Economy | Enemy of Debt: Where Behavior Meets Reality

Buyer Beware Hidden Charges May Be Affecting Your Bottom Line

Written by Suzanne Cramer on January 19, 2012 · 5 Comments

You are one of those people that diligently budgets for every expense, cuts costs wherever possible–a sheer genius when it comes to personal finance. So why does it seem you just can’t get ahead as a middleclass American citizen doing all the right things when it comes to sticking to your budget? The economy has taken its toll on just about everyone, both consumers and business. In fact either you or someone close to you has likely fallen victim to a foreclosure, layoff, or downsizing. When you fill up at the pump you wonder when a gallon of gas and [...] Read more »

Tags: Behavior, Budgeting, credit, debt, eating out, Economy, personal finance, saving money

Just Say No to Inflatable Santa’s

Written by Suzanne Cramer on December 8, 2011 · 9 Comments

“Mommy please can we get one of those inflatable Santa’s?” This is the plea I have heard from my eight year old son since we began to decorate (with our already purchased) holiday decorations the day after Thanksgiving. My answer remains constant, “Not right now buddy, we don’t need an inflatable Santa.” Unfortunately millions of Americans apparently do feel they need inflatable Santa’s, two Christmas trees, and thousands of twinkle lights to adorn their homes so they can feel the magic of the holidays. According to a Bloomberg report, “This year U.S. consumers will spend $6 billion on decorations, the [...] Read more »

Tags: Behavior, budget, Budgeting, Christmas, credit, credit cards, debt, Debt free, debt freedom, Economy, goals, Kids and Money, money, pay off debt, saving money

To Be or Not To Be…That is the Question

Written by Suzanne Cramer on November 24, 2011 · 2 Comments

Thankful that is…today is Thanksgiving a time to spend with loved ones and reflect on what you are thankful for. It has been a tough year for my family and some days I didn’t feel so thankful, but today I have a renewed attitude of thankfulness and realize just how lucky I am to have my health, my family, and the support of communities like this one. Unexpected Gifts of Thanks Sometimes we are dealt a bad hand and just need to make the best of less than perfect situations. Divorce. On April 5th of this year my divorce was [...] Read more »

Tags: budget, Change, debt, Debt free, determination, Economy, goals, pay off debt, personal finance, savings

Should you “Occupy Wall Street”?

Written by Paul Puckett on October 11, 2011 · 14 Comments

You may be aware of a growing social protest movement that began on Wall Street a few weeks ago. According to their website: “Occupy Wall Street is leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. We are using the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to achieve our ends and encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants.” And now this protest is metastasizing and spreading to 25 [...] Read more »

Tags: accountability, Change, Economy, Investing, Personal Responsibility, Priorities

Watch College Conspiracy (The Documentary Colleges Don’t Want You to See)

Written by Brad Chaffee on August 26, 2011 · 9 Comments

I've always thought college tuition was out of control so when I sat down to watch this documentary I didn't think I would be surprised by the statements made but I was wrong. Being that a college education is considered "good debt" I thought it would be a good idea to share this video with all of you. It's only an hour long but very eye-opening if you have bought into the lie that it's a good idea to go into debt for a college education. Who's responsible for most of the problems with education inflation? Read more »

Tags: Careers, College, college fund, conspiracy, Economy, education, inflation, ripoff, Student Loans

How to Deal With Taking a Pay Cut

Written by guest on August 22, 2011 · 4 Comments

In the last few years our economy has taken quite a hit. This has resulted in pay cuts and layoffs around the country. Perhaps you have been affected by this and are now struggling to live off of lower pay. If readjusting to a less luxurious lifestyle is proving to be a challenge, there are a few simple things you can do to ease the strain. Try to offset your primary expenses by cutting back elsewhere. This means that if you are still committed to a lease or are paying off loans and are unable to reduce the monthly costs [...] Read more »

Tags: Economy, job loss, layoffs, Lifestyle, struggle, taking a pay cut

These Are the Times!

