Using debt to "start over"

This episode is about how sometimes you really need debt to move forward in your life. And even if you don’t need it, sometimes it can be a big help and well worth it to use debt as a tool to level up.

Where we got examples of costs:

• The average cost to move across the country when you have two to three bedrooms is between $3,000 and $9,500.

• On average, divorce lawyers cost $270 per hour, with a total average cost of $11,300. 

• The average cost of immigrating to the U.S. is $1,200 to $8,000, depending on a variety of factors.

• The average cost of in-state tuition at a four-year public college is $9,678 a year.

• Depending on the type of business, you could spend anywhere from almost nothing to thousands of dollars. According to a Shopify survey, it’s common for business owners to spend about $40,000 in their first year.

• The referenced “Boots” theory of socio-economic unfairness from Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett.

Resources for getting help

• National Domestic Violence Hotline

• National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

• Local food banks from Feeding America

• National Immigrant Justice Center

• SBA’s 7(a) loan program

• Unemployment benefits

• DOJ list of credit counseling agencies

• CFPB information on credit counseling

Thanks to our guests who shared their stories

• Adrienne Taylor from Tailored Wealth Saver

• Ashley Patrick from Budgets Made Easy

• Eric Brotman from BFG Financial Advisors

We recommend checking out the Borrowing Basics game and resource page from the FDIC.

Consider supporting us by upgrading to a paid subscription here (so we can continue to keep doing this work).

Or, for a one-off donation, buy us a refreshing beverage on Ko-fi.

And make sure you check out our websites as well:

• Sarah Li-Cain

• Miranda Marquit