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  •  How Debt Can Trap You (Real Stories) 🪤📉

    Debt doesn’t become dangerous overnight. It starts small — a credit card swipe here, an EMI there — and before you know it, you’re stuck in a cycle. These real-life inspired stories are not to scare you, but to show that awareness is your best shield.

    • 🔹 Reema’s Shopping Spiral

      Reema, a schoolteacher from Jaipur, started using her credit card for small online purchases. Over time, she began paying only the minimum due. In 2 years, her ₹20,000 balance became ₹58,000 because of high interest rates.

      💬 “I wasn’t spending on big things, just regular stuff. But I never realized how quickly it added up.”

      Reema eventually took a personal loan to pay off the card and stopped using credit until she felt confident again.

    • 🔹 Maria's EMI Overload

      Maria and her husband bought a bike, TV, fridge, and even a sofa on EMI — all within a year. Their EMI outgo became 65% of their monthly income. When her husband lost his job during the pandemic, they struggled to even pay rent.

      💬 “We didn’t realize how tightly we had tied ourselves down. Even ₹500 became hard to manage.”

      They sold off items, downsized their lifestyle, and now follow a strict 30% EMI rule.

    • 🔹 What We Can Learn

      • 📉 Debt grows faster than you think, especially with credit cards
      • 📆 Missing even 1 EMI can impact your credit score and peace of mind
      • 🎯 Take loans only for things that give long-term value — not short-term pleasure
      • ✅ Always have an emergency fund — it protects you when income stops

      🌸 Final Thought

      The goal is not to fear loans — it’s to respect them. Let your needs, not your wants, guide your borrowing. Be honest, be smart, and always leave room in your budget for life’s surprises.