What does debt mean for you?

Good morning Dinks.  Do you remember the first time you ever used your credit card?  I don’t remember how I got my first credit card, however I think it was a student card.  Although I’m only saying that based on the fact that I was 18 years old and still in high school.  But as I’m writing this something in the back of my mind is saying “no it wasn’t a student credit card because I was working two jobs” – but that’s not important.

When did you first use your credit card?

I don’t remember how I got my first credit card but I do remember how old I was, what color the card was and the first thing I ever bought.  I was a senior in high school, it was blue and I bought a candle holder from the home decor store where I worked.

Little fact about me: I had two jobs in high school, I worked at a lingerie store (where I stayed for over 10 years) and I also worked at a home decor store – wall art, candles, gifts and other things like that.  I was still a teenager living with my parents but I had enough pretty things in my one room to fill an apartment.  Yes that’s how I first used my credit card and it was just downhill from there.

How does credit make you feel?

I loved how using a credit card made me feel.  Whipping it out and swiping it everywhere from the mall to restaurants made me feel like an adult.  I’m not sure why – I guess I just didn’t know any better.  Now I  just like to swipe my card knowing that I can if I need to, but back then I just wanted to swipe it all the time.  So that’s what I did.  I carried that credit card in my wallet and used it whenever and where ever I could.

Using credit was addicting.  I applied for more credit cards and accepted every offer that came in the mail.  Thanks to my two jobs I found myself with a gold card at 20 years old.  After that the offers kept on coming – and I couldn’t say no.  That awful habit landed me over $50,000 in debt with three credit cards and a line of credit.  Can you say bad habit?!

What does debt mean to you?

Debt.  It’s different for everyone.  It means different things.  For me debt meant almost being bankrupt, losing my job and ruining my life.  Yes that’s how bad my life got in my late twenties and it all started with that first swipe of a credit card.  You can think it’s so harmless, just a tiny little action of carrying a credit card in your wallet and then before you know it BAM you’re tens of thousands dollars in debt.  Welcome to my life.  Credit for me was like eating Lays potato chips – you can’t eat just one!

Kristina Tahnyak

Tahnya is a Certified Financial Planner and former Investment Advisor turned marketing and communications professional She holds a degree from Concordia University, is debt free and currently works in the field of digital marketing.