Shred Your Credit Card…Fa la la la la, la la la la!

ShredYourCreditCard

What is in the air this holiday season? I am feeling especially festive right now so I decided to break the news in a little song. haha! Maybe I had way too much fun coming up with ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas! Then again, I could have had too much eggnog, but who cares. The important thing is that I’m sharing it with you. I was recently asked to be a part of something I couldn’t say no to. Actually it was more like I injured myself just trying to respond. Okay, I didn’t really injure myself but I will [...] Read more »

Homemade Wedding Tips and Benefits for 2011

Getting Married

Are you planning a wedding in 2011? The first biggest test of a successful marriage is planning the wedding. Why? Because the costs involved from hall to caterer to flowers can sometimes be ridiculous and spark unnecessary drama between the parties. Furthermore, new couples don’t want to start off their lives together in debt, especially when the average wedding price tag is anywhere from $26,000 and up. That said, hopefully the lucky couple has enough time to do advanced research and find the most affordable answers to all their needs. Read more »

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (In Debt Edition)

Christmas 2010

‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through my mind Not a buck to my name, not a one I could find; My credit cards are maxed out; but I still need to flaunt’em. While I stand there and watch my finances hit bottom; The children were cozy all snug in their beds, Not a clue in the slightest of the danger ahead; Their beds could be repo’d, or even their pet, We borrowed for everything; and now we’re in debt. A reality check is in order but who will it be, to open my eyes and help me face [...] Read more »

Saving Money on Renter’s Insurance

apartment insurance

Photo Credit: kowaleski This is a guest post by Jeff Orloff. Cutting insurance altogether is never a good idea, even when you are trying to save money. Unfortunately, one of the biggest myths when it comes to insurance is that renters insurance isn’t necessary so many people take a pass in order to budget that money for something else even if it means leaving the possessions you have accumulated over your lifetime unprotected from theft or disaster. When it comes to renter’s insurance, there are many ways you can cut costs so that your possessions are protected while staying within [...] Read more »

Brad & J’s 2010 Christmas Stimulus WINNERS!

Christmas Presents

Photo Credit: www.metaphoricalplatypus.com Merry Christmas everyone!!4 Days Left! I am so very happy to announce the winners of Brad & J’s 2010 Christmas Stimulus!! First, I’d like to thank each and every one of you for giving me a reason to continue blogging. It’s because of you that I have been able to do this for almost 3 years now! I NEVER imagined that I would ever have a blog, let alone end up with nearly 1000 subscribers! You ROCK! I LOVE YOU ALL! In 2010, I added 600 subscribers, and in 2011 I fully intend on stepping up my [...] Read more »

Debt Free News From A Debt Free Reader #19

Debt Free News19

Happy DEBT FREE FRIDAY everyone!! Christmas is almost here. Are you ready? Will your Christmas be a Debt Free Christmas in 2010? I know someone who will be having a debt free Christmas this year. Dave, the author of I Heart Money. He has a book about how to change your relationship with money so that you can pay off your debt and build assets! Regardless of how it sounds, if you are still in debt you can have a debt free Christmas. That’s right and it’s real simple too. Buy Christmas with money you have! If you use credit [...] Read more »

Media Deliberately Tries to Affect Our Personal Finances, so Here’s My Set of Defensive Measures

advertisement hypnotist

Photo Credit: beggs Today we’re getting deeper and deeper into a culture that is influenced by media, but thankfully it’s “selective media.” I don’t mean media that selectively reports things or gives you one side of the story. That’s nothing new at all. What I mean is viewers can be much more selective about what is watched, listened to, and read. With an ever-expanding selection of television programs, radio programs, print publications, and Internet websites, we have more to select from now than ever before. And, changes in the marketplace are reflected as more new choices. Large print media are [...] Read more »

Brad & J’s 2010 Christmas Stimulus

christmas-stimulus-2010

Oh man!! Today didn’t come fast enough for me. I was a little antsy to say the least but the day has come. FINALLY! Last year, J Money and I decided to bring Enemy of Debt and Budgets Are Sexy together for something truly awesome! The economy was broken, unemployment was high, and we wanted to help. Brad & J’s 1st Annual Christmas Stimulus 2009 was born! Last year was awesome! We gave away $150 each and had a great time doing it! Two blogs, two giveaways, two winners, $300! We are extremely happy to announce the second coming. The [...] Read more »

Gift Cards & Tipping – What’s Your Opinion?

gift cards 1

Photo Credit: y2bk Gift cards have become increasingly popular year after year! It’s an easy way to send someone you love a nice gift that they can use at their convenience. This post is specifically about gift cards to restaurants, but it’s not about the actual gift card as much as it is about how you tip when you pay with one. Recently we used a $25 gift card for a local restaurant and during this process it got me thinking. Do people generally tip more or less when their bill is reduced because of a gift card? Our meal [...] Read more »

Debt Snowball Method: Highest Interest Vs Lowest Balance

debt

Photo Credit: walknboston Are you looking to pay your debt off by using the debt snowball method? In the personal finance world there are differing opinions as to which way to do this. It’s the great debate. Do you pay off the lowest balance first or start with the lowest interest rate? Personally, I believe that the debt snowball method you choose completely depends on your specific situation and attitude about your debt. If you need that extra push to stay motivated, it might be better for you to pay the debt with the lowest balance first. Psychologically, you will [...] Read more »