Stanley says this new legion of debt-free consumers is on the right track, and he draws a lesson from the spending habits of the people he studied for his book. Many debtors cling to an unrealistic view of future income, pinning their hopes on a bonus or raise. Fortunately, many of today's debt fighters aren't waiting for disaster to strike. Calif. With that realization, having the hottest electronic toy fades in importance. The overwhelming and often unendurable stress that accompanies indebtedness is motivating many to pay off their bills.
Debt can be pervasive, subtly infiltrating every facet of life.
Debt leaves many people distracted and vexed. I would much rather have peace of mind than a new pair of shoes. In extreme cases, stress results in depression, embezzlement, even suicide. On the job, such feelings manifest themselves in lower productivity. About 15 percent of workers have money problems that affect the bottom line, says Prof. Thomas Garman of the Personal Finance Employee Education project at Virginia Tech.