Guest Post | Enemy of Debt: Where Behavior Meets Reality

Mortgage Free – Why This is Essential for Traditional Retirement

Written by Clair Schwan on May 20, 2011 · 5 Comments

Who in their right mind would argue that being mortgage free is the only way to be if you expect to retire in some traditional way, with a house of your own? That would be me. As they say, "opinions vary" and "results vary." But, if you pay off the mortgage before you retire, that eliminates a large financial obligation essential for living - someplace to live. That's one of the big reasons it makes sense to me. From my vantage point, as an early self-retired individual, I see being 100% debt free as an essential part of having peace of mind when you retire, and I'm up on my soapbox to explain why. Gather 'round my financially fit friends and lend me your ears. Read more »

Dealing with Debt Collection Agencies

Written by Brad Chaffee on May 6, 2011 · 1 Comment

This is a guest post. Photo by quaziefoto Dealing with Debt Collection Agencies When your debt has been turned over to a debt collection agency, it is important to gather information first. Before you agree to pay the debt, find out what the debt is for, where it originated, and the original amount. If it is a fraudulent debt, you will need to go through the process of finding out whether you are liable for it, and take appropriate steps to work with law enforcement and the credit bureaus, as well as the lender and the debt collection agency to [...] Read more »

Frugality Tips – Practice Makes Perfect

Written by Brad Chaffee on May 5, 2011 · 9 Comments

This is a guest post written by Ross of GoBeRich.com. Photo credit: Cliff1066 So I took a little trip to the mall the other day with my girlfriend and one of her friends. This was my first mistake. My second mistake was thinking I would tag along with them while they shopped for clothes and shoes and that it wouldn’t drive me insane. Needless to say, it did drive me insane, so eventually I set off on my own in search of something to occupy myself with. I first headed to Game Stop, as I have to admit, I’m a [...] Read more »

Marriage and Money – Valentine’s Day Edition

Written by Brad Chaffee on February 14, 2011 · 5 Comments

A recent survey done by the University of Virginia called The Marriage Project found that 29 percent of couples reported that the economic downturn had put financial stress on their marriages. Read more »

Home Ownership – Should You Buy or Should You Rent?

Written by Brad Chaffee on February 10, 2011 · 4 Comments

Ahh, the controversial subject of buying versus renting. Many of you know where I stand on this topic, but I wanted to share this article with you submitted by a guest contributor that offers a basic, common sense approach. I think the housing crisis has changed a lot of minds about what it means to own a home, but the important thing is that you make the right decision for you and your family. On one hand, right now is a great time to buy a home, but on the other, it might make more sense to rent until your [...] Read more »

Homemade Wedding Tips and Benefits for 2011

Written by Brad Chaffee on December 28, 2010 · 8 Comments

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 »

Saving Money on Renter’s Insurance

Written by Brad Chaffee on December 22, 2010 · 2 Comments

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 »

5 DIY Ideas Not Worth Doing Yourself

Written by Brad Chaffee on November 26, 2010 · 14 Comments

This is a guest post written by Isabella York. When we moved into our current house, the ugly and ripped linoleum in the kitchen immediately jumped out at me as an item that just had to go. I have no idea how old it was, but it had obviously seen decades of foot traffic, kitchen spills and dirt. Every morning I would make my morning coffee and look at the ugly linoleum floor that was just begging to be replaced. I’ve always been my own handy person. It just didn’t seem to make sense to pay someone to do a [...] Read more »