Dear Fighter,

This isn’t just another article on money. This is a heart-to-heart conversation with you — the one feeling overwhelmed, tired, ashamed, stuck in a cycle that never seems to end. Maybe you’ve been smiling on the outside, acting strong for your family, showing up at work, pretending it’s okay. But deep down, you know the truth: Debt has stolen your peace.

I see you. I’ve been you. And I’m telling you today — there is a way out. You don’t have to live the rest of your life in fear, paying EMI after EMI, working endlessly just to survive.

You were not born to be a slave to a system. You were born to live free.

Let me walk you through this — not with judgment, but with compassion. Not from theory, but from experience.

Part 1: The Emotional Weight of Debt — What It Really Steals

Most people talk about debt like it’s just a number. But if you’ve ever lived under the pressure of EMIs, personal loans, credit card dues, or business liabilities, you know it’s far more than that.

Debt steals your sleep. You lie awake at night, wondering how you’ll make it to the next month. You’re constantly calculating, cutting corners, compromising on dreams.

Debt steals your joy. Even if you get a promotion, bonus, or side income, it disappears into the black hole of repayments. The joy of earning vanishes in seconds.

Debt steals your relationships. When financial stress enters a home, love quietly walks out. Arguments increase. Resentment builds. Guilt eats you alive.

Debt steals your self-worth. You begin to feel like a failure. You hide your struggles. You pretend. You isolate. And the shame grows silently.

But worst of all — debt steals your future. It delays your dreams. It kills your creativity. It puts your entire life on hold.

So, let’s stop calling debt a “tool” or a “strategy” — for many, it’s a trap. And it’s time to break free.

Part 2: Why Do We Fall into Debt?

Before we talk solutions, we must understand the root of the problem.

Debt doesn’t just happen. It’s a result of deeper patterns:

1. Lifestyle Inflation

The moment income rises, spending rises even faster. New phone, bigger house, foreign trip. Why? Because we equate success with things — not peace.

2. Lack of Financial Education

We were taught algebra and trigonometry, but not budgeting or compound interest. No one told us that credit cards, EMIs, and personal loans are designed to keep us working for the bank.

3. Comparison Culture

Social media shows us a filtered life. Someone’s new car, someone’s Bali vacation, someone’s iPhone. So we borrow to “keep up” — forgetting their life isn’t ours.

4. Emotional Spending

Many spend to feel better. To escape pain. To reward ourselves. To fill a void. But buying peace with borrowed money only leads to more emptiness.

5. Poor Planning

Emergencies come. Health issues come. Job losses happen. But without an emergency fund, we’re forced to borrow — and the cycle begins.

Part 3: The Path to Freedom — How to Get Out of Debt

Now, take a deep breath. I’m not here to make you feel worse. I’m here to remind you that you can change this story.

No matter how deep your debt is — you can rise. But not through shortcuts. Through consistent, courageous, committed action.

Here’s how:

1. Face the Truth Brutally

Make a list of every debt you owe — how much, to whom, the interest rate, and monthly payment. Don’t avoid this. Avoidance is what got you here. Clarity is the first step to power.

Once it’s written down, you can begin taking control.

2. Stop Taking More Loans — Completely

No more top-ups. No more credit cards. No more “only this time.” Draw a line in the sand.

Borrowing to pay back other borrowings is like digging a deeper hole hoping to get out. Stop the bleeding. Cancel or hide your cards if needed.

3. Create a War Budget

This is not a normal budget. This is a debt-killer plan.

List your income.
List your survival expenses (food, rent, utilities).
Cut everything else.

No eating out. No shopping. No subscriptions. No indulgences — until you are free.

Channel every extra rupee to repay your debt. You will feel the pain — but it is temporary. The peace that follows will last a lifetime.

4. Start with the Smallest or Highest Interest Loan

Two strategies work:

• Snowball Method: Pay off the smallest debt first. Builds momentum.
• Avalanche Method: Pay off the highest interest loan first. Saves money long-term.

Pick one. Stick to it. Don’t stop until it’s done.

5. Increase Your Income

Cutting expenses is good — but you can only cut so much. Your income has no limit.

Can you:

• Freelance your skills?
• Teach something online?
• Sell products locally?
• Work weekends?

Use this extra income only for debt repayment. Not for lifestyle upgrades.

6. Build an Emergency Fund — Even While in Debt

Set aside a small buffer — ₹10,000 to ₹25,000 — so you don’t go back into debt during emergencies. This is your shield, your backup oxygen.

Don’t skip this step.

7. Replace Shame with Responsibility

Shame keeps you stuck. It tells you “you’re a failure.”

But you’re not. You’re just someone who made choices — and now, you’re making better ones.

Take ownership. Talk to your spouse. Be honest with your family. Ask for support. Own your story — and write a better ending.

Part 4: Staying Out of Debt — How to Live Debt-Free Forever

Once you’re out, don’t go back. Build new mindsets, habits, and boundaries that protect your freedom.

1. Build a Monthly Budget — and Stick to It

Give every rupee a name. Decide where your money goes before the month begins. Budgeting is not restriction. It’s permission to spend without guilt.

2. Pay Yourself First

Before you spend on anything else — save and invest a portion of your income. Build an emergency fund. Start SIPs. Create future buffers.

3. Buy Only What You Can Afford in Cash

If you can’t buy it in cash, you can’t afford it. Don’t let “zero interest EMI” fool you. If it’s not urgent or necessary — wait.

Delayed gratification builds wealth. Impulsive gratification builds debt.

4. Live Below Your Means

Just because you earn more doesn’t mean you should spend more. Drive a humble car. Live in a modest home. Be frugal. Not cheap — wise.

Let your money serve your goals — not your ego.

5. Educate Yourself and Your Family

Read books. Watch financial videos. Teach your children. Break the generational cycle of debt.

Make financial freedom your family culture.

6. Have a “Why” Bigger Than Stuff

Materialism will always tempt you. Ads will always lie. Trends will always change.

But your vision — freedom, impact, peace — must be stronger.

Ask yourself before any big purchase: Does this serve my mission? Or does it delay it?

Final Words: From Debt to Destiny

My dear friend,

Debt does not define you. It is a chapter — not your story.

You are not weak. You are not irresponsible. You are human. But now, you’re a human who is waking up, taking charge, and choosing freedom.

The path won’t be easy. There will be days you want to give up. But on those days, remember why you started: to sleep peacefully, love freely, give generously, and live fully.

You don’t have to stay in the prison.

You can walk out — step by step, day by day.

And I promise you — on the other side of debt is a life you’ve been dreaming of.

Let’s go claim it.

With belief in your freedom,
Your Mentor

Vikas Agrawal