subject: When a Good Debt Isn't [print this page] When a Good Debt Isn't When a Good Debt Isn't
Good debt and bad debt seem like pretty clear categories with easy-to-distinguish differences. Simply put, a good debt should bring you a return that exceeds the investment; a bad debt won't. Some experts, though, argue that there is no such thing as a good debt. Owing money is owing money, and there is just no two ways about it. That might be true, maybe it's even really terrific advice, but for most of us, it's just too hard not to borrow money for school, or to buy a house, car, or other big ticket items. But what can we take from the idea of bad debt to help us with our so-called good debt problems?First, be careful how much you borrow. The two or three big-ticket items most people hope for include an education of some kind, a home, and a car. Generally, most of us are not going to buy those things without a loan of some kind. It certainly isn't impossible to get an education by working full-time during the day and going to school part-time at night for 11 years, or buying only as much car as your bank account will allow-say, a 1984 Honda Civic. Most of us, though, aspire to faster degrees, and cars! But everyone has a limit. Know yours.Tip one: Don't start school until you know when you're going. Too many people waste two years' worth of loans before they know what they want to do-and that's a lot more expensive than six months' hitch hiking through Europe while you work out what your future career path.Tip two: Don't over buy on your first car. Do you really need an audio or BMW? Wouldn't a pretty nice, nearly new Golf hatchback do?Tip three: House buying is a complicated process, but the research still says that people buy on impulse. Before you start looking for a home, put together a checklist that includes a list of the features that might be important to you. For example, do you want to walk to your work place or downtown? Do you spend a lot of time in the backyard, and have a dog or kids that need a fence? Most important, go to the bank before you go house shopping, and see just how much home you can buy. Never reveal that number to an agent, if you're using one. And don't be afraid to look at houses being sold privately; it can save you thousands.In every case, house buying, car purchases, and educational choices, have a budget on what you can realistically handle. Then you'll never have a good debt go bad on you.
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