Written by Paul Puckett on August 9, 2011 · 8 Comments

“These are the times that try men’s souls!” These often remembered words of Thomas Paine were written in “The Crisis” a series of articles published during the American Revolutionary War. On December 23, 1776, when Paine wrote these words he described in detail the time of the revolution. He began the closing to this article with the following quote: “I thank God, that I fear not. I see no real cause for fear. I know our situation well, and can see the way out of it.” Despite the drastic and incomprehensible moves of the market, with all indices falling substantially [...] Read more »

Tags: bad economy, crisis, Economy, fear, Investing, markets, planning

A Lost Decade, Really?

Written by Paul Puckett on August 2, 2011 · 2 Comments

We’ve heard so much about the “lost decade” we may feel investing for the long-term is foolish. Numerous articles suggest the tried and true method of asset allocation is dead. “Buy Gold!” “Buy gold, guns, and two years worth of food” “Time the market” “Buy bonds, sell stocks!” But, did investors really lose a decade? Most people, particularly those working off debt, invest mainly in their 401k or other retirement plan. Few limit their investments to the Dow Jones Industrial Average (30 stocks), or the S&P 500, both representing large US based companies. The fund choices within a retirement plan [...] Read more »

Tags: Economy, Investing, lost decade, money, personal finance

Brad & J’s 2010 Christmas Stimulus WINNERS!

Written by Brad Chaffee on December 21, 2010 · 9 Comments

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 »

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Stimulus, Economy, giveaways, help, pay it forward, winners

Brad & J’s 2010 Christmas Stimulus

Written by Brad Chaffee on December 10, 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 »

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Stimulus, Economy, giveaways, help, pay it forward

Brad And J’s 1st Annual Christmas Stimulus 2009

Written by Brad Chaffee on December 15, 2009

Are you ready to hear my super secret surprise? You should be because I am so excited to tell you about it! It all started with a post I wrote titled, “Help Your Neighbor Christmas Stimulus“. My idea at the time was to take a portion of your Christmas budget and use it to help someone close to you feel a little less stressed this holiday season. Originally, our Christmas budget was $250, and I pledged to take $150 of that, and use it to “help my neighbor”. Although I will admit we spent a little more than the $100 [...] Read more »

Tags: Christmas, Christmas Stimulus, Economy, giveaways, help, pay it forward

Aaaand…It’s GONE! (Video Post)

Written by Brad Chaffee on June 9, 2009 · 2 Comments

I came across this video and thought you might like a good laugh! I know that for the people that actually were saving and investing their money, this must have been how they felt. It made me start to wonder if their were some of you that stopped saving and investing when the market tanked…did you? Why or why not? What’s the consensus? “Market timing is a not a good idea. Investing with a steady hand and for the long-term is a good idea. However, standing out of the way of a train wreck is not market timing.” – The [...] Read more »

Tags: Economy, Investing, money, savings

Monkey See, Monkey Don’t!

Written by Brad Chaffee on February 6, 2009 · 2 Comments

MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DON’T I have said before that Washington is in desperate need of a Total Money Makeover. If you have been keeping up with current events in Washington then you probably are aware of the current spending proposal to “stimulate” the economy. If not, then you should be, because your tax dollars are being wasted on a daily basis. (Nothing new right?) In fact, your grandchildren are going to be footing the bill. It’s no wonder that most of America has a hard time managing their money, when they watch “supposedly” intelligent minds in Washington giving them [...] Read more »

Tags: budget, Budgeting, Change, debt, Economy, money, savings

Bad Economy=Record Sales?

Written by Brad Chaffee on December 20, 2008 · 3 Comments

Bad Economy Should Equal More savings! Bad economy and record sales do not seem to go together, unless of course you are a credit card company. As most of you know I deliver pizza for Papa John’s Pizza. I have been there for just over 3 years and during this time my boss has been trying to reach a store record of one million dollars in sales for the year. Even when the economy was booming he came close but never reached the goal. Here we are in what some refer to as the worst economic crisis since the early [...] Read more »

Tags: Christmas, Economy, pizza