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Guide to Using Debt to Make Money

Using Debt to Build Wealth: Everything You Need to Know
Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman
Sulaiman Abdur-RahmanUpdated June 30, 2025
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Editor’s note: Lantern by SoFi seeks to provide content that is objective, independent, and accurate. Writers are separate from our business operation and do not receive direct compensation from advertisers or network providers. Read more about our Editorial Guidelines and How We Make Money.
Taking on new debt is not always a mistake. Sometimes it makes sense to borrow money with a promise to repay the debt if it’s part of a plan to pursue financial freedom.Borrowing money can be a positive if you use the money in ways that allow you to build wealth. Conversely, borrowing money can be a negative if it depletes your finances and traps you in deeper debt. Below, we highlight different types of debt and explain how it’s possible to leverage debt to build wealth.

Can You Build Wealth With Debt?

In some cases, you can build wealth with debt. Most home buyers, for example, go into debt to purchase their homes. A survey by the National Association of REALTORS® found 78% of recent buyers financed their home purchase. Property values tend to appreciate over time, so homeownership can typically generate new wealth.When it comes to education, students often borrow money to go to college, but the return on investing in college appears to be “quite high,” according to an analysis published by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Going into debt to obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher can help you build wealth over time.All borrowers, however, may not necessarily experience the same outcomes. According to racial wealth data, Black borrowers accumulate more student debt and have a harder time paying it off than white borrowers on average. There are some strategies on how to use debt to get rich, but using debt to make money may not work for everyone.

Understanding the Different Types of Debt

Understanding different types of debt can help consumers decide whether it makes sense to borrow new money. Debt can be good or bad depending on several factors, and some of these debts can be classified as efficient or inefficient.Borrowing money can be good if you use the money in ways that allow you to build new wealth. Taking out a home loan to purchase a house, for example, can be a good and efficient form of debt. Residential property tends to appreciate in value over time, and that’s one of the reasons why home loans are a good and efficient form of debt.Bad debt, meanwhile, is when you borrow money on terms and conditions that deplete your finances. Borrowing money and struggling to make repayments is a bad form of debt that may leave you trapped in a debt cycle.Home loans tend to be positive and efficient, but mortgages can be bad if you cannot afford to make the monthly payments on the loan. Auto loans can be positive and inefficient, because cars tend to depreciate in value. Borrowing money to buy an appreciable asset is efficient debt, while borrowing money to buy a depreciating asset is inefficient debt. These debts can be good or bad, depending on your debt tolerance. Efficient and inefficient debts, for example, are good if they help you grow wealth and bad if you cannot afford their financial burden.  

What Is Good Debt?

Good debt is when you borrow money to meet your goals while having the capacity to afford the financial obligations. Good debt can help you buy a home. It can also help you further your education.Having access to credit is generally important for consumers and businesses. A good debt is manageable and can help you build wealth.

Getting Good Debt

Getting good debt can help you build wealth. Mortgage loans, for example, can help you buy real estate, and acquiring equity in residential or investment property can bolster your net worth. Using debt to build wealth is possible, and any debt that improves your financial outlook is a good debt.

What Is Bad Debt?

Bad debt is when you borrow money that doesn’t help you realize your goals. Bad debt — such as gambling debt — can deplete your finances and make it harder for you to achieve financial freedom. Borrowing money that you cannot afford is an example of bad debt.Bad debts can be difficult to manage and hurt your credit score. Carrying large credit card balances across multiple billing cycles, for example, can hurt your credit score and subject you to high interest charges. Even carrying a small balance on your credit card may not be right for you if you’re able to avoid paying interest by paying your statement balance in full each billing cycle.

Removing Bad Debt

Removing bad debt can help you improve your financial outlook and improve your debt-to-income ratio. Using debt to build wealth can be difficult if you’re drowning in bad debt.

Are Personal Loans Considered Good Debt?

