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Debt


               
2023 Mar 3, 5:38pm   15,196 views  190 comments

by GreaterNYCDude   follow (2)  

What are you guy's opinion on debt?

As interest rates rise, the math says that it's better if invest any spare cash rather than pay down debt, which is at a low fixed rate (house, student loan, small car loan). However, particularly with the mortgage, there is something to be said for the peace of mind of having it behind me and owning my home outright. I'm fully funding my 401(k), and have a six month emergency fund, but until now, any "free cash" beyond that, I've been diverting to the mortgage. As I sit right now, the goal is have it paid off in the next 5 to 7 years. With high yield savings paying about 4% right now, that's a 1% spread relative to my 3% mortgage.

As much as I could try to invest in the market 1) I'm not that good, and 2) the market has more or less peaked, and I don't see another major bull market given that we are seeing the end of the "everything bubble". Once I own the house free and clear, then I'll have plenty of "play money" to invest or whatever and hopefully catch the next upswing.

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142   DemoralizerOfPanicans   2025 Mar 5, 3:50pm  

clambo says


Re above: How about Israel?

We didn't get $37T in debt from Israel. Not if we borrowed the few billion every year at 25% interest over decades.
143   AD   2025 Mar 5, 10:06pm  

AmericanKulak says

We didn't get $37T in debt from Israel. Not if we borrowed the few billion every year at 25% interest over decades.


Let's see by 4 July 2026 that the debt to GDP ratio is less than 107%, which was the ratio in 2019 and below 100% by January 2029.

https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/government-debt-to-gdp

.
146   AD   2025 Mar 24, 10:26am  

https://www.mypanhandle.com/news/national-news/us-could-default-on-debt-as-soon-as-july-analysis

(The Hill) – The federal government could default on its debt as soon as July, a new forecast from the Bipartisan Policy Center warns, raising pressure on Congress for action.

The prominent think tank forecasted on Monday that the so-called “X-Date” would likely arrive between mid-July and early October.

“Fiscal responsibility is not just about avoiding financial calamity time and time again—it’s about ensuring economic stability and paying our bills on time,” Margaret Spellings, president and CEO of the think tank, said in a statement.
147   AD   2025 Apr 10, 12:18am  

The most US Treasuries that China has owned were around $1.3 trillion in 2011.

It has slowly reduced its holdings since 2011 and currently owns around $750 billion.
148   Patrick   2025 Apr 10, 12:31am  

So every American owes the Chinese around $2,000.
149   Misc   2025 Apr 10, 1:23am  

AD says

The most US Treasuries that China has owned were around $1.3 trillion in 2011.

It has slowly reduced its holdings since 2011 and currently owns around $750 billion.


China has continued to increase its holdings of Treasuries. It has kept them under the auspices of its SOEs. It holds them at a variety of institutions. China has deliberately clouded this issue.
150   MolotovCocktail   2025 Apr 15, 9:06am  

Patrick says

So every American owes the Chinese around $2,000.


Nope. The US government isn't 'every American'.

But we pay way more than 2k from hollowing out our manufacturing base.
151   AD   2025 May 14, 10:56am  

MolotovCocktail says

Patrick says


So every American owes the Chinese around $2,000.


Nope. The US government isn't 'every American'.

But we pay way more than 2k from hollowing out our manufacturing base.


Officially about $780 billion in US Treasuries is owned by China. About $8 trillion of $36 trillion is foreign owned.

I doubt the Chicoms own more than $800 billion in US Treasuries.

But the fact you brought up Chicom state owned industries or enterprises, reminds us how unfair trade is with China and why we have a $300 billion trade deficit with them.

I love reading stories about Steve Jobs mentioning that Apple products are built by Chicom workers who live in dormitories at the manufacturing plant. Might as well call it a barracks and not dormitory and make them wear Peoples Liberation Army uniforms.

.
152   FortWayneHatesRealtors   2025 May 14, 1:52pm  

Debt is slavery
153   AD   2025 May 16, 6:12pm  

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-loses-last-top-credit-221054398.html

US Loses Last Top Credit Rating With Downgrade From Moody’s
154   AD   2025 May 20, 2:52pm  



155   RWSGFY   2025 May 20, 5:43pm  

AD says

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/us-loses-last-top-credit-221054398.html

US Loses Last Top Credit Rating With Downgrade From Moody’s



156   AD   2025 May 21, 11:29pm  

.

