https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 09 May 2026 11:12:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2687912 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 09:21:44 +0000 ElbieKay 2687912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chibee: I think PurplePumps was relatively polite with her feedback. This OP is so long-winded that I removed her from my feed awhile ago bc I could not really follow her posts. This was after several experiences of trying to read her topics and getting frustrated. The only reason I saw this one was because I was browsing without being logged in, so my filter was not in effect.</p> <p>If people responded to your writing that way, wouldn't you want to know so you could consider modifying your behavior to expand your audience?</p> <p>In terms of the topic at hand, I agree with the majority consensus here: Mortgage = "good" debt, student loans = "not that great" debt, credit cards that carry a balance = "bad" debt, rent = expense (not debt). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2687306 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 14:01:39 +0000 Boogs 2687306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't consider rent debt, but I do consider a mortgage debt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2687256 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 13:35:32 +0000 Mrs D 2687256@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: accountant here...a normal rent would not be on your balance sheet.</p> <p>As long as you can walk away from it with little or no financial risk I'd consider it rent payments "debt free". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2687184 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 12:17:22 +0000 SLR 2687184@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My opinion is that rent is an expense, not a debt. While you maybe be have some obligation info the form of a lease, it's the the same as money that was fronted in advance like a student loan, mortgage, or credit card would be.</p> <p>It's kind of like calling your cell phone plan a debt because of potential early termination fees. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2687106 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 10:33:10 +0000 PurplePumps 2687106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chibee: No, I didn't she HAD to, it was merely a suggestion. If you have read any of her general posts at all, you will notice they are all very long winded and repetitive. Some may not bother to read through it, so the suggestion was made in order to help maybe make it more readable so more people would make it through and be able to comment. I did read through it and my mind is plenty open, thanks for the suggestion though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2687090 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 10:15:12 +0000 psw27 2687090@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Rent is not debt. It is a bill. However, to me, rent is wasted money and I would consider buying a place as an investment rather than paying someone else's mortgage. But to each their own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2687044 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 09:26:04 +0000 chibee 2687044@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would not consider rent as debt - while you don't have a big debt as someone who has a mortgage on a house, you also don't have any equity where you reside, so I think it just balances out. </p> <p>@PurplePumps: does she really have to proofread her posts? This is a casual forum, she's not submitting an essay - I think she got her point across the way she wanted. Let's try to keep an open mind for all kinds of posters on the board. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2687022 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 09:10:41 +0000 JenGirl 2687022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In answer to your question - I do not see rent as a form of debt. By that logic, nobody could ever be debt free because you always have to pay for things like taxes, upkeep, utilities, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686993 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 08:35:24 +0000 PurplePumps 2686993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Might I suggest proofreading your response? It really didn't need to be mentioned like 3x that your husband makes 100k, or that you pay your rent on time or early twice in a single paragraph. I realize English might be your second or third language, but this seriously could have been condensed into a few sentences.</p> <p>Anyways, yes, I would consider that debt free. No credit card, loans, consumer debt, and no car payment is certainly debt free to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686952 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 07:23:11 +0000 looch 2686952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We need an accountant!</p> <p>I don't think you put leases on a balance sheet, but they do belong on an income statement! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686930 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 05:50:59 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2686930@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I skipped much of your Cafe Mom response because truthfully it felt like an invasion of your privacy- TMI. Now, as for the other mom's response I very much disagree.</p> <p>Basic need-to-live monthly expenses such as cost of rent, utilities, groceries etc are not debt IMO. For those of us with a mortgage we have debt, but it's good debt. There are tax benefits to home ownership, equity building up, and of course the home provides shelter. I consider you debt-free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686922 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 01:05:25 +0000 Pinkberrry 2686922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sapphire: seriously, I always feel like I'm being trolled reading OPs posts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686654 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 16:15:27 +0000 sapphire 2686654@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Why can't you just ask people what they think debt free means rather than giving us paragraph after paragraph of your financial situation? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686463 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:41:57 +0000 yoursilverlining 2686463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn’t really consider rent to be a debt to count as to whether or not you’re “debt-free”, but then again, maybe then you also shouldn’t consider a mortgage payment either. In both situations you are legally obligated to pay the monthly debt (whether to a landlord or your mortgage lender), both certainly become a legal debt owed if you don't pay them and either way you need a place to live.