Your Credit Score — It’s Not a Measure of Financial Responsibilty

Written by on February 7, 2012 · 1 Comment
Credit Scores are for Borrowers

If I received a quarter for every time someone told me I “needed” a credit score I would be super rich right now. There are many myths surrounding the credit score and believe it or not, it’s the financial world itself that continues to spread these myths. Ask any educated finance graduate if you need a credit score and you’ll most likely hear a “default” answer of ABSOLUTELY. Ask them why you need a score and not only are you likely to get an evil eye roll, the next words out of their mouth will probably be…ARE YOU KIDDING ME? [...] Read more »

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Pay Off Debt Faster by Using the Right Financial Tools

Written by on January 31, 2012 · 12 Comments
financial tools

How many of you have a plan you consistently follow each month to pay off debt? Based on my own experience (before my wife and I got our financial heads together), I’d guess that many of you do not. I know the drill. You pay off a little debt here and a little debt there but it’s random and not based on any kind of written (or visual) plan. You make some progress and take a few steps forward but then suddenly find yourself taking a few more steps back. Some of you may even be paying just the minimum [...] Read more »

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An Open Letter to My Debt

Written by on January 27, 2012 · 8 Comments
Note

Dear Debt, I’ve waited 5 years to say these words to you—good riddance. I know you’re thinking that this is some sort of joke and I’m really about to burst into a Green Day song, but I assure you I’m not. I’m legitimately, once and for all, saying good riddance. You have caused me enough grief, frustration and sadness for two lifetimes. And I couldn’t be happier that you’re gone. We started out as friends. You were a constant presence in my life. It was comforting to have you because it was a reminder of the good times we had. [...] Read more »

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5 Steps to Recover from Christmas Debt

Written by on January 14, 2012 · 3 Comments
Christmas Loans

Guest post by The Happy Rock.  The Happy Rock writes about personal finance at TheHappyRock.com and dug himself out of over $70,000 a few years back.  The Happy Rock also created a debt snowball calculator to aid people in getting out of debt faster. As the hustle and joy of the holidays are fading and the realities of a New Year are setting in, leftover holiday debt can ruin the excitement of the New Year.   If you find yourself stuck in this situation, here are five tips that will help you dig out and loosen debt’s shackles. Come to Terms [...] Read more »

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The Psychology of Getting Out of Debt

Written by on January 9, 2012 · 22 Comments
freedom

One week ago many of you started working on your financial resolutions for 2012. Hopefully those of you with debt resolved to put together a solid plan to destroy it once and for all. There are many factors that go into the process of debt elimination but one that is often overlooked or underestimated is the psychological side. Anyone can say they want to become debt free but it’s our emotionally-driven behaviors and attitudes that will grant us final passage into the world of financial freedom. Math is only a very small component in the game of debt yet it’s [...] Read more »

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End of the Year Inspiration for a Successful 2012

Written by on December 30, 2011 · 4 Comments
dreamstimefree_1081101

Generally I publish an end of year glance at the passing year as well as offer up my goals for the new year. Today I’m going to do something different. If you are looking for a great year in review post Ashley shared her goals for 2012 a few days ago. I didn’t want to be redundant so I wanted to add to what she put together by inspiring you to really think about what you want your 2012 to look like. This inspiration is as much for me as it is for you, because let’s face it, most of [...] Read more »

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Changing My Money Mind in 2012

Written by on December 22, 2011 · 10 Comments
new years resolutions

It’s that time of year when we all vow to change our ways and resolve to go on a diet, quit smoking, or get out of debt. How many of us actually have a plan in place to make our resolutions a reality? Unfortunately most of us don’t and this is why we are doomed to fail before we even start. Yes, money is necessary to support our lifestyle, but do we let it determine how we live our lives? The fact is many of us do. We allow ourselves to live up to or above our means which often [...] Read more »

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Living the Life We Want Because of Debt Freedom

Written by on December 20, 2011 · 12 Comments
shimmering dreams

I have a sneaky suspicion that most people underestimate the power of debt freedom. The benefits of paying your debt off are enormous. The changes we have been able to make because of our debt freedom have been both surprising and very exciting. It was surprising because although I knew getting out of debt would be awesome and beneficial I hardly expected for it to change our lives the way it has. We recently began looking at how we could further mold our life into one that best fits our wants and desires. That’s the inspiration for me finally writing [...] Read more »

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4 Ways to Start Getting Out of Debt This Weekend

Written by on December 9, 2011 · Leave a Comment
Girls with a laptop. Shot in studio.