This author wrote in 2013 about debt : https://www.oftwominds.com/blogmay13/genX5-13.html

He just wrote this insightful article which validates his 2013 article, and he's say there needs to be a means test for social security among other spending reforms:

https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/boomers-lets-face-it-math-doesnt-work

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157   The_Deplorable   2025 May 22, 9:16am  

AD says
"there needs to be a means test for social security among other spending reforms:
https://www.zerohedge.com/personal-finance/boomers-lets-face-it-math-doesnt-work "

No because Social Security has been running a surplus for years! Years!
Social Security is our hard earned money for retirement - every single penny!
And if we remove the fraud from Social Security then that will make Social
Security more secure.
Social Security is rock solid.
158   MolotovCocktail   2025 May 25, 8:21am  


The government has a lot of debt but it has a lot of assets too:

•640 million acres of land (28% of America)
•$500B in gold reserves
•$1.8T in military equipment and bases
•300,000+ federal buildings (including national labs, NASA facilities, post offices)
•48,000 miles of interstate highways
•Massive mineral and energy resources (oil, gas, minerals, water rights)
•650M barrels in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve
•$1.6T in student loan debt owed to the government
•Air rights and wireless spectrum licenses
•Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac stakes (~$150B net worth combined)
•Power generation assets like the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)
•Ports, waterway infrastructure, and major federal transportation assets
•National parks and forests (economic and environmental value)

They would be hard to sell and liquidate, but they could definitely be leased, monetized, or privatized in part. Total estimated value: $25–50+ trillion.

https://x.com/HayekAndKeynes/status/1926451705845055530
159   AD   2025 May 26, 11:15am  

.

https://dailyhodl.com/2025/05/24/fed-quietly-buys-43600000000-in-us-treasuries-in-alleged-stealth-qe-operation-after-china-abruptly-dumps-billions-in-bonds/

China now holds $765.4 billion in US Treasuries and is in third place behind the UK and Japan, which hold $779 billion and $1.13 trillion, respectively.

Interesting that the Chicoms maximum holdings was around $1.3 trillion around 2014.

I look forward to the Wolfman at Wolf Street website to give an update on the Federal Reserve's balance sheet.

.
160   Misc   2025 May 26, 12:10pm  

AD says

Interesting that the Chicoms maximum holdings was around $1.3 trillion around 2014


The Chinese hold some additional hundreds of Billions through their SOEs. They try to keep their total holdings quiet, but yep in the UK and Carribean Islands as well as HK.
161   AD   2025 May 26, 12:58pm  

Misc says

AD says


Interesting that the Chicoms maximum holdings was around $1.3 trillion around 2014


The Chinese hold some additional hundreds of Billions through their SOEs. They try to keep their total holdings quiet, but yep in the UK and Carribean Islands as well as HK.


Who knows as far as Chicom State Owned Industries (SOEs) other than the Chicoms themselves, but the amount of US Treasuries held by China has steadily decreased since 2014.

.
162   The_Deplorable   2025 Aug 28, 10:55am  




America runs on fraud.
164   HeadSet   2025 Aug 28, 12:15pm  

The_Deplorable says




America runs on fraud.

Running up debts is a choice. If you are just starting out, get a cheap used car and a roommate. Nobody needs a $30,000 wedding. If you do go to college, try CC for the first two years and transfer. If you do the 4-year college route with a loan, major in something that allows you to pay back the debt.
165   The_Deplorable   2025 Aug 28, 12:26pm  

HeadSet says
"Running up debts is a choice."

No it is not!
This is a fraud imposed by the deep state on the American People. Having to pay
$100,000 a year to attend college is not a choice!
166   WookieMan   2025 Aug 29, 6:48am  

The_Deplorable says

HeadSet says
"Running up debts is a choice."

No it is not!
This is a fraud imposed by the deep state on the American People. Having to pay
$100,000 a year to attend college is not a choice!

It is a choice. Headset is right. CC for 2 years and see if you pass your courses that are the basic requirements you're forced to do anyway. Still costs, but it's substantially less for professors/teachers that are just as competent as 4 year university professors that likely only have the job because they graduated from there.

Females should go in for nursing if they're 17-18 in 2025. Males should do business and/or other STEM courses. Don't take English or any of that other bull shit. You speak English and if you graduated high school you should have an above average grasp of it.

At the end of the day it's ultimately networking. Who you know. Sure there are skilled trades and professions, but if you know the right person they'll train you. I think that's a problem with a lot of STEM guys specifically. They're socially awkward and don't meet decision makers. So they get stuck in a shitty career.
167   FortWayneHatesRealtors   2025 Aug 29, 7:52am  

The_Deplorable says




America runs on fraud.