</p> <p>I also don’t think being completely debt-free is always the ideal situation – especially when you’re talking about real estate or higher education. </p> <p>When people talk about being “debt-free” I generally assume they mean/are excluding a mortgage. I think of it as being free of consumer debt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686453 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:31:00 +0000 PinkElephant 2686453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I definitely do not consider rent to be debt. I'm also comfortable with someone who has a mortgage that they consider an affordable monthly expense considering themselves to be "debt free".</p> <p>While I know a mortgage is (of course) technically debt, I do think that it falls into a different category than things like student loans or credit card debt. The reason being that (in theory), if you could no longer afford your mortgage, you should (in theory) be able to sell your house to relieve yourself of a lot of that debt. A person with outstanding student loans can't "sell" their law degree or doctorate to another individual to recoup its cost. </p> <p>A mortgage (or a car payment) is more of a pay-as-you-go monthly necessity, whereas student loans or credit card debt are repayment of a resource already consumed. I think that is why people sometimes consider them different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686449 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:27:28 +0000 Anagram 2686449@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@thestairs: You could also point out to that person that even when you own a house outright, you still have to pay property taxes and upkeep and possibly HOAs, so you still have to put money into it monthly. And if you don't pay something like HOA or property tax, they can put a lien on your property, even if you own it.</p> <p>So....by her definition, even owning a house isn't "debt free". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686448 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:25:42 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2686448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thats taking "debt' Free" to a max level. It sounds like she's someone who values the investment of owning a home. There certainly is a value to paying off a mortgage and owning your home. </p> <p>You will always need somewhere to live. If you own a place to live, that is really not "owing" anyone anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686447 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:25:23 +0000 SweetiePie 2686447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, rent is not a debt. From your description you are debt free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686444 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:24:06 +0000 kiddosc 2686444@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Seriously dude, you need to work on keeping it to one or two paragraphs :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686442 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:22:46 +0000 Adira 2686442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@thestairs: I think you need to practice making shorter posts. Next time, just say: "Do you consider rent to be a type of dent?" or "If you have no debt, but still have to pay rent, are you considered debt-free?"</p> <p>I think most people would not consider paying rent as being in debt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686437 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:14:16 +0000 Mrs. Oreo 2686437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't consider rent as debt. Mortgage is a different story. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686429 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:08:40 +0000 Anagram 2686429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>so the short version question is, "Is rent considered a debt?" I think in this type of budgeting, it isn't. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686427 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:07:39 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2686427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would not consider rent to be debt. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686422 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:05:50 +0000 petitenoisette 2686422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Saying that having to pay rent equals being in debt is kind of like saying because you have to buy groceries every week you are in debt. </p> <p>A lot of people say they are debt free when they have a mortgage because it's a different type of debt and they're referring to consumer debt. But in your case you don't even have that. So yea, you're debt free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-your-definition-of-debt-free-would-you-considered-he-debt-free-a-financial-question#post-2686418 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 13:01:11 +0000 thestairs 2686418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hello, and Happy Wednesday to everyone.. I'm sorry for the longgg post ahead, but there is a financial question I want to ask. Not expect anyone make it through reading it since my post it so long, but I really appreciate it if anyone can help answer my question. Thank you so much.</p> <p>So, on a mommie-baby site that I'm a frequent poster on (CafeMom). There is a thread where a poster aksed if there anyone in there who not have any debt, and asked what Debt-free is to everyone.. Alot of ladies in there replies, pretty much posters there share about their financial situation whether they have debt or not, and exchanged their viewpoint of what to them is the meaning of Debt-free.</p> <p>So me as a regular poster in there, I replied in that thread too. I might not be a very bright girl, but I think I know what Debt-free mean.. Please try to read it to the end in order to get a clear picture of the question I'm trying to ask.<br /> So this is my replied in that thread:</p> <p>[[ We Debt-free, zero debt. No student loans debt, we never have school debt. No credit cards debt. No medical debt.. Cars are paid off, long paid off. I mean we have insurance, but both our cars his and mine are paid off.</p> <p>Rent and All bills are pay on time early every month way before the due date; once we get the bills we pay it right away mail out the payment the next day.. Credit card bills, same thing. Mail out payment next day way early before the due date. We have excellent/perfect credit scores.<br /> Our credit card bills is just what we use charge with our credit cards for that month, and once we get the bill we mail out the check right away next day pay it off. Never once we own credit cards a penny, let alone own a dollar.