In this video, I’m talking about something I think a lot of people feel but don’t want to say out loud: most folks are pretending they can afford their lifestyle, and the whole thing is being propped up by debt. I share stories of people who are drowning in credit card balances, using buy now pay later, running up car loans, and even leaning on home equity—while on the outside it still looks like life is “normal.” Restaurants are full, new vehicles are everywhere, and social media makes it look like everybody’s doing fine, but the numbers and the stress say otherwise. From my own experience, I’m very much against credit cards because they can turn into a trap fast—one month becomes two, purchases snowball, and then you hit that mindset of “what’s the point, I might as well spend.” I also talk about how even people with excellent credit are defaulting more, which should be a wake-up call for all of us. My takeaway is simple: stop pretending, get honest about your finances, start slashing debt, and lean into frugal living and preparedness. If you’re able to avoid credit cards, do it—and if you’re already in it, make a plan to get out.