Debt sadly has become a part of everyday life for many of us young professionals, whether it’s student loans, credit card debt or car loan debt. It seems we’re caught up in a never ending cycle of paydays, paying our debt, and then slowly going into more debt. What’s even scarier is that we’ve almost accepted this as a new way of life. Debt is common place; everybody has it. Rather than admitting that living in debt is a serious problem to our financial well-being, we seem to have thrown our hands up in the air (like we just don’t care) and have accepted this indebted lifestyle. We are now the AID generation, Always in Debt.

We’re becoming a generation of cash poor, credit rich individuals. If we were asked to pony up and pay for something in cash, we wouldn’t be able to. We’d have to break out our credit cards (assuming they weren’t maxed out) and pay for the good or service on credit. How does this scenario play out in your life? What type of small setbacks really set you back? Could you afford a car repair bill for $1,000? Could you afford the $250 co-pay for a visit to the ER? What about your utility bills? Do you fret over turning the heat up in the winter because you know that an extra $25 on your electric bill would knock you down? How are your credit cards looking? How much of a balance are you carrying? How much of the balance are you able to pay down, any more than the minimum?

It really worries me (and should worry you) that not only are many of us treading water each month, but that it’s getting worse. We’re not reaching out and waving our hands for a lifeguard to save us, and we’re not even trying to tread that much water. Our situation is slowly going from bad to worse.

I think a lot of us give up hope because it’s tough out there. The average college graduate here in the US will graduate with $33K in debt. 36% of graduates will move back home with their parents, unable to pay rent. Finding a job isn’t easy, and finding a good job is much harder. Although it’s from 2013, the Center for College Affordability and Productivity reported that 50% of college grads are forced to work jobs that don’t require a college degree. I hear you, life is tough. Sadly many of us are hanging our heads in defeat, rather than pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, or however that old saying goes.

So, what is the young professional to do? What can they do? It’s not like we can increase our income all that much, and a side hustle would help only marginally. Our budgets (if we even have one) are likely stretched to their breaking point. Debt is often the only answer. I think before we can pull ourselves out of this messy, never ending, always getting worse cycle, we have to have an attitude change. An attitude of No More AID. You’re going to have to commit to getting out of this cycle of always being in debt. You’re going to have to admit to yourself that this is not the life that you want to live, always being indebted to the lender. You’re going to have to visualize a better life for yourself, a life where a small hiccup is just a small hiccup and not a major obstacle.

Admitting that you have a problem (always in debt) is the first step. Committing yourself to changing your situation is the second. These two steps are arguably the most difficult to accomplish. Once you set your mind towards something (debt free, or even debt under control), the rest will fall into place for you. You’ll suddenly find yourself making the tough choices, saying no to purchases or decisions that get in the way of your goal. You’ll be focused on nothing besides the finish line, and you’ll let nothing get in your way.

Are you ready to break free of this vicious debt cycle? Are you ready to come to the end of the month and not be worried about paying your bills? Adopt a mindset of no longer Always being in Debt!