Do you have debt? Have you thought about tackling it but aren’t able to get started? If so, you’re not alone. Even when you realize that you need to get out of debt, it can be hard to know where to start. So today, since it’s Friday, let’s take a look at 4 things you can do this weekend to begin conquering your debt. If you do these, then on Monday morning you’ll feel 100% better about where you stand because you’ll have some forward momentum and you’ll be excited about continuing your progress. 1.  Demand a lower interest rate [...] Read more »

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$571,817.68 Down And $0 To Go – Special Anniversary Celebration

Written by on November 18, 2011 · 9 Comments
j0678_meadow_0032

571,817.68 is a lot of dollars.   On January 18, 2009, this is how much I owed in debt. After a decade of living beyond my means. A couple of lousy real estate transactions. And a failed marriage.   I have carried this debt for nearly three years. Watching each month as the numbers crawled toward zero. And yesterday, I made my very last payment. New balance: $0.00.   If I stacked 571,817 dollar bills into a pile and weighed it – it would be 1,167 pounds.   That’s literally HALF a ton. The debt I carried weighed as much as [...] Read more »

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Share Your Debt Free Bucket List. Win $500 towards Killing Off Your Debt!!

Written by on October 31, 2011 · 356 Comments
dream vacation

Yep, you read that correctly! One of YOU is going to win $500!! Enemy of Debt and Life Insurance Finder have partnered up to help you reach your debt free goals. Life Insurance Finder is an Australian based company that allows you to compare and select the right life insurance for you and your family based on your needs. All you have to do to enter is tell us what's on your Debt Free Bucket List, plus if you want 10 EXTRA ENTRIES you can write about this giveaway on your blog. Don't have a blog? Not to worry because you'll have the chance to earn up to 5 EXTRA ENTRIES by tweeting about the giveaway. Please read and follow the instructions below to ensure your entry is accepted. Read more »

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I Hear the Secrets that you Keep…

Written by on October 27, 2011 · 6 Comments
whisper

I do, I hear them; the denial, self talk, and the inevitable, “What am I going to do?” They are secrets you keep from everyone; your family, your friends, and even your significant other. You’re in debt. It doesn’t matter how it happened, what matters now is that you do something about it.  That’s where I come in. I am a certified credit counselor for CareOne Debt Relief Services and everyday I talk to people about their debt. Sometimes I am the first person they have admitted this to and they are scared, apprehensive, and skeptical. I would be too; [...] Read more »

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Eliminating Debt is Like Fixing a Car – Persistence Pays Off!

Written by on October 6, 2011 · 13 Comments
steak 043

I hate cars. Let me be more specific: I hate the fact that I know very little about cars. So little in fact that someone could completely make something up, I’d believe it was a real problem, and pay through the nose to fix it.  So, when the check engine light began to blink on and off in my car while it felt like it was about to stall, I knew that I was the one that was in for a ride. I wrote a previous post in the CareOne community about the problems we’ve been having with the car, [...] Read more »

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Three Keys to Financial Fitness

Written by on September 27, 2011 · 3 Comments
keys

I was planning on writing about a new survey from Prudential Retirement Services today. It is a very interesting survey from 2006-2011 of primary or joint financial decision makers who are between 45-75, have a household income of at least $100,000 ($50,000 if already retired), household investable assets of at least $100,000, and retirement savings of at least $100,000. Many who fall in this “retirement red zone” have serious concerns about their ability to maintain lifestyle in retirement. For those of you who would like to read the study, here’s a link to the Prudential website: http://news.prudential.com/images/20026/2011ChangingAttitudesAboutRetIncome.pdf It is worth [...] Read more »

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