504. Being Debt-Free Opens Creative Doors

“My high school French teacher encouraged me to go to college, even in the most challenging times. Without her, I wouldn’t have this career or many of the successes I’ve had. Growing up in a home where our financial situation was either feast or famine, I focused on stability. For getting out of the cycle of poverty, college was the ticket out.”

Working in the admissions office at her alma mater, Penn State University, Claudia realized she was learning a lot about marketing in general and social media in particular. “At the time, Facebook and Twitter were really new. My campus job helped me gain experience in digital marketing, search engine optimization, creating websites, social media and so on. I was at the forefront of learning how these technologies could be used in marketing and communications.  I took that experience and parlayed it into another position.”

“Financial insecurity and the fear of it can make you timid about taking risks, speaking up or stepping out. Debt keeps that fear alive and active and makes you cling to a sense of stability and safety. Taking control of your finances and eliminating your debt can liberate your creativity and give you courage to take a chance on the life you desire. So many things flow from the feeling of having your debt burden lifted off your shoulders.”

1.  Free yourself from debt so you can focus on living the life you want.

2.  Figure out specifically what it’s going to take to address your financial situation: create a budget, track your spending, increase your income.

3.  Don’t limit your options by automatically assuming you can only help people by working for a nonprofit. For-profit organizations help people in many ways. Find one that fits your values.

The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness, by Jeff Olson and John David Mann

Mr. Money Moustache, a blog that challenges attitudes about money.