Summary

The article distinguishes between "good debt," which generates income, and "bad debt," which incurs costs, emphasizing the impact of each on personal wealth.

Abstract

The concept of debt is dissected into two distinct categories: good and bad. Good debt is characterized as an investment that yields a positive cash flow, such as purchasing a property that generates rental income. In contrast, bad debt refers to financial obligations that consistently drain one's finances, exemplified by high-interest credit card debt or the purchase of depreciating assets like cars. The author advocates for leveraging good debt to build wealth while cautioning against the pitfalls of bad debt, which can hinder financial stability and growth. The article underscores the importance of understanding the nature of debt and making informed decisions to secure long-term financial health.

Opinions

The author believes that debt which provides a return, such as income-generating property, is beneficial and contributes to wealth accumulation.
Credit card debt is viewed negatively due to high interest rates that perpetually remove money from one's pocket.
A car is considered a liability rather than an asset due to its depreciation and maintenance costs, making car loans an example of bad debt.
Investing money that would otherwise be spent on a high-end car can yield significant returns over time, as demonstrated with the S&P 500 investment example.
The author recommends avoiding bad debts and suggests that managing debt wisely is key to financial success.
Good debt is associated with real estate investments that offer three financial benefits: property appreciation, positive cash flow, and mortgage paydown.
The article includes a disclaimer stating that the author's content is not professional advice but personal observations and experiences.

Good Debt vs. Bad Debt

What you’ve been told is probably wrong

The average debt for a 40-year old American — $135841

I always advocate there are two types of debts.

i) Good debt

ii) bad debt

Here is my definition of good and bad debts: if the debt puts money in your pocket, that is a good debt, and if the debt takes out money from your pocket, that’s—bad debt.

Let’s take a practical example to solidify the concept. Let’s say you buy a property of $200,000; after all the expenses, the property still gives you a cash flow of $200 (just an example); that’s a great example of a good debt.

In the long run, this good debt is helping you become wealthy.

Let me explain.

I buy properties, then fix them a little and put them on rent. Fortunately, rent is pretty decent in my area, and a suitable property is always in demand.

Credit card debt is a bad debt.

It will take the money from your pocket all the time.

I can understand emergencies can drain your pocket. For example, if your pet is sick and you do not have enough cash in your account, you don’t have any option except to use the credit card at a minimum of 19.99% interest in general.

Many will argue that a credit card can be a good debt. I agree, if and only if you pay the credit card in full within the grace period.

Let’s look at the stats.

A recent survey shows that 61% of Americans have an average of $6000 credit card debt, and the worst part is that 23% say they are going deeper each month in credit card debt.

Here is another example of bad debt.

You buy a car for $30000 on a 5% interest (numbers are rough), and the car decreases in value each year, plus the maintenance cost.

A car is not an asset but a liability; you can easily go from point A to point B by using a $10000 (decent car) and investing the rest of the installments.

Example

If you invest, let’s say, $300 per month into S&P 500 for 7 years on a 7% compound annual interest, you would have a minimum of $32000 in your account. Now, after 7 years, the car would not give you $ 32,000.

Takeaways

In a nutshell, good debt has the potential to increase your wealth, and bad debt takes money from your pocket in the form of high-interest and/or depreciating assets.

A great real estate deal is a good debt.

You are making money in three ways.

increasing property evaluation, appreciating asset
positive cash flow
paying your mortgage

Stay away from bad debts! That’s not a real flex.

Book recommendation: Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days by Chris Guillebeau

Thank you for reading. I wish you a happy and healthy life.

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