Photo Courtesy of Dave Ramsey on Instagram

By now we have all seen or at least heard of Marie Kondo and her KonMari method of decluttering your house. The concept is basically to keep items that spark joy for you and to dispose of those that do not.

This is not unlike finances. Debt adds an extra layer of stress that you need to declutter from. What sparks joy for me is the ability to live how I want to live, and give how I want to give. I can create my experiences and my own joy. Paying someone else for my joy sucked. The joy fades really fast. The spark went out just as quickly as it had arrived. My joy lasts longer and longer now that I have decluttered from debt. You cherish the items and experiences more when you paid cash for them, rather then have the debt follow you around for months sucking 15-25% interest from you.

So say ‘thank you’ to the credit cards when you cut them up, take out your wallet, hold your cash, and feel the joy!