Personal loan debt is considered good if it helps you meet your goals. Conversely, personal loan debt can be bad if you cannot afford the monthly payment.You can use personal loans for a variety of purposes, including the following:You may consider paying off your loan early if you carry bad personal loan debt, because prepaying can minimize your interest costs. Some lenders may charge a prepayment penalty, so you may want to check your loan agreement to see whether it includes prepayment penalties.In terms of how to use debt to build wealth, homeowners can use a personal loan to pay for home improvement projects that promote the fair market value of their properties.

How to Use Debt to Build Wealth

Using debt to make money can be as simple as borrowing money to buy a home or other appreciable assets.  

1. Consider Hard Money Loans

Real estate investors may apply for hard money loans to finance the purchase of rundown properties. Hard money loans are secured lending products from nonbank lenders that typically finance the purchase of real estate and may have short repayment terms.

2. Improve Fixer-Upper Properties

Real estate investors may use hard money loans to improve fixer-upper properties with any necessary repairs and renovations. The repairs can improve the structural integrity of the home, and renovations may beautify the building and grounds.

3. Flip the Properties

Real estate investors who improve rundown properties may consider selling those properties for a profit. There’s no guarantee you’ll make a profit, so the fix-and-flip strategy may not be right for you if you have low debt tolerance or low risk tolerance. How to use debt to get rich doesn’t necessarily require the use of a hard money loan.

Debt Tolerance

Debt tolerance is your ability to absorb new financial obligations. Consumers with high debt-to-income ratios may have zero tolerance for taking on new debt. As mentioned earlier, carrying bad debt can be difficult to manage and may have a negative impact on your credit score. Borrowing money doesn’t make sense if you cannot tolerate the debt.

5 Ways You Can Use Personal Loan Debt To Build Wealth

Here are five ways you may use personal loan debt to build wealth:

1. Home Improvements

Personal loans can provide you with financing to make home improvements. Homeownership is a source of wealth. Using a loan with no collateral needed to improve your home can bolster its value and may allow you to sell it for a higher price.

2. House Flipping

As mentioned earlier, investors can use hard money personal loans to buy residential property and resell it quickly for a profit. This house-flipping strategy is risky, but it may help investors build wealth if they know what they are doing. Borrowing money to maintain a profitable fix-and-flip venture is one of the ways of how to use debt to build wealth.

3. Start a Business

Personal loans can provide individuals with financing to help start a business. Successful businesses can generate wealth, but aspiring entrepreneurs may not qualify for traditional business loans until they have run the business for at least a year.  It’s very important to note, however, that some personal loan lenders do not allow borrowers to use the funds for business purposes. Lenders may impose different restrictions across their consumer lending products. Check with lenders and ask whether their personal loans have any restrictions on business use.

4. Cash-flow Management

Using cash-flow management to monitor your income and avoid missed payments can build wealth. You could manage your cash flow in a way to pay off loan obligations early, which can move you closer to financial freedom.

5. Debt Consolidation

One of the reasons you might apply for a personal loan is debt consolidation. Consumers with high credit card revolving balances, for example, may consolidate and replace those debts with a more affordable personal loan. This can help you build wealth by minimizing interest charges.

The Takeaway

Going into debt is not always a bad decision. But you need a smart strategy that takes into account your finances and risk appetite. Borrowing money to advance your goals is an investment strategy that can help you grow your net worth. Having access to credit may present you with opportunities to build wealth and achieve financial freedom.If you need funding, Lantern by SoFi can help you find personal loan offers. Just provide basic information about yourself and the loan you need, and Lantern can guide you in the process to apply for a personal loan with the lender of your choice.Simplify searching for personal loans and find prequalified offers using Lantern.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you build wealth with debt?
How does debt help to generate wealth?
How do millionaires use debt?
Is it better to build wealth or pay off debt?
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About the Author

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman

Sulaiman Abdur-Rahman writes about personal loans, auto loans, student loans, and other personal finance topics for Lantern. He’s the recipient of more than 10 journalism awards and served as a New Jersey Society of Professional Journalists board member. An alumnus of the Philadelphia-based Temple University, Abdur-Rahman is a strong advocate of the First Amendment and freedom of speech.
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