial peace and blessings. May we all hop on board and stop being slaves to these financial burdens!
Love this Laurie. Everyone needs enough “self-love” to make that first step to get out of debt. It slowly poisoning and strangling so many people. I posted this on FB and I’m hoping there is one person in particular who will read it because they really, really need to. And there is nothing I can say in person because it’s none of my business really, but I just hate that they are sinking further into the hole.
So true, Tonya!! It just pains me to see how many people are struggling like we were, and still are sometimes. I want them all to be free, free, free from the bondage of debt. We have friends/family in similar situations to your loved one’s, too, and we also want so badly for them to break free from their debt changes. Here’s hoping they get the message and bless themselves with a life free from debt.
That was an awesome Valentine message. I’m really sad for all the couples who are struggling with debt but spent a mint on Valentine’s things today instead of sitting down and figuring out how to get out of debt forever. Being debt free is the gift that really keeps on giving.
Exactly, Kim! “Being debt free is the gift that really keeps on giving”. LOVE that!! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Here, here, Laurie! I agree, getting out of debt; as an individual, as a family, as a nation, should be of the utmost concern. We have some ‘moral’ problems that need attention, if they do not change we are in for grave problems.
Happy Valentines day!!
Exactly, Jim. I seriously worry about what’s ahead for this country if some changes aren’t made, and quickly. 🙁
Aww, Laurie, this is such a great Valentine’s Day letter! I so agree with you that every single person in debt should at least TRY to get out of debt! Like you said, we deserve the best! I hope you had a lovely Valentine’s Day with your family and loved ones! xo
Thanks, Eva! Hope you had a lovely Valentine’s Day too – happy Sunday to you, my friend. 🙂
This is awesome, Laurie. Everyone needs to read this — even if they’re not in debt and are just struggling with money.
Thanks, Adam! Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
Nice letter, Laurie. Indeed, it’s really a great read, just like Adam said, even for those who are struggling with money. We can all use some motivation and here I got it to start my week!
Yay!!! Glad it lifted you up, C. Have an awesome week!
Awesome letter Laurie. I totally agree. I’m sure like you, I feel that if I can honestly just help one person, this whole experience will all be worthwhile. That first step is often the hardest and scariest.
Exactly, Ryan. Now that we’ve had a bit of a taste of a life without debt, we’re very eager to help others experience that same freedom.
A lovely message of hope and encouragement! We spent the day with my grandparents which, although not exactly “romantic” was very love filled. Eric bought me 2 dozen roses (he assures me he got a “good deal” and a yummy cupcake).
LOL, I love how Eric made sure to tell you he got a good deal on the roses – you guys were made for each other. 🙂 I think spending Valentine’s Day with a couple who’s been married for several decades is the perfect way to celebrate! Lots of wisdom to be gleaned from them about love, I’m quite sure. 🙂