How to Use Debt to Build Wealth (2024)

How to Use Debt to Build Wealth (1)

Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not receive direct compensation from advertisers or partners. Read more about our Editorial Guidelines and How We Make Money.

Taking on new debt is not always so bad. Sometimes it makes sense to borrow money with a promise to repay the debt, particularly if you’re pursuing financial freedom.Borrowing money can be good if you use the money in ways that allow you to build wealth. Conversely, borrowing money can be bad if it depletes your finances and traps you in debt. Below we highlight different types of debt and explain how to leverage debt to build wealth.

Can You Build Wealth With Debt?

In some cases, you can build wealth with debt. Most home buyers, for example, go into debt to purchase their home. A 2022 survey by the National Association of REALTORS® found 78% of recent buyers financed their home purchase. Property values tend to appreciate over time, so homeownership can typically generate new wealth.Is student loan debt good or bad? Students often borrow money to go to college, but the return on investing in college appears to be “quite high,” according to a March 2023 analysis published by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.Going into debt to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher can help you build wealth over time. All borrowers, however, may not necessarily experience the same outcomes.According to racial wealth gap data, Black borrowers accumulate more student debt and have a harder time paying it off than white borrowers on average. There are some strategies on how to use debt to get rich, but using debt to make money may not work for everyone.

Understanding the Different Types of Debt

Understanding different types of debt can help consumers decide whether it makes sense to borrow new money. Debt can be good or bad depending on several factors, and some of these debts can be classified as efficient or inefficient.As mentioned earlier, borrowing money can be good if you use the money in ways that allow you to build new wealth. Taking out a home loan to purchase a house, for example, can be a good and efficient form of debt. Residential property tends to appreciate in value over time, and that’s one of the reasons why home loans are a good and efficient form of debt.Bad debt, meanwhile, is when you borrow money on terms and conditions that deplete your finances. Borrowing money and struggling to make repayments is a bad form of debt that may leave you trapped in a debt cycle.Home loans tend to be good and efficient, but mortgages can be bad if you cannot afford to make monthly payments on the loan. Auto loans can be good and inefficient, because cars tend to depreciate in value but can help commuters get to work. One of the ways on how to leverage debt to build wealth is buying a reliable car with an auto loan and using that car for work purposes.Borrowing money to buy an appreciable asset is efficient debt, while borrowing money to buy a depreciating asset is inefficient debt. These debts can be good or bad, depending on your debt tolerance. Efficient and inefficient debts, for example, are good if they help you grow wealth and bad if you cannot afford their financial burden. Some of the top personal finance influencers on YouTube talk about how to build wealth.

What Is Good Debt?

Good debt is when you borrow money to meet your goals while having the capacity to afford the financial obligations. Good debt can help you buy a home. It can also help you further your education.Having access to credit is generally important for consumers and businesses. A good debt is manageable and can help you build wealth.

Getting Good Debt

Getting good debt can help you build wealth. Mortgage loans, for example, can help you buy real estate, and acquiring equity in residential or investment property can bolster your net worth. Using debt to build wealth is possible, and any debt that improves your financial outlook is a good debt.

What Is Bad Debt?

Bad debt is when you borrow money that doesn’t help you realize your goals. Bad debt — including gambling debt — can deplete your finances and make it harder for you to achieve financial freedom. Borrowing money that you cannot afford is an example of bad debt.Bad debts can be difficult to manage and may pose a negative impact on your credit score. Carrying large credit card balances across multiple billing cycles, for example, can hurt your credit score and subject you to high interest charges. Even carrying a small balance on your credit card may not be right for you if you’re able to avoid paying interest by paying your statement balance in full each billing cycle.

Removing Bad Debt

Removing bad debt can help you improve your financial outlook. As mentioned earlier, bad debt can deplete your finances and make it harder for you to achieve financial freedom. You can improve your debt-to-income ratio by removing bad debt. Using debt to build wealth can be difficult if you’re drowning in bad debt.

Are Personal Loans Considered Good Debt?

Personal loan debt is considered good if it helps you meet your goals. Conversely, personal loan debt can be bad if you cannot afford the monthly payment.You can use personal loans for a variety of purposes, including the following:
  • Debt consolidation
  • Buying a laptop computer
  • Remodeling your living room
  • Remodeling your bathroom
  • Financing other home improvement projects
Getting a personal loan to pay down credit card debt can be good for your wallet. Personal loan debt, however, is bad if it depletes your finances and serves no purpose to advance your goals.You may consider paying off your loan early if you carry bad personal loan debt, because prepaying can minimize your interest costs. Some lenders may charge a prepayment penalty, so you may want to check your loan agreement to see whether it includes prepayment penalties.In terms of how to use debt to build wealth, homeowners can use a personal loan to pay for home improvement projects that promote the fair market value of their properties.

