Debt and Interest

Debt. Loans. Credit. Is borrowed money good or bad? We’ve all heard stories of consumers drowning in credit card debt, with interest charges piling up faster than they can pay it off. But we’ve also heard that taking out a mortgage to buy a home can help you plant roots and build intergenerational wealth. The short answer? Debt can be good or bad, depending on how you use it. Is a given debt steering you toward your life goals? It’s good. Away from them? Bad. Mortgages, student loans, and small business loans can help you fulfill your goals. But credit cards, payday or other high-interest predatory loans, and money borrowed to pay for a depreciating asset—that’s bad debt. But here’s where it gets complicated. There’s always an element of bad (or risk) in the good, and vice versa.
A mortgage is good, but if you overextend yourself, an economic downturn or loss of income could cost you your home. A college education can lead to significantly higher lifetime earnings, but ballooning student debt can drag you down. Meanwhile, a credit card might have a stated interest rate well over 25%. But if your card offers travel rewards, cash back or other rebates, and you pay it off every month without fail, you’ll rack up rewards, build your credit score, and never pay a dime in interest. And then there are auto loans. Yes, your car starts depreciating the minute you drive it off the lot, but a reliable set of wheels may be the lifeline to your job. Just remember that if you have to go into debt to buy a car, a dependable midsize sedan will get you from point A to point B just as well as the decked-out luxury convertible. A jet-setting, designer-brand lifestyle might feel posh in the short term, but if you have to borrow heavily to support it, your future self might be disappointed. As you cruise toward your life goals, just remember: good debt is a turbocharger, adding extra power. Bad debt is an anchor, dragging you down.