EXAMPLE+OF+PERSUASIVE+WRITING

Patrice Washington April 19, 2012
 *  Five Things You Can Do to Get __Out of Debt__ (FINAL Draft) **

** Five Things You Can Do to Get Out of Debt ** $12.7 Trilllion. That is how much our nation owes (whitehouse.gov). $1.5 billion. That is how much our state owes (michigan.gov). Being in debt is quickly becoming the end result of pursuing the American Dream for the average individual. The “carry debt” mentality has worked its way down to the individual. Being in debt is a way of life. The norm. Inevitable? Our national, state, and local governments make it seem so. But being in debt comes with some high costs that go far beyond the money that is owed. There is stress involved, the interest often outweighs the amount that is borrowed, and the likelihood of paying it off becomes more and more remote with each passing day. This is a real crisis in the way we live life. There is a way to stop the __credit__ crunch, at least on an individual level, and regain control of your finances. If you start with these five steps you can get on the road to get out of debt.


 * 1) ** Stop __using credit cards__: ** Endoftheamericandream.com reports that “that median household debt in the United States has risen to $75,600.” That debt includes credit cards. The average American with a credit card carries about $16,000 in high __interest credit card__ debt (creditcard.com). Using the credit cards to make purchases cause individuals to spend more money in interest on their purchasing needs. By cancelling the use of credit cards, the money saved in interest can be put toward debt.
 * 2) **Make food at home:** Eating out at restaurants can become expensive. By choosing to make food at home you can save money that can be used to reduce debt. For example if you have a $5 daily lunch habit during your work week and you replace that with leftovers from last night’s dinner you can save $25 a week. That adds up to $1200 per year that can put a dent in the debt you carry.
 * 3) ** Sell stuff: ** Your possessions are a gold mine. You know the old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Selling gently used items is big business for the seller. It has a twofold benefit. First you get rid of junk you don’t need and second you get money for it. Win! Win!
 * 4) ** Live on a Budget. ** Often we waste money on things without even realizing it. It is the idea that we have a hole in our pocket and as soon as we know it, the money has fallen out. To live on a budget does not mean skimp on the things you really need or want. Simply put, it means allocating a reasonable amount of your money to spend on things that are not always the same every month. If you know you want to be able to go out with friends at least once a week you can choose an amount to allocate for it. That way you know exactly how much you have each month.
 * 5) ** Give money away. ** What? Yes that is exactly what I said. If you commit to donate some of your money to charitable organizations/causes that are really important to you as a number one priority, you will find that you spend what is left over more wisely. You will feel better about yourself. You will feel like a better citizen of the world. You will be helping others in need. And in most cases you will get a tax credit for the giving you have done.

Don’t get me wrong, these things alone WILL NOT erase your debt. You will have to use the money you save wisely and actually pay off the debt. One strategy is to pay off the smallest loan first and keep building from there. When you have paid off the smallest loan, you can take the payment you were making on that one and apply it to the next largest. Continue the process and eventually you will have paid off all the debt. It is an uphill process but in the end it will be worth the hard work.

I would like to leave you with a concluding thought. As an individual living in our broken economy, I want our national and local government to do what is best for our country and reduce and ultimately eliminate excessive debt. We have to lead the way as private citizens. When we realize the new American Dream of debt free living, we can put the real pressure on our governments to do the right thing.

Works Cited

"35 Statistics That Show The Average American Family Has Been Broke Down, Tore Down, Beat Down, Busted And Disgusted By This Economy." //The American Dream//. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. .

"Credit Card Statistics, Industry Facts, Debt Statistics." //Credit Cards//. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. .

"Infographic: U.S. National Debt." //The White House//. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. .

"TREASURY - State Debt Management." //SOM//. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. .