300k home? Any neighborhood not overran by diversity rape gangs is at least 600k in any city.
168   The_Deplorable   2025 Aug 29, 10:19am  

This is a fraud imposed by the deep state on the American People. Having to pay
$100,000 a year to attend college is not a choice!


WookieMan says
"It is a choice..."

College at $100,000 a year is not a choice. It is a fraud imposed on the American people
by the Globalist Nazis. These losers need to get lost and move to Somalia where they
belong.
169   RWSGFY   2025 Aug 29, 10:21am  

The_Deplorable says

This is a fraud imposed by the deep state on the American People. Having to pay
$100,000 a year to attend college is not a choice!


WookieMan says

"It is a choice..."

College at $100,000 a year is not a choice. It is a fraud imposed on the American people
by the Globalist Nazis. These losers need to get lost and move to Somalia where they
belong.


Colleges are rarely $100K. Going to a $100K per year college IS a choice.
170   The_Deplorable   2025 Aug 29, 10:38am  

RWSGFY says
"Colleges are rarely $100K. Going to a $100K per year college IS a choice."

You haven't checked tuition and fees lately, have you?
171   GreaterNYCDude   2025 Aug 29, 10:47am  

The_Deplorable says




America runs on fraud.

I agree that some of this cost is "optional".

But most girls have dreamt of their weeding day since their Disney Princess days when there were five.

I don't mind driving an old car, so long as its reliable.

House prices are 2x or more along the coast relative to just a decade ago.

And as for college, CC is an affordable alternative now days. That's one thing Obama got right. Back when I was graduating HS, I had taken most of the courses that the local CC offered at my local HS, and they certainly did not have an engineering program back then. STEM was just coming into vouge.

But today? It's a reasonable pathway to a four year degree without breaking the bank.
172   Blue   2025 Aug 29, 1:27pm  

The_Deplorable says


This is a fraud imposed by the deep state on the American People. Having to pay
$100,000 a year to attend college is not a choice!


WookieMan says

"It is a choice..."

College at $100,000 a year is not a choice. It is a fraud imposed on the American people
by the Globalist Nazis. These losers need to get lost and move to Somalia where they
belong.


If anyone looking at the details, in either public or private, there are kind of two income thresholds. Pay zero under full ride who qualify for below first threshold.
Pay full sticker price who are above the second, partial pay in between.
Because of the subsidy to the first 2 categories, the third category price goes much higher.
We all hear stories about the first two categories who cheat the system!
In my small world observations, the tuition fees didn’t go much over the years compared to everything else like dorms, books, food, medical, transportation etc.
Not sure about other states, in CA, all illegals have lots of programs under various names get paid not by them and adding it to the third category.
173   WookieMan   2025 Aug 29, 1:44pm  

The_Deplorable says

College at $100,000 a year is not a choice. It is a fraud imposed on the American people
by the Globalist Nazis. These losers need to get lost and move to Somalia where they
belong.

Then don't go. Supply and demand. Prices will drop. I'm not pushing college on my boys. Start a business. Plumbing, HVAC, electric, etc. Do the physical work when you're young and then sit behind the desk and hire a good manager. Buy out competitors that don't have what it takes. You can be making $300k+ 4-5 years out of high school with no debt.

I can teach the tax end. Wife can teach sales and marketing. They really wouldn't even need to go to college. We've actually done what we'd be teaching, not like most university or CC professors where they just go to school to teach in something they haven't experienced. As a parent it 100% is a choice. If they show the work ethic I have no issue with them living at the home until they get employment/income. 4 Years max.

GreaterNYCDude says

But most girls have dreamt of their weeding day since their Disney Princess days when there were five.

I don't mind driving an old car, so long as its reliable.

The wedding thing only should apply to women and their family. Doesn't much matter as I forget which thread only 12% are getting married anyway. Ways to make a wedding cheap as well. Destination is the easiest. Food and drinks included at an A/I and the guest pay their way. Likely have mom or dad pay for your room as a gift or whatever. So essentially free. Don't need to go to some dumb ass banquet hall in the burbs or city for a shitty wedding. We have nothing to do with them, but we did ours in a Knights of Columbus school for a $500 fee. Brought kegs and returnable hard booze. Catered food. It was cheap for 200+.

Cars are the dumbest cost. Again, a choice. Have a buddy putting in I think $20k into a 1980's truck. Nothing special. He's doing it so his son can get girls. I've told him, dude those days are done. He's 48 and kind of stupid, but fun to hang with.

