Debtors Anonymous (DA) is a twelve-step program for people who want to stop incurring unsecured debt. Collectively they attend more than 500 weekly meetings in nine countries. Those who compulsively incur unsecured debt are said to be engaged in compulsive debting and are known as compulsive debtors.
DA encourages careful record keeping and monitoring of finances—including purchases, income, and debt payments—to get a clear picture of spending habits. This information is used to develop healthier spending practices, supporting one in keeping a reasonable quality of life while still repaying debt. Similarly, DA recommends developing plans for the future to increase income.
DA's program is intended to facilitate a progressive personality change in its members, ultimately transforming their world views and changing their behaviors. Many DA members only partially accept the ideology of the organization. Parts of DA's program, such as stigmatizing labels used to describe members, may actually hinder acceptance of DA's ideology.
Read more about Debtors Anonymous: Development, Membership, Concepts, Changes in World View, Parallel Organizations
Famous quotes containing the words debtors and/or anonymous:
“Forgetfulness. A gift of God bestowed upon debtors in compensation for their destitution of conscience.”
—Ambrose Bierce (1842–1914)
“I would rather have as my patron a host of anonymous citizens digging into their own pockets for the price of a book or a magazine than a small body of enlightened and responsible men administering public funds. I would rather chance my personal vision of truth striking home here and there in the chaos of publication that exists than attempt to filter it through a few sets of official, honorably public-spirited scruples.”
—John Updike (b. 1932)