Debt isn't purely good or bad, it is just another financial instrument. If used wisely, debt is a very powerful way of getting ahead financially. For example, the average person is likely never going to be able to save enough money to pay cash up front on a house, but they can very well pay it off while living in it. However, taking on a house payment you cannot afford is obviously bad. Likewise, using a credit card and paying it off every month is a smart thing to do, but carrying over balance is not. So, like everything else, there's a balance.