 *  Five Things You Can Do to Get Out of Debt (2nd Draft) **

$12.7 Trilllion. That is how much our nation owes (whitehouse.gov). $1.5 billion. That is how much our state owes (michigan.gov). Being in debt is quickly becoming the end result of perusing the American Dream for the average individual. The “carry debt” mentality has worked its way down to the individual. Being in debt is a way of life. The norm. Inevitable? Our national, state, and local governments make it seem so. But being in debt comes with some high costs that go far beyond the money that is owed. There is stress involved, the interest often outweighs the amount that is borrowed, and the likelihood of paying it off becomes more and more remote with each passing day. This is a real crisis in the way we live life. There is a way to stop the credit crunch, at least on an individual level, and regain control of your finances.


 * 1) **Stop using credit cards: ** Endoftheamericandream.com reports that “that median household debt in the United States has risen to $75,600.” That debt includes credit cards. The average American with a credit card carries about $16,000 in high interest credit card debt (creditcard.com). Using the credit cards to make purchases cause individuals to spend more money in interest on their purchasing needs. By cancelling the use of credit cards, the money saved in interest can be put toward debt.
 * 2) **Make food at home: ** Eating out at restaurants can become expensive. By choosing to make food at home you can save money that can be used to reduce debt. For example if you have a $5 daily lunch habit during your work week and you replace that with leftovers from last night’s dinner you can save $25 a week. That adds up to $1200 per year that can put a dent in the debt you carry.
 * 3) **Sell stuff: ** Your possessions are a gold mine. You know the old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Selling gently used items is big business for the seller. It has a twofold benefit. First you get rid of junk you don’t need and second you get money for it. Win! Win!
 * 4) **Live on a Budget. ** Often we waste money on things without even realizing it. It is the idea that we have a hole in our pocket and as soon as we know it the money has fallen out. To live on a budget does not mean skimp on the things you really need or want. Simply put it means allocating a reasonable amount of your money to spend on things that are not always the same every month. If you know you want to be able to go out with friends at least once a week you can choose and amount to allocate for it. That way you know exactly how much you have each month.
 * 5) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Give money away. **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> What? Yes that is exactly what I said. If you commit to donate some of your money to charitable organizations/causes that are really important to you as a number one priority, you will find that you spend what is left over more wisely. You will feel better about yourself. You will feel like a better citizen of the world. You will be helping others in need. And in most cases you will get a tax credit for the giving you have done.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">Works Cited

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> "35 Statistics That Show The Average American Family Has Been Broke Down, Tore Down, Beat Down, Busted And Disgusted By This Economy." //The American Dream//. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. < <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">>.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">"Credit Card Statistics, Industry Facts, Debt Statistics." //Credit Cards//. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. < <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">>.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">"Infographic: U.S. National Debt." //The White House//. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. < <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">>.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">"TREASURY - State Debt Management." //SOM//. Web. 03 Apr. 2012. < <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">>.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">First Draft

<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> **Five Things You Can Do to Get Out of Debt**


 * 1) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Stop using credit cards: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> The average American carries about $16,000 in high interest credit card debt (cite sources). Using the credit cart to make purchases cause individuals to spend anywhere from 9-22% more money in interest on their purchasing needs. By cancelling the use of credit cards, the money saved in interest can be put toward debt.
 * 2) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Make food at home: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Eating out at restaurants can become expensive. By choosing to make food at home you can save up to $250 or more a month (cite). That money can be thrown at debt.
 * 3) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Sell stuff: **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> Your possessions are a gold mine. You know the old saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. Selling gently used items is big business for the seller. It has a twofold benefit. First you get rid of junk you don’t need and second you get money for it. Win! Win!
 * 4) **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Use cash instead of plastic: **


 * <span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;">Give money away. **<span style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 16px;"> What? Yes that is exactly what I said. If you commit to donate some of your money to charitable organizations/causes that are really important to you as a number one priority, you will find that you spend what is left over more wisely. You will feel better about yourself. You will feel like a better citizen of the world. You will be helping others in need. And in most cases you will get a tax credit for the giving you have done.