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The thing is, I was careful. I did all those things people say you should do so you don't end up in debt. I worked full time on the overnight shift while going to school during the day #CancelMyDebt
My car is 21 years old. I have no children. When my wedding came up as an unavoidable expense, I bought a $20 white dress from a thrift store, skipped the reception, the guests, everything but the actual exchanging of the vows.
My husband and I took our vacations the least expensive way we could. Driving instead of flying. Tenting instead of renting hotel rooms. We bought the cheapest house we could find on the market.
It needs windows, better insulation, new floors. My furnace is 50 years old. My roof is held together with a prayer. I took years to get my BA, 90 credits earned from a community college to cut the cost. I still owe $50,000
Everything I need to do, from replacing the insulation in my home, to getting a newer car and starting a decent retirement fund, it's all waiting for me to finish my PhD. Except that I can't. I can't continue school knowing I'm about to add another $50K to what I already owe
I can't logically, objectively, reasonably, commit myself to owing what is essentially another mortgage payment when I'm done with school. Because there is no safety net there for me. What if I get seriously sick? What if my husband does?
I look at the total end cost of all my debts, mortgage, student loans, credit cards with which I replaced tires and brakes on that 20-year old car, and I wonder who can look at the total nearing a quarter of a million of dollars and not shudder in horror
And the thing is, I don't need government to give me a tax break on my home. I don't need incentives for energy-conserving windows or a furnace. What I need is to not owe a hundred thousand dollars 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥.
When I say #CancelMyDebt it's not because I've done everything right and still can't make the ends meet. Some people believe education is a privilege to be given only those who work hard, not understanding that now, it's a privilege given only to the rich
When I say #CancelMyDebt I'm saying it because denying education to people for financial reasons directly opposes our unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
