The psychological perks of paying off debt  The strength of mind
to not return to debt The strength of mind to not return to debt
© iofoto/Shutterstock.com  When you pay off a big debt, you
strengthen your resolve to stay financially solvent.  That comes
with one important caveat: Your ability to stay out of debt
likely depends on how you paid off your debt, says Kinney.  If
you worked hard to steadily pay off your debt, you likely have
practiced discipline to keep your finances in check going
forward. "The clients that really push through over a number of
years and a lot of sacrifice kept their debt paid down," Kinney
says. Even though she's now debt-free, Hildebrandt's family has
remained strict with their spending. "We just worked too hard to
go back into debt," she says.  But this resolve may not stick
with you if you paid that hefty tab with a windfall, such as a
bonus or inheritance. "Down the road, (these) people are likely
to go back into debt because they didn't earn the money and they
didn't have an