All debts are off

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It is important to discuss personal values early in a relationship.

One thing was clear on my first date with Mia - we both value time.

This meant that we were almost perfectly aligned on how we view debt - we resist it fiercely.

Debt is the obligation to pay back money that you don't currently have, in the future. It is a commitment made on your future time. Debt usually involves interest, and the compounding over time can become complex, and costly.

One thing is clear about the future - it is unclear. You can lose your source of income, you might no longer value the thing you are making an obligation for, you might want to move home, and change your lifestyle.

A decision to be in debt places a limitation on our ability to adapt in uncertain times, and limits the control we have over our present.

Control and adaptability are two of the things Mia and I also value.

Debt to some people means leverage, and it can make sense for businesses that use it to invest in revenue generating activities.

Everyone has their own philosophy when it comes to money, and that is okay. Debt just isn't for me.