Debt

I've never been in debt, i only just got a credit card last month, so I don't know how I would react to owing a lot of money to a bank. Our family never had much money when I was growing up. We weren't poor at all it just seemed we never went crazy with buying stuff. We also lived in housing commission on the Gold Coast in a place called Nerang. And before that in a mobile home/caravan park. So i think my growing up had impact on how I spend money now. I always feel I have to save and feel guilty buying things. It might also explain my terrible fashion sense. Gold Coast Caravan parks aren't exactly fashion central.

I have a friend in debt i'm not sure how much he owes, but it seems enough to stress him out all the time. Not only this he didn't do his tax for a few years and now has to possibly be fined for not completing the BAS statements and stuff.

But I think if I was in debt I'd try everything I could to get rid of it fast. Especially if it was causing me stress. My friend owns a nice car, rent's a nice apartment but doesn't see that to get rid of debt it's not a matter of earning more money but changing the way you live, your money habits. Again I don't know the particulars of this problem so I can only see one side of this story.

The hard thing is talking to your friend about it. You can't offer much advice when you have never been in that situation and also debt is very personal. What someone does with their money is their own business. You can't say "hey mate why not sell your car and move to a cheap apartment or move home with your parents", cause it's none of your business. So you can't do much but hope they get through it. But it painful when your friend seems so sad about money.

Other really personal stuff like buying Christmas presents. I would have thought this year he'd say to his family that he's trying to fix his debt and he'll just send cards or something. And being family they will understand. But they still all went and got each other gift's. I mean that's none of my fucking business but it just means the debt is prolonged a little longer just for a holiday.

So if you have a friend in debt then try and support them but it's hard to not seem like a nosey prick. And if you have a family member in debt then by all means be nosey and tell the person to pull their finger out.