Debt, Power, and the Illusion of Prosperity

A Thought to Begin With

We are raised to chase freedom, but trained to finance it.

That contradiction lives in nearly every professional you know—disciplined, accomplished, high-achieving—yet still negotiating with stress, spreadsheets, and silent financial strain.

It’s not a mindset problem. It’s structural.

Because the version of prosperity most of us were shown was never real. It was curated. Sold. Optimized for display, not for legacy.

So here’s the question:

What would it look like if we stopped measuring success by what we can finance, and started measuring it by what we actually own?

Let’s explore the system we’ve inherited, the illusion we’ve normalized, and the clarity we need to move forward.

The Real Middle Class Wasn’t Built on Credit

Go back to the 1950s.

The original American middle class had real leverage—wages covered needs, homes were modest, and debt was rare.

Families owned what they lived in. They paid off their cars. They built savings, not image.

There were no credit scores yet. No endless promotions to “buy now, pay later.” Just people living within their means and investing in what they could actually afford.

Security, not optics, was the prize.

The Shift: From Ownership to Optics

Then came the pivot.

In 1958, Bank of America mass-mailed credit cards to residents in Fresno, California. No consent. Just unsolicited access to borrowed money.

And with that, the culture of consumer debt began.

Soon, store cards, charge cards, and revolving credit accounts normalized borrowing for things that used to be considered luxuries: clothing, furniture, dining out.

Debt went from being a risk to being a lifestyle.

Marketing Rewired Our Relationship with Time

As wages stagnated in the 1970s and inflation climbed, banks moved in with the perfect pitch:

“Don’t wait. You deserve it now.”

And with that, we traded patience for payments.
Saving became old-fashioned. Financing became smart.

We weren’t taught to delay gratification. We were taught to upgrade our image.

That conditioning created a dangerous lie:
If you can access it, you must be able to afford it.

But affordability isn’t access.
Affordability is ownership.

Credit Became Identity

By the late ’80s, the FICO score entered the picture.

What you earned no longer mattered as much as how well you serviced debt. Your financial story became a number that followed you everywhere—from job applications to mortgage approvals.

Your credit score decided whether you were granted access to housing, employment, even opportunity itself.

This wasn’t just about finance anymore. It was about identity.

The Debt-Fueled Middle Class

Fast forward to the 2000s. The middle class looks wealthier than ever—but the foundation is paper thin.

College? Student loans.
Cars? Financed for 72 months.
Homes? Mortgaged with zero down.
Daily expenses? Covered by credit cards and payment apps.

You know the look: luxury car, upgraded phone, designer bag.
But behind the curtain, there’s often a 17% interest rate and a calendar full of due dates.

This is the modern illusion of wealth.

Normalize This Instead

We need a culture shift.

In your twenties, you’re not supposed to “look rich.” You’re supposed to plant wealth.

No one tells you this in school, but here it is clearly:

The earlier you invest in assets, the more freedom you buy for your future self.

An entry-level index fund outperforms a BMW.
A down payment on a rental property creates real leverage.
Equity in a business will outperform every fashion trend of the decade.

We need to normalize this.

Because financial peace is not loud.
It’s quiet.
And deeply powerful.

The True Cost of Debt

Debt doesn’t just live on your balance sheet. It seeps into your emotions, your energy, your daily decisions.

It shapes what jobs you accept.
It limits your ability to rest.
It disrupts your sleep, narrows your creativity, and sharpens your anxiety.

You might not even realize it, but you’ve probably said no to something important—an opportunity, a boundary, a personal goal—because of a number you owe someone else.

That’s not freedom. That’s financial captivity in a polished form.

And most people are silently managing it every day.

Debt Is Not a Failure. It’s a Framework

Let’s be clear: having debt is not a moral issue.

Most professionals today were simply handed a system where debt was the entry fee. College. Housing. Transportation. Even medical bills.

It was made to feel normal.
But that doesn’t make it necessary.

Debt is not a failure. It’s a framework.
And frameworks can be redesigned.

What Real Financial Freedom Looks Like

Freedom isn’t being able to swipe a card without worry.
It’s being able to choose without constraint.

It’s turning down a toxic client.
Walking away from a job that exhausts you.
Taking time to pivot without panic.

Wealth is not about optics. It’s about options.

Time to Reflect

“If I had zero debt and no financial pressure, what would I choose differently today?
What would I allow myself to pursue, build, or let go of?”

Write it down. Clarity begins in honesty.

Wake-Up Quiz: Decode the Illusion

1. What drove the creation of the credit-based middle class?

• A. Consumer needs

• B. Corporate profit models

• C. Government regulations

• D. Declining housing costs

2. Why was the FICO score so powerful?

• A. It helped people manage money

• B. It determined your identity and access

• C. It replaced tax documentation

• D. It prevented fraud

3. What’s the hidden cost of debt normalization?

• A. Convenience

• B. Confidence

• C. Chronic stress and limited freedom

• D. Better interest rates

4. Who profits most from the current debt system?

• A. Shoppers

• B. Banks and corporations

• C. Taxpayers

• D. Universities

5. What is one clear path to reclaiming personal power?

• A. Avoiding all spending

• B. Building your credit score

• C. Gaining financial education and strategy

• D. Refinancing your debt again

(Answers at the end.)

Closing Reflection

There’s a difference between income and wealth.
Between appearing successful and being at peace.

In a world that rewards urgency and rewards image, the most radical move you can make is to build your life on clarity, ownership, and long-term thinking.

This isn’t about deprivation. It’s about design.

Because when you own your time, your choices, and your financial reality, then you’re no longer performing prosperity.

You’re actually living it.

Answer Key (Quiz Recap)

1. B — Corporate profit models

2. B — It determined your identity and access

3. C — Chronic stress and limited freedom

4. B — Banks and corporations

5. C — Gaining financial education and strategy

With love & Abundance,
Najma Zanelli
Explore Offerings
Founder, NAZ Global Consultancy
Follow me on IG: @najma_zanelli
Email: [email protected]

Answer Key (Quiz Recap)

1. B — Corporate profit models

2. B — It determined your identity and access

3. C — Chronic stress and limited freedom

4. B — Banks and corporations

5. C — Gaining financial education and strategy