When I was a free American

[Guest Guitarsnguns]

This is a very short and true biography. In 1992, My wife, 2yr. old son and I took the meager profits from the sale of a home in Fla. ($12,000.00) and built a small but comfortable house way up in the boonies of upstate N.Y. (paid for) We lived there for 10 years free of debt and relatively self sufficient. Primarily heating our well insulated house with wood, our only real expenses were groceries, electric, keeping the truck running and propety taxes. $300.00 a week was more than enough to fulfill our needs. In short, we could have cared less what was happening in the world because we didn't know, (No T.V.) lived in complete confidence, (No debt) and with no fear (Big dog & big guns). Bottom line...I know for a fact that if you tune out the news/noise and get those stealing bastards out of your pocket, you will regain your freedom and sanity. If everybody could do it; the Fed would shrivel up and the Constitution would rule again. I'm in the hole for about $150,000.00 right now, but I'm working my way back. God help anybody who would try to mess with a truly independent (debt free property owner) American. Get out of debt if you can and never turn back! That's how we get our country and our freedom back.

[Rightwinger]

Working towards that very goal this week! Paid off two debts and tracking the rest with the snowball!

[TGO David]

Ok... but this story begs the question of why you're $150,000 in the hole after having it made before.

[Guest Guitarsnguns]

I couldn't take the weather, tax increaces or N.Y. politics anymore and wanted out. The area where I built did not experience the real estate boom at all. My house and 20 acres of land only brought $50k which largely got eaten up by moving expenses and starting a new life here. My current home loan is $116k + New truck $10k + about $30k in educational expenses/debt for me and my wife (which I hope will help get us back to where we once were before too long) This was a hard pill to swallow, but the pleasure of living in a state I believe in with more like minded folks in addition to not freezing my a%& off 9 months a year is well worth it.

[TGO David]

Understood. Sometimes you have to take a few steps backwards to get to where you want to be.

[jughead]

guess this old man and his wife of 52 years is a lucky person. only debt is 06 jeep. if wife hadnt rolled the 97 wouldnt have that. yes she walked away with seat belt bruises. tougher than i am i guess

[TripleDigitRide]

I have some friends in Plattsburgh, NY. They are in the process of moving to the Middle Tennessee area for many of the same reason you've mentioned.

Welcome to Tennessee.

[Guest Jcochran88]

Has every one else noticed that the more the American people and our government have gotten in debt, the worse the country seems to be getting? Makes a lot of sense to be trying to get out of debt. Was almost there then bought a house. Now gotta get myself back on track.

[Garufa]

Has every one else noticed that the more the American people and our government have gotten in debt, the worse the country seems to be getting? Makes a lot of sense to be trying to get out of debt. Was almost there then bought a house. Now gotta get myself back on track.

Dave Ramsey for President! He'll set things right and have everybody buying insurance from that Zander fellow (not Robin, if you're into Cheap Trick).

[Guest Guitarsnguns]

I have some friends in Plattsburgh, NY. They are in the process of moving to the Middle Tennessee area for many of the same reason you've mentioned.

Welcome to Tennessee.

Thank you, my family and I are delighted to be here. BTW, does one have to join the Bubba Army, or does somebody in MO assign that status for a fellow?

[HanSolo]

Has every one else noticed that the more the American people and our government have gotten in debt, the worse the country seems to be getting? Makes a lot of sense to be trying to get out of debt. Was almost there then bought a house. Now gotta get myself back on track.

That is Obama's strategy. Spend us into Socialism.

[Guest Jcochran88]

To bad it seems like this is what the rest of the country and the world want. Maybe soon they will come to their senses and stop this madness!

[Guest Guitarsnguns]

I have really thought about it alot, and I truly think all of this nonsense would end if everyone got out of debt somehow. It is the weapon being used to control us and almost singlehandedly funds the grossly corrupt anti-American system we complain about in this forum constantly. We can fight fire with fire, starve them and make them squirm for a change. The best part...no civil conflict; which is where this is all headed if nothing changes.

[mcurrier]

I know of more NY transplants here than native TN folk. TN seem to have become a conservative island after the last election. I'm glad I ended up in the right place myself 20 years ago.

[Raoul]

I know of more NY transplants here than native TN folk. TN seem to have become a conservative island after the last election. I'm glad I ended up in the right place myself 20 years ago.

Quite a few retired LEO from FL also.

[Guest Swamprunner]

Welcome to the Volunteer State, where men are men, and women are glad of it.

[texfrazer]

Welcome! I grew up here, lived in Atlanta for 20 years, and am now back. It really is great here!

Also, totally agree with you about debt, but also totally agree about having to sometimes take a step backward in order to have a better path ahead.

[Guest pws_smokeyjones]

Guitarsnguns - you are spot on. Debt on non-appreciable items is just bad SOP no matter how you slice it. that goes for individuals, businesses and governments. My wife and I were 100% debt free (other than a mortgage) for about 2 years straight and it was like being on a constant vacation from stress. 2 international adoptions skewed that a bit and we are currently working our collective backsides off to get back to it.

My Father taught me a valuable motto once. When you see something that you "need" to buy, wait a week and see if you still "need" it. Chances are you won't and you will still have the money.

[Guest Guitarsnguns]

My Father taught me a valuable motto once. When you see something that you "need" to buy, wait a week and see if you still "need" it. Chances are you won't and you will still have the money.

My father said that too. He was just telling me how people from that generation just went without the things they couldn't afford. The funny thing is that even those who didn't make tons of money back then (Most) lived more comfortably than we do today and tended leave their children a mortgage free house and a decent savings account to boot. Most of our earnings today go straight to bankers in the form of interest, and the healthcare industry. Unless you are awfully rich, the system will wind up with your financial legacy in the end.

[Guest oldbs]

Still waiting for Atlas to shrug! In the mean time no debt, no TV, no dependence on big brother. When the collapse comes, I may not notice.

[memphismason]

The wife and I paid off all the credit cards off last year, canceled them, ripped them up, and we no longer have any. Both vehicles are paid for, and our house was paid for when I was eleven, (dad signed it over to me when he remarried).

The only debt we have is medical bills, and we are paying on those. My wife had sinus surgery in December and that was costly.

Even without all of the credit card bills, we still seem to be living paycheck to pay check. We have a little bit in savings under ($4000), and the only bills we pay are the utilities, house phone, cell phone, interent, Direct TV, and insurances, and a small loan from American General.

We will be keeping that American general loan open and going for a while, in an attempt to improve our credit score. You see those credit card bills we paid off last year, were not by choice, but when the phone rings from a lawyer and they say "This balance is due in 90 days, or we will see you in court".....I decided the best thing to do was pay them. But it sure does feel good, not to owe them money anymore.

We do send money on things we could do with out, but what else are we going to do....I love guns and she loves clothes. LOL The spend here for a while will be centered on home repairs. I have a lot to do.