How Fragile Are Your Finances?

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Financially Fragile. What do those words mean to you? A few months ago TeamEOD writer Dr. Cabler wrote a post addressing the subject of being financially fragile. He gave the example that the majority of Americans would have to sell some of their possessions if they had to come up with $2000 within 30 days. I identified with the post because that described me for a very long time. Something happened this week that made me think of this post again. Major layoffs occurred within the company I work for. As the week progressed, the names of those affected spread. […] Read more »

Worrying Doesn’t Accomplish Anything. Take Action. Now.

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“Are you making yourself old again?” I heard Tori’s friend say to her from behind me as we headed off to dance class. I had never heard the phrase before, but I immediately understood what she meant. She was referring to the scrunched look on Tori’s face which was a result of the unusually rough time that just occurred at home as I had to continuously poke and prod her to get dinner eaten, dressed, and out the door on time for class. The wrinkles on her face made her look old. But even more than just making her look […] Read more »

The Winds Of Debt Only Blow In One Direction

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A windy day was in the forecast with gusts up to 40mph. I didn’t care, I was going for my run. The wind smacked me in the face almost immediately as I started off down the street. I tucked my head down, turned the volume up on my iPod, and cut through the wind for the first half of my run. Every step was a struggle, the end of each block a victory. I was grateful when I reached that familiar street corner that represented the half way point of my run. I smiled as I turned the corner, knowing […] Read more »

Personal Responsibility and Debt Relief Are Not Dirty Words

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Last week my story to pay off credit card debt was shared in a post on Business Insider, and subsequently picked up by Yahoo Finance.  I really appreciated the opportunity, and I think the article turned out great. There were many positive comments on both posts stating support for our journey, and for what we have learned and accomplished. There were also a fair number of comments questioning how we could have ever let things get so far out of control to accumulate such a massive amount of credit card debt as well as wondering what effects our debt has […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 10/19

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The second Presidential debate was held this week, and as was the case with the first one and the Vice Presidential debate, Facebook and Twitter were alive with comments.  When it was all over, there was a lot of discussion about who “won” the debate.  Both sides claimed victory of course.  Since it’s all very subjective with your point of view, there really is no clear cut winner. Maybe one day there will be a way to determine who actually won a Presidential debate, but in the mean time there should be no question in anyone’s mind that the below […] Read more »

A Marathoner’s Guide to Getting Out of Debt

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In life, it’s our experiences that shape who we are and how we handle adversity. Most lessons can be applied across the board and help us in ways we never expected. Today I wanted to highlight the similarities between training and running a marathon to the process of getting out of debt. As most of you know — Travis is a machine — and although he faced some challenges along the way while training for his 3rd marathon, on Sunday he completed it and reached his goal. Achieving debt freedom involves some of the same dedication, sacrifice, and intense focus […] Read more »

Togetherness Is The Best Kind of Family Therapy.

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It had been a really rough week for my family. A close friend of ours that lived in the neighborhood had passed away recently, and we had spent the entire week in crisis mode spending time with the family and other neighbors in support of each other. As most families, we have a daily routine. Dinner at 6:00, homework at 7:00, our favorite shows of the evening after that. That routine had been completely disrupted and my wife and I felt like our children had suffered from lack of attention from us. On my way home from work , I […] Read more »

Imagination is Free

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I’m going to ask you to do something you may not have ever been asked to do before. Close your eyes, and think of a recent experience in your life that was extremely stressful. Go to your “nervous, anxious, so angry I want to punch a wall” place. What do you feel like doing?  What would deflate the negative energy you’re feeling? Going out to eat so you don’t have to add the stress of cooking to the pile? Going shopping and buying anything you darn well please so you regain the feeling of control? Having your significant other notice […] Read more »

Debt Free News #20 – Jenny of Ex-Consumer

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Guess what folks! Debt Free Friday is back and today I want to congratulate Jenny from Ex-Consumer, and her husband for becoming debt free! Woo-hoo! That is awesome news for sure. For all of you debt free enthusiast out there, I hope you take the time to read this story of hope and freedom. Be inspired by Jenny and all those who came before her! You’re NEXT! Make your plan to become debt free and get down to business! We’ll all be rooting for you here at Enemy of Debt so be sure to drop by for motivation and some […] Read more »

The Resurrection of My Debt Free News From Debt Free Readers Series

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Do you miss reading stories about regular everyday people becoming debt free? I do, which is why I want to try and get that series up and running again. I haven’t had a Debt Free News submission in quite some time, but I find it hard to believe that it’s because no one else has become debt free. Are you debt free? Share your story by answering a few short questions about your debt free journey so your experience may inspire someone else to start their own. The good news is you don’t have to wait for another submission to […] Read more »

Do You Suffer From (SAD) Stuff Attachment Disorder?

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Photo Credit: paalia Have you made the smart resolution to work on becoming debt free in 2011? If so, congratulations! As many of you know, making the resolution is just the beginning. Resolutions are easy to make, but unfortunately they’re even easier to break. I’ve broken resolutions myself as I’m sure you have too. In the beginning, you’re pumped up about your decision to do whatever it is that you’ve decided to do, but once life, time constraints, and a lack of discipline get in the way, that motivation wanes and we find ourselves giving up on our desire to […] Read more »

Changing Your Behavior Requires A Paradigm Shift

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What Is A Paradigm Shift? As defined, is ¹) a fundamental change in approach or assumptions, and ²) the acceptance by a majority of a changed belief, attitude, or way of doing things. What if your way of thinking changed completely?  Would your behaviors change as well?  People are afraid of change, but change for the better should be nothing to fear! Change is growth and maturity, because if you are not changing you are not learning. Learn to change and you will be amazed at what you can do!  Become a butterfly! Check out these four articles from four […] Read more »

15 Books Everyone Should Read At Least Twice

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Reading Rocks! Recently, Newsweek published an article with what they called, 50 Must Reads Now, And Why.  Now I am certain some of the books they picked are great reads, but I am also sure that they left better ones out.  So I came up with a list of financial books I think everyone should read.  More than half of these I have read, and the rest are on my to-read list. The ones that I haven’t read have been highly recommended by others with great enthusiasm. These books will help you in everyday life, and will motivate, inspire, and […] Read more »

Murphy’s Fall

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  Murphy’s Fall? I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce you to something that you have or will possibly go through.  I have coined the term “Murphy’s Fall”.  Murphy’s Fall isn’t the fall of Murphy.  Instead it is something you yourself go through because of Murphy.  That’s right.  It’s what can happen when Murphy has moved in and just doesn’t want to leave.  It could be equivalent to what marathoners call “The Wall”, which is when a marathoner reaches the 20 mile mark and starts to rationalize giving up.  It’s when you start to tell yourself that you have […] Read more »