<br /> Everything, Rent and all bills including credit cards bills are all pay on time way early every month actually. Never once we have a late payment, let alone a missed payment.</p> <p>My husband make decent income, he make 100K a year (money don't fall down from the sky. He has to work long hours in order to make that income. But he has No difficulty of bring in 100K income a year).. Despite we live in a HCOL state California, but life is comfy for us due to we both Debt-free. And we both are not big spender.<br /> He very responsible with money, he work hard to secure for our future. To make sure we always be in a comfortable fiancial position.</p> <p>His checking account it just where he pays Rent and all bills; and he pays it all, I don't have to pay anything. (Yes, he has me as Joint on his checking account).<br /> His life saving is not in his checking. It his saving accounts and his retirement accounts are where all his life saving money are at.<br /> ---He has two Saving accounts, and both accounts have more than decent saving money in it save for emergency/rainy days. (Yes, he has me as Joint on both of his saving accounts).<br /> ---He has two 401k accounts and one IRA account saving for retirement, and all three has more than decent money retirement saving in it, especially his IRA account.. He prefers IRA, he used to have three 401k accounts but last time he roll one to his IRA. (Yes, he has me as the Primary beneficiary on all three of it).<br /> ---He has Life insurance, Health insurance. He has excellent/perfect credit scores.. Eventhough he has more than decent money in his Saving accounts and his 401k and IRA retirement accounts, he still want Life insurance just in case. He is a huge planner. (Yes, he has me as the Primary beneficiary on his Life insurance. And I'm on his Health insurance).</p> <p>I'm a girl with only a High school diploma, No college degree. I work minimum wage jobs all my life, I make minimum wage. He on the other hand, make 100K a year. I told him repeatedly I don't want to be on any of his financial accounts (I understand our incomes difference, it alot).. But he adamant put me as Joint in all his bank accounts, and as Primary beneficiary on all his retirement accounts and Life insurance. I refused, he insists. I refused, he insists. I don't know what to do so I let him have it his ways.</p> <p>We dislike debt. We never over spend. We budget everything.. Every month money go in what in what, we have everything budget lay out all and ready.<br /> We do live BELOW our means. We rent in the lowest monthly rent place. No, we don't need to live in a high-end place with swimming pools and work out gyms and all that stuff, lol. we don't care those stuff.. I told my husband why pay the top expensive rent monthly when we can find a place with much lower/cheaper rent? It helps each month to add MORE money into your savings if we paying lower rent.<br /> Perhaps I'm cheap, but to me having 'Cash' in our saving accounts is more important than live in a high-end place.. It not just money in Saving accounts, it also money in 401k and IRA retirement too, the more retirement savings we have the better we be in our old age.</p> <p>'Cash' in our saving accounts is still count as an asset right? Liquid form of asset.<br /> Also retirement savings in our 401k and IRA accounts are also assets right?</p> <p>No, we personally don't want to own a home in California. Anyone who live in California know how expensive it is to buy a house here.. Same with New York. You talking about two HIGHEST cost of living states in the U.S., and the highest home prices too.<br /> We don't want to buy a house in California because we not staying in this state till the day we die. We thinking of relocate to Georgia (where my husband mom side of the family all are at), perhaps we buy a house there in Georgia, we just want to buy a condo or townhouse.. It just never was a 'must need/must have' to us own a house in this HCOL state California and the house prices here are ridiculously high.<br /> Why buy a house in ridiculous high price California when houses in the South are at a much lower price?</p> <p>Anyways, I'm very frugal. I'm a coupon person; I cut coupons, I save coupons, I use coupons.. I save every dollar as I can.<br /> My husband make 100K a year and I'm here cutting coupons out of weekly grocery ads, lol.. even coupons like buy one get one half off, or .75 cents off I still cut out use and save.<br /> I'm not a huge planner like my husband, but I'm frugal.</p> <p>Is Debt-free and making 100K a year income comfy to others? Probably not, but to us it comfy. And being Debt-free sure help alot.. And what added further to the help it our lifestyle, we both are not big spender and we live Below our means. We hate debt, so our goal is lifetime Debt-free.</p> <p>oh, and our age.. I'm 31, I'll be turning 32 soon. My husband he a year younger than me; he 30 (just turn 31 few months ago). ]]</p> <p>-----------------------------------------------------------------<br /> okay, so that is the financial situation of me and my husband, I considered we are Debt-free. Perhaps my definition of what Debt-free is is different from others, but to me I think we Debt-free.</p> <p>BUT then there is a replied from a poster, she quote me and she said that is Not Debt-free.. okay, she got me confused and I second think question what really Debt-free is then?<br /> This is her replied, I cut and paste what she wrote to me in CafeMom to here:<br /> _____[[[ You pay rent every month. I don't view that as debt-free, it's akin to having a mortgage. One that you'll never pay off. ]]]_____<br /> So by her quote above replied to me, and her viewpoint of what Debt-free is. Me and my husband we not Debt-free Solely because we pay 'Rent'.. But we rent in the lowest monthly rent place, so we can have More money save added to our savings and retirement. Our rent is way low compared to my husband income. I don't see how can our rent is considered our debt? We don't own rent a penny, once we get the rent bill, we sign a check immediately mail out next day pay it.</p> <p>IF by her definition what she wrote (in the bracket [[[ ]]]); then by her definition, nobody is Debt-free then (since we have to pay Rent or Mortgage)..<br /> Because those who rent, whether it high or low rent they have to pay monthly Rent. If not rent, then those who buy house, whether it high or low monthly mortgage payment, they still have to pay Mortgage.</p> <p>So my question is, do you agree with what that poster said (her quote in bracket [[[ ]]] above)--her definition of Debt-free? According to our situation above, we Debt-free to me. Am I thinking Debt-free definition wrong here?<br /> Yes, I'm an easily confuse girl, and right now I'm confuse. That poster she throw me off. So what is really Debt-free then? What is 'your' definition of Debt-free? </p>