Reality is you take out the college, wedding and get a shitty car, a $300k home or higher is not a big deal. Again, these are choices. Your biggest choice is if you want to start a family. Everything else will fall in line after that. I made that choice Freshman year in college. Best choice to have a partner in this game called life. I don't blame others for my faults or things we've done wrong. I'm getting sick of that shit.
174   RWSGFY   2025 Aug 29, 3:34pm  

The_Deplorable says


RWSGFY says

"Colleges are rarely $100K. Going to a $100K per year college IS a choice."

You haven't checked tuition and fees lately, have you?



I did. Have one kid in college RN and other two soon to follow.

In a right state you can go to a great public school for roughly $10-20K per year and this is with zero scolarships, assistance and such.

I'm surprised you don't know that, supposedly living in the US and all ....
175   WookieMan   2025 Aug 29, 8:25pm  

RWSGFY says

In a right state you can go to a great public school for roughly $10-20K per year and this is with zero scolarships, assistance and such.

I'm surprised you don't know that, supposedly living in the US and all ....

Yup. Options out the butt that are still somewhat expensive but don't bleed you dry. You don't need an Ivy league degree. Wife does just fine from a University of Illinois arm or whatever. Probably makes double most Champaign grads make in a year. Half the cost in state at UIC.
176   The_Deplorable   2025 Aug 30, 12:13pm  

You haven't checked tuition and fees lately, have you?

RWSGFY says
"In a right state you can go to a great public school..."

You need to find the right state for lower tuition and fees? In the 60s and 70s people
used to get a university education with a part-time job. What happened?
177   stereotomy   2025 Aug 30, 4:44pm  

Globohomo is trying to do to the US what it did to Mexico beginning in the late 1960's. Mexico was flush with gold and oil, and was encouraged to take out USD denominated loans. Then in the 1970's, when US interest rates went through the roof, Mexico couldn't repay their USD debts, so the raping began. Mexicans began to flood the US border in the 1980's as their country fell apart.

Now, 50 years later, Mexico is a failed narco state. Unless MAGA succeeds, that is the fate of this country.
178   WookieMan   2025 Aug 31, 4:32am  

The_Deplorable says

You haven't checked tuition and fees lately, have you?

RWSGFY says
"In a right state you can go to a great public school..."

You need to find the right state for lower tuition and fees? In the 60s and 70s people
used to get a university education with a part-time job. What happened?

What he stated isn't wrong. You might have to move and create a primary residency in a different state. There are cheap colleges everywhere. Fact is getting into a "good" college has always been overhyped. There are better professors at some random state D-3 colleges that are better at their job.

Go on Youtube. Buy a camper or van. Use the schools gym for showers and bathroom. Everything is keycard now and 24/7. If you were were crafty you could do a 4 year school for $5-8k/yr. A part time server could make that in 3 months. Bartender more.

My oldest will be able to get accepted at ANY major college in the country regardless of grades. Yes it's about the money, but there are alternatives out there is the point that are way cheaper. Might have to alter lifestyle for a few years. I personally feel like on the job training is more valuable than college anyway so tuition doesn't much matter to me as a parent.
179   RWSGFY   2025 Aug 31, 6:58am  

The_Deplorable says


You haven't checked tuition and fees lately, have you?

RWSGFY says

"In a right state you can go to a great public school..."

You need to find the right state for lower tuition and fees? In the 60s and 70s people
used to get a university education with a part-time job. What happened?



What part of "I'm doing it right now while you're bloviating about it theoretically" didn't you get?

I'm starting to suspect you are one of these Indian engagement bots who have no fucking idea how the US works and whose task is doom-peddling.

But I'll give you another chance.
Tell me, what do you mean when you say "70s part-time job" (make it verifiable - I was a child in the 70s and can't verify from experience) and how much do you think a similar part-time job yields now and what location you mean and why going away from home for college is so horrifying to you (while most Americans think it's normal and even desired). And we go from there.

PS. And have no illusion: I did notice the goalposts moved from "100K per year minimum" to "doable with income from a part-time job".
180   RWSGFY   2025 Aug 31, 7:09am  

stereotomy says

Globohomo is trying to do to the US what it did to Mexico beginning in the late 1960's. Mexico was flush with gold and oil, and was encouraged to take out USD denominated loans. Then in the 1970's, when US interest rates went through the roof, Mexico couldn't repay their USD debts, so the raping began.


In what currency does the US borrow now?
181   HeadSet   2025 Aug 31, 2:27pm  

The_Deplorable says

In the 60s and 70s people
used to get a university education with a part-time job. What happened?


College loans. Easy money always runs up costs.

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