Climbing Out One Family’s Adventure in Becoming Debt-free

I cringed as my phone rang at work. It was a call from a colleague, Larry, who has an amazing ability to suck time and air from any situation.

“Hey, what computer is 172.168.00.55? Is it important?”

That’s the LDAP, our directory server, the most important computer in the place. Why do you ask?

“Someone left a page up in here and it’s down.”

Someone left a page up in here and it’s down. I don’t understand what that means.

“I’m in the office and there’s a screen up with a bunch of of computers on it and they all have green dots except that one, it has a red dot and says ‘not connected’.”

I’m like, you’re freaking kidding me, right. That’s like saying all the stereo equipment is working except for the CD player that’s not plugged into the wall. Nothing is really wrong, you just have to plug that one in if you want to see its status.

But the sowing of fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD)… or Drama, is some people’s default reaction. It puts others off their footing. It creates an imaginary smoke screen. It is a practice so common place in our culture and media it amazes and almost entertains me.

The same thing can happen with our finances, both on the income and the expense side of things. I certainly have been guilty of using drama to get my way in the past:

“With the rattle in the door, the big 150,000 mile service coming up and the tire tread showing on the front, that car is falling apart! I just don’t feel safe in it anymore. We should start looking for a more reliable car.”

How many of us have been guilty of that. Fix the freaking car. Remove the drama and we’re left with a rattle that doesn’t matter, a service due anyway and two new tires. The rest is just drama; FUD.

“I would pay that debt off, but the smart thing is to hoard our money right now. Look around. The economy is failing. Unemployment is at a record high. I know a guy who got fired just last week!”

Really. And you’re sitting there with $7,000 in the bank, a $5,000 car loan and no indication at all that your job is in jeopardy. If you had a paid-for car and $2,000 in the bank would you borrow $5,000 on the car to stick in the bank? Calm down. Pay the freaking car off.

Drama justifying a fear-based decision. We are funny creatures, aren’t we?

Hanging up on the call and shaking my head, I remind myself to speak clearly and honestly without hidden agendas both at work and home. To check my motives.

Life with a plan, clear goals, working together with a loving spouse — these things are the antidote.

Spare the drama. Sow no FUD.

the Dad