5 Debt Habits That Keep Veterans Stuck—and How to Break Free

By Prince Gandomessi

Let’s skip the fluff.

Debt happens. It’s common. But staying stuck in it doesn’t have to be.

Veterans and military families often fall into the same patterns—not because they don’t care, but because no one showed them a better way.

Here are 5 of the most common debt habits keeping people stuck—and what you can do to shift out of them.

Habit #1: Looking away

Debt is scary. But pretending it doesn’t exist only makes it grow.

Break it: Sit down. List out every debt. Don’t judge it—just see it. This is where change begins.

Habit #2: Overspending in silence

You don’t have to explain every purchase—but hiding spending from your partner creates mistrust fast.

Break it: Be honest about what you’re spending and why. Create a shared plan so you’re both rowing in the same direction.

Habit #3: Living with no plan

Winging it month to month leads to one thing: deeper debt.

Break it: Create a realistic monthly spending plan. One that includes both essentials and room for joy.

Habit #4: Fighting about money instead of talking about it

Disagreements are normal. But repeated blowups around money signal a deeper issue.

Break it: Set a calm, regular time to talk about finances. Make it a check-in, not a battleground.

Habit #5: Trying to “fix it” before asking for help

Veterans are trained to be self-sufficient. But that doesn’t mean you have to do this alone.

Break it: Ask for guidance. Not from people who’ll judge you—but from those who listen and help build a plan that fits your life.

Better habits lead to better outcomes.

No guilt. No shame. Just new choices that lead to a new story.

Ready to build the habits that get you out of debt—for good? We’re ready to walk with you.

Let’s talk.