How To Use Debt to Build Wealth

Using debt to make money can be as simple as borrowing money to buy a home or other appreciable assets. Real estate investors, for example, may use hard money personal loans to flip a house for a profit as outlined below:

1. Consider Hard Money Loans

Real estate investors may apply for hard money loans to finance the purchase of rundown properties. Hard money loans are secured lending products from nonbank lenders that typically finance the purchase of real estate and may have short repayment terms.

2. Improve Fixer-Upper Properties

Real estate investors may use hard money loans to improve fixer-upper properties with any necessary repairs and renovations. The repairs can improve the structural integrity of the home, and renovations may beautify the building and grounds.

3. Flip the Properties

Real estate investors who improve rundown properties may consider selling those properties for a profit. There’s no guarantee you’ll make a profit, so the fix-and-flip strategy may not be right for you if you have low debt tolerance or low risk tolerance. How to use debt to get rich doesn’t necessarily require the use of a hard money loan.

Debt Tolerance

Debt tolerance is your ability to absorb new financial obligations. Consumers with high debt-to-income ratios may have zero tolerance for taking on new debt. As mentioned earlier, carrying bad debt can be difficult to manage and may have a negative impact on your credit score. Borrowing money doesn’t make sense if you cannot tolerate the debt.

5 Ways You Can Use Personal Loan Debt To Build Wealth

Here are five ways you may use personal loan debt to build wealth:

1. Home Improvements

Personal loans can provide you with financing to make home improvements. Homeownership is a source of wealth. Using a loan with no collateral needed to improve your home can bolster its value and may allow you to sell it for a higher price.

2. House Flipping

As mentioned earlier, investors can use hard money personal loans to buy residential property and resell it quickly for a profit. This house-flipping strategy is risky, but it may help investors build wealth if they know what they are doing. Borrowing money to maintain a profitable fix-and-flip venture is one of the ways of how to use debt to build wealth.

3. Start a Business

Personal loans can provide individuals with financing to start a business. Successful businesses can generate wealth, but aspiring entrepreneurs may not qualify for traditional business loans until running the business for at least six months. That’s where personal loans can come in handy to help aspiring borrowers pursue their dreams.It’s important to note, however, that some personal loan lenders do not allow borrowers to use the funds for business expenses. Lenders may impose different restrictions across their consumer lending products. You can check with lenders and ask whether their personal loans have any restrictions on business use.

4. Cash-flow Management

Using cash-flow management to monitor your income and avoid missed payments can build wealth. You could manage your cash flow in a way to pay off loan obligations early, which can move you closer to financial freedom.

5. Debt Consolidation

One of the reasons you might apply for a personal loan is debt consolidation. Consumers with high credit card revolving balances, for example, may consolidate and replace those debts with a more affordable personal loan. This can help you build wealth by minimizing interest charges.

Comparing Personal Loan Rates

Going into debt is not always a bad decision. Borrowing money to advance your goals is an investment strategy that can help you grow your net worth. Having access to credit may present you with opportunities to build wealth and achieve financial freedom.If you need funding, Lantern by SoFi can help you find competitive personal loan offers. Just provide basic information about yourself and the loan you need, and Lantern can guide you in the process to apply for a personal loan with the lender of your choice.Simplify searching for personal loans and find prequalified offers using Lantern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you build wealth with debt?

How does debt help to generate wealth?

How do millionaires use debt?

Is it better to build wealth or pay off debt?

Photo credit: iStock/Ridofranz

LCPL0423003

About the Author

How to Use Debt to Build Wealth (3)

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman writes about personal loans, auto loans, student loans, and other personal finance topics for Lantern. He’s the recipient of more than 10 journalism awards and served as a New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists board member. An alumnus of the Philadelphia-based Temple University, Abdur-Rahman is a strong advocate of the First Amendment and freedom of speech.

How to Use Debt to Build Wealth (2024)

FAQs

How to Use Debt to Build Wealth? ›

One way to do this involves using a lump sum – possibly received from a bonus or an inheritance – to pay off your inefficient debt. If you then borrow the same amount and invest it, you're essentially replacing the inefficient debt with a debt that is tax-deductable and could potentially generate wealth.

