The Difference Between Good and Bad Debt Sometimes debt can give you a financial edge -- but you need to use it wisely.

I don't like debt. For nearly a decade, I've written about personal finances, both my own and those of others. And too many times I've seen how debt can act like a cancer, draining life from healthy bank accounts.

That said, debt can sometimes be used for good. It's OK to take on reasonable debt to pay for the few things that are likely to hold or even increase their value: an affordable mortgage (the key word being affordable), student loans or financing for a business.