Highly Leveraged Transaction - HLT

It happens when you take out a bunch of debt (leverage) to buy something. That home you bought for $30k down and a loan of $170k? Highly leveraged. That car you bought for $3k down and $25k in loans from Smilin' Freddy Car Loans? Highly leveraged. Those, um, piercings you bought for $250, each side, from the MallTooist on your already-in-the-red-by-$12k Visa? Highly leveraged.

Risky. Hopeful. Fragile. Better hope the world keeps turning round 'n' round so you can pay down some of that leverage.

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