IN YOUR OWN WORDS HOW GOOD IT FEELS TO BE OUT OF DEBT, SELF! BY RAELENE JOHNSON, VOICE VENDOR RAELENE JOHNSON. CREDIT: CORTNEY TABERNA HOW GREAT IT FEELS TO PAY OFF ALL YOUR BILLS, SELF! Sometimes, you chose not to go out or spend money on things you didn’t need or could really afford – that is the problem with credit cards, TVs, or radios, saying things like “buy this or that thing” – to make you feel better about Self because you bought those things. You don’t think about all the interest you’re building up when you use a credit card. The bank or company that sent you the card gets richer. They advertise because they want to make money by making us believe we really need their products, while the person using credit cards to buy those things keeps getting further into debt. Self, thank God you know that before Self spends money, you first ask, “Do I really need this right now, or is it something I just want?” Can you save money over time to buy it? Does Self need to spend money because something broke down? Are you buying something because you feel hurt, and buying new things just makes you feel good for a short time? And then, you get the credit card statement and find out how much you spent. Now, Self, you probably spent more than you should have. So, Self, remember to think about your spending, or you will be making payments on something not really needed. Self, I thank you for learning this lesson of not having to pay interest on those things you didn’t buy because you didn’t really need them. The freedom of being debt-free is the best feeling ever! Thank you, Self, for being debt-free! P.S. Get, ready, Self, because our next “Self talk” is going to be a great way to start the New Year! ■ ILLUSTRATION BY GIGI GALEN 8 DENVER VOICE December 2022
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