Quote Originally Posted by Jhox View Post
Actually there are several instances where debt wins.

Let's say you are retired and to get that $50k trike, you have to withdraw from your IRA. Now you have an income tax liability that you would not have if you financed at, with today's rates, probably 5% or less.

Or you take the money from your after-tax account, which could mean selling stocks at a loss (not good), at a profit and now capital gains taxable, and lost opportunity for further growth.

Every single mutual fund or stock I have has grown over 15% just this year. And with good credit, most would be more than "living within their means" if they chose to finance, which I would.

Not everyone's circumstances are the same.
Yeah, I'm aware of all the could haves/should haves/could dos... When I was in business school, and also working full time, I took out $15K in a student loan, put 100% of it in the stock market, and paid it off completely, with plenty left over, before the first payment was due. There was a bit of risk, but it was interest free money until I graduated, so I rolled the dice.

I realize everyone's circumstances are different, but the OP mentioned still owing for "a good 2 years" on the bike he owns now, and I'm pretty sure that is not due to participation in any of the scenarios you laid out. Some people don't mind always being in debt; I'm not one of them. When I first met my wife, she was in a lease vehicle. And yes, I know how that can be advantageous for some, but when I asked her why she did that, she said she just likes to get a new car every three years. I asked her if she likes being a modern day sharecropper, and one lease cycle later, she wised up and actually bought a car. With a loan, of course, but a loan that she paid off and then owned the car for another 5 years.

Anyway, I hope the OP gets what he wants, and by however he needs to; I was just proposing an alternative.