I’ve met some very inspiring people in the last two years at work. As a business consultant, my job really is about problem-solving. Whether it’s a manual, team building, marketing strategy to improve visibility and sales, cash flow, debt management, and so forth, I am here to help. When I meet clients who need help with debt management, I ask the following “Let’s say your debt is paid in full by someone today. What would that look like for your business? What would that look like for you?’

You should see their faces. Instantly, years of stress melt away, their faces light up with a smile. Imagine that, all your debts are gone and fully paid in an instant. No more automatic payments every payday, you have extra money to do other things that you’ve been putting off, and you can afford to treat your family at a decent restaurant. You will sleep better at night and have fewer worries in the world. A debt owed must be paid.

The same goes for things. When you borrow something from a relative or friend, make sure you take it back in its original or better condition. Many of us borrow things and then keep forgetting to give them back. Some of us intentionally keep them and claim them as our own. This is not being a good neighbour. The owner trusted us to do the right thing and was willing to lend us their tool. They also trusted us to care for their tool until the day we return it. How many times has someone borrowed something from you and then pretended like nothing happened? Some will avoid seeing you after that.

Fortunately, if you are a business owner, you are bound by a legal agreement and cannot just run away from your debt. The bank has a way of recovering that debt. The action by the bank will depend on the size of the debt. Some companies specialise in debt recovery and will employ a solicitor to take legal action against you if you do not make the proper arrangements. If they take you to court to recover debt, this will hurt your business, reputation, and borrowing chances down the line. It will take months and more money to try and fight this in court. There is no guarantee you will win the case and then you’ll have to pay court fees, your own legal fees and don’t forget the stress that comes with these battles.

There are simple strategies we can use for paying down debt efficiently. Pay the smallest debt first and minimums on all other debt. Then pay extra toward the next largest debt. Make a list of everything you owe, put your debt in order of importance, work out a personal budget, get independent advice, and continuously talk to your creditors. Our culture has a lot of influence on how we deal with debt. From experience, many of the clients I work with, go into avoidance mode once their debt payment falls behind. For example, payments are made regularly in the beginning and once a fa’alavelave comes up, they then delay payment for their loan and give it to the family. They start avoiding communication with the creditors, they stop answering emails and phone calls, and some even lie about their whereabouts. Let me tell you, that this never ends well. The creditor will recover the debt owed through any means necessary. The saddest part is claiming these payments from the people who helped you guarantee that loan. The same people who trusted you to pay off your debt. It all comes down to doing the right thing.

Luckily, our souls have been paid for. We don’t have to pay for eternity. Salvation and redemption are free. They are gifts through grace that we can enjoy while we are on Earth. Forgiveness is free, it’s not easy but we are commanded to be forgiving in our own situations otherwise God won’t forgive us our own sins. Like a debt that has been paid off, our slates become clean once we repent and turn our lives around. While we enjoy another peaceful Sunday Samoa, remember to faithfully pay your debt and don’t avoid the hard stuff. Have an awesome week ahead!