For years, I was buried in credit card debt and worn down from the stress.
I kept thinking I had it handled, paying the minimum, acting like I was fine, and convincing myself things would work out eventually.
But I wasn’t fine. I was broke, constantly stressed, and running in circles. Now that I’m on the other side of it, I see how my thinking kept me stuck.
Here are six lies I told myself about credit card debt that kept me broke, stressed out, and spinning my wheels.
1. “It’s fine if I only pay the minimum.”
This one got me the worst. For years, I thought making the minimum payment was enough to stay afloat.
And technically, it was. But in reality, all I was doing was treading water while the interest piled up.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau puts it plainly: “If you make only the minimum payment, it could take years to pay off your credit card balance.”
I used to ignore that kind of warning, but once I did the math on how long it would take and how much extra I’d pay in interest, I was stunned.
2. “I need to use credit cards to build my credit.”
There’s some truth here, but I twisted it into a justification for reckless spending. Using a credit card responsibly can help build your credit, yes.
But maxing out cards, carrying high balances, and missing payments will do the opposite.
A better approach? Using a card for small, budgeted purchases and paying it off in full each month.
It builds credit without the interest or stress. I wish I had learned that earlier.
3. “Everyone has credit card debt.”
This was my favorite excuse. It made me feel better about my situation, but it also kept me stuck. I convinced myself I was just like everyone else, normal. But “normal” doesn’t mean healthy.
The Federal Reserve’s data show that while roughly half of U.S. households carry credit‑card debt, the other half report no outstanding card balance.
I had surrounded myself with people in the same financial mess, which made it easy to ignore how bad things were.
4. “I deserve this.”
This one hit me emotionally. After a long week at work or a tough personal moment, I would swipe my card and tell myself, “I deserve it.”
A steakhouse dinner, a new pair of sneakers, maybe tickets to a game. I told myself I was earning it with every hard week or trying to buy a break from the stress.
But what I really deserved was peace of mind, a savings account, and a life that didn’t revolve around anxiety over the next statement balance.
My short-term spending relief created long-term stress.
5. “Debt is just a part of life.”
I used to think debt was something you just accepted, like taxes or laundry. But it doesn’t have to be.
There are people out there living completely debt-free, and not just because they make six figures.
It took me years to realize that being debt-free is a lifestyle choice and often a mindset shift.
I had to unlearn what I thought was “normal” and stop accepting debt as a permanent fixture in my life.
6. “I’ll pay it off when I make more money.”
I told myself this so many times. “Next raise, next promotion, next tax return. That’s when I’ll pay off my cards.”
But here’s what really happened: every time I earned more, I spent more.
Without a plan, the extra money disappeared as fast as it came. Lifestyle creep is real, and it eats up your future before you know it.
The turning point came when I started treating debt payoff like an emergency, not something I could delay until my income improved.
What Helped Me Turn Things Around
Getting out of credit card debt didn’t happen overnight. I started by tracking every dollar, making more than the minimum payments, and freezing my cards (literally putting them in the freezer for a while).
I also picked up a second job temporarily and put every extra dollar toward the highest-interest card first.
I followed the debt avalanche method, which focuses on paying off the card with the highest interest rate first while making minimum payments on the rest. It saved me more money in the long run.
Most importantly, I stopped believing these lies. That mindset shift was the first domino.
Final Thoughts
Credit card debt is exhausting. It drains your bank account, your energy, and your ability to plan for the future.
But it doesn’t have to be forever. I believed a lot of things that weren’t true, and they cost me. If you’re feeling stuck, know that it’s not about shame. it’s about awareness and action.
Once I started questioning what I believed about debt, everything began to change.
And the peace that comes from not fearing your mailbox or email notifications? That’s something you really do deserve.