How do millionaires use debt? ›

How do rich people make money with debt? Rich individuals profit from debt by leveraging debt to invest in assets that provide income or grow in value. For instance, people could utilize debt to acquire real estate, invest in stocks or bonds, or launch a business.

How to borrow money to build wealth? ›

Personal loans can also be used to build wealth by making renovations or improvements to a property that increases its value. Using a personal loan for home improvement gives you fast access to cash without tying up your home's equity. Some lenders offer repayment terms as long as 144 months for home improvement loans.

Is it better to build wealth or pay off debt? ›

If the interest rate on your debt is 6% or greater, you should generally pay down debt before investing additional dollars toward retirement. This guideline assumes that you've already put away some emergency savings, you've fully captured any employer match, and you've paid off any credit card debt.

Do millionaires pay off debt or invest? ›

Millionaires usually avoid the following: High-interest debt: Millionaires typically steer clear of high-interest consumer debt, like credit card debt, that offers no return or tax benefits. Neglect diversification: They don't put all their eggs in one basket but diversify investments to mitigate risks.

How to become rich with debt? ›

Here are the steps to use debt to your advantage to build wealth.
  1. Build your credit. ...
  2. Aim for low interest rates. ...
  3. Invest in your education. ...
  4. Take on a home mortgage. ...
  5. Invest in high-yield assets. ...
  6. Start or grow a business. ...
  7. Take advantage of tax deductions.
Aug 22, 2023

How does Robert Kiyosaki use debt to build wealth? ›

His approach involves using debt strategically to enhance wealth. Kiyosaki categorizes debt into good debt and bad debt, with good debt being that which helps build wealth, such as loans used for acquiring income-generating assets like real estate, businesses or investments​​.

What is the 50 30 20 rule? ›

The 50-30-20 rule recommends putting 50% of your money toward needs, 30% toward wants, and 20% toward savings. The savings category also includes money you will need to realize your future goals. Let's take a closer look at each category.

Is 5000 debt a lot? ›

$5,000 in credit card debt can be quite costly in the long run. That's especially the case if you only make minimum payments each month. However, you don't have to accept decades of credit card debt.

What debt helps build wealth? ›

Good debt includes loans – like mortgages, student loans and small business loans – that enable you to purchase an asset with the potential to gain value over time. (In the case of student loans, you're gaining access to a career that will likely afford you higher potential earnings.)

Do 90% of millionaires make over 100k a year? ›

Ninety-three percent of millionaires said they got their wealth because they worked hard, not because they had big salaries. Only 31% averaged $100,000 a year over the course of their career, and one-third never made six figures in any single working year of their career.

What is a silent millionaire? ›

The people who have all the money often go by unnoticed, dressing well, but without flash, driving used cars and living in the first house they bought in a modest neighbourhood. The authors called them the quiet millionaires. They often work in, or own, unglamourous businesses that spin off steady streams of cash.

How do billionaires use debt to avoid taxes? ›

Billionaires (usually) don't sell valuable stock. So how do they afford the daily expenses of life, whether it's a new pleasure boat or a social media company? They borrow against their stock. This revolving door of credit allows them to buy what they want without incurring a capital gains tax.

How do rich people use debt to avoid taxes? ›

Wealthy family borrows against its assets' growing value and uses the newly available cash to live off or invest in other assets, like rental properties. The family does NOT owe taxes on its asset-leveraged loans because the government doesn't tax borrowed money.

Why do billionaires like debt? ›

Rich people use debt to multiply returns on their capital through low interest loans and expanding their control of assets.

How do the rich use credit cards? ›

Millionaires earn valuable rewards by using credit cards, from paying for groceries to buying clothing. For example, some cards offer 5% cash back on certain purchases, or you could earn points or airline miles that can be redeemed for gift cards or travel.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Roderick King

Last Updated:

Views: 6217

Rating: 4 / 5 (71 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Roderick King

Birthday: 1997-10-09

Address: 3782 Madge Knoll, East Dudley, MA 63913

Phone: +2521695290067

Job: Customer Sales Coordinator

Hobby: Gunsmithing, Embroidery, Parkour, Kitesurfing, Rock climbing, Sand art, Beekeeping

Introduction: My name is Roderick King, I am a cute, splendid, excited, perfect, gentle, funny, vivacious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.