Priorities | Enemy of Debt: Where Behavior Meets Reality

How Do You Choose to Handle Change?

Written by Paul Puckett on January 10, 2012 · 3 Comments

Anyone who knows me, also knows how often I can be found at Starbucks. Several locations fix an Iced Quad-Shot Espresso when they see me pull into the parking lot. That is, after all, my preferred drink and has been for several years now. Originally, my drink was a Grande nonfat, with whip, Mocha. After several years, I chose a Grande Iced Coffee. Then, my doctor suggested espresso since it has less caffeine and much less acid than brewed coffee. (I know it doesn’t sound right, but see references below). Even though it has a stronger flavor, espresso is lower [...] Read more »

Tags: Behavior, eating out, Investing, personal finance, Priorities

Santa Is a Waste Of Money

Written by Travis on November 17, 2011 · 19 Comments

In a scene common to many American households during the holiday season, my kids sat at the kitchen table thumbing through a stack of Christmas toy magazines creating their Christmas wish lists. I smiled as I watched them, remembering doing the exact same thing when I was a kid. I actually folded mine up, put it in an envelope and gave it to my parents to mail to Santa. Feeling their excitement as I walked towards the table, I overheard, “Oooh, I’ve never seen that before, that is SO cool! That’s definitely going on my list!” Suddenly having them go [...] Read more »

Tags: Holidays, life, money, personal finance, Priorities

The Most Important Money Advice You Will Ever Receive

Written by Jessica on November 12, 2011 · 9 Comments

You do not need to buy a bunch of books from Dave Ramsey, Suze Orman or David Bach to get this kind of advice. You don’t have to go to week long seminars to learn this powerful tool either. You don’t even have to leave your home. Look no further than this blog post and you will get the most valuable money advice you could ever need. The power of this strategy is amazing! It will teach your children a valuable lesson. It will save you thousands of dollars. It will help your marriage. It will even allow you to [...] Read more »

Tags: accountability, debt, just say no, money, Personal Responsibility, Priorities, sacrifice, saving money

This Year Just Say No to Chia Pets

Written by Suzanne Cramer on November 10, 2011 · 13 Comments

The holiday season is rapidly approaching; Christmas, Kwanzaa, Chanukah, whatever you call it, is about spending time with friends and family, enjoying a meal, and the true meaning of the holiday you choose to celebrate. It is NOT about who spends the most, who has the biggest pile of gifts, or who got the most Christmas cards. Many of us take the true meaning and purpose of the holiday season and turn it into a spending spree only to find the credit card hangover in January lasts until next year when it starts all over again. The Target, Our Children [...] Read more »

Tags: black friday, budget, Christmas, credit cards, Kids and Money, Priorities

Day 1: No Restaurants in November 2011 – Let the Savings Begin!

Written by Brad Chaffee on November 1, 2011 · 20 Comments

So today it begins. No Restaurants in November baby! If you missed the rules I am giving myself (and possibly you) click here to see if you have what it takes. Yep those are challenging words! :D Have you decided to be TOTALLY WEIRD by participating in such a thing? WARNING: Your friends may laugh at you. You may get called some names. Your actions may cause people to feel judged. If this happens to you, please tread carefully. Unpredictable behavior may ensue. I get it. It totally sucks to be the only person at work with a bagged lunch, but guess what? It also sucks to be broke and/or keeping yourself from reaching your goals. Read more »

Tags: avoiding high monthly restaurant costs, Budgeting, challenges, dining out, eating out, eating out as a novelty, food budget, goals, no restaurants in november, pay off debt, Priorities, saving money

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

Lessons for Investors from Irene

Written by Paul Puckett on August 30, 2011 · 3 Comments

Millions of Americans were affected by Irene, whether it was a hurricane or a tropical storm. The debate, for many, seems to center on whether reporters and forecasters “over-hyped” the strength of the storm as it approached the East Coast. The answers to that debate are not relevant but there is one lesson we can learn from the experience of forecasters as they plotted the probable track and strength of Irene. At a very basic level, there are two parts to forecasting hurricanes. The first is performed by computers and this generates a variety of possible tracks and levels of [...] Read more »

Tags: accountability, Change, determination, Emergencies, hurricane irene, Investing, money, personal finance, Priorities

Is Netflix Really the Devil?

Written by Brad Chaffee on July 13, 2011 · 16 Comments

DISCLAIMER: If you are not mindlessly deciding to stay in debt, I might not be talking about you. Are you upset at the recent price hike announced by Netflix? Is seems a lot of people are lighting the torches and grabbing their pitchforks so they can lynch the once beloved company.I have an idea. How about you get that mad about your debt! Seriously, you should torch IT instead. Wasn’t it Netflix that saved us from companies like Blockbuster? Wasn’t it Netflix that made it possible to watch as many movies as we could mail off and receive in one [...] Read more »

Tags: Debt Elimination, entertainment, price increase, Priorities

I Have No Budget, am Buried in Debt, but I’m Going on Vacation

Written by Brad Chaffee on March 21, 2011 · 14 Comments

Photo Credit: Elsie Esq. Who Are You Following Over the Cliff? If there was only one example NOT TO FOLLOW when it came to finance, it would definitely be that of the United States Government. It seems as though it’s getting easier and easier to use our government as the prime example of what not to do. Here we are without a budget, with no savings, in debt like never before AND they just found a 2.3 trillion dollar mistake in the budget projections for, I think, the next 10 years. (2.3 TRILLION?…WOW!) Employment SUCKS, and people are losing their [...] Read more »

Tags: bad example, Debt Elimination, financial responsibility, Priorities, us government

When You’re Tired Of Being Broke, You’ll Start Saving

Written by Brad Chaffee on March 19, 2010 · 41 Comments

If you were to ask people why they do not have any savings, you would likely here a multitude of excuses. You say reasons, I say excuses, and here’s why. If saving money was important to you, and not just a feel good line to help cover up your lack of priorities, you could save an emergency fund! Sure there might be things that pop up and make it harder, but those things happen to everybody. In Financial Peace University, Dave Ramsey uses an example to support the idea that if saving money was an emotional priority, you would in [...] Read more »

Tags: emergency fund, Priorities, start saving

Is It A Boy Or A Girl?

Written by Brad Chaffee on June 15, 2009 · 10 Comments

That Is The Question! I have not announced this here on EOD yet, but thought that today would be the best time to do so. Alana and I are having another baby, due to arrive on October 26th to be exact. I am very excited about this and today we find out whether we are having a boy or a girl. I LOVE BEING A DAD, it is the best gift EVER! What Do I Hope We Are Having? Honestly it really doesn’t matter to me. Either way I will be excited just the same. I do hope that my [...] Read more »

Tags: Behavior, Change, Choices, debt, determination, Personal Responsibility, Priorities, sacrifice

11 Keys To Building Wealth For Generations

Written by Brad Chaffee on April 24, 2009 · 4 Comments

DOWNLOAD THIS BUDGET – I created this budget to give people the tools needed to budget effectively. Budgeting is very important and I have received many emails about how it has helped people with the process. Give it a try and see what you think! FOLLOW THESE 7 EASY STEPS TO BUDGETING – Proven methods to help you beat the budgeting blues. So many people, including myself, have started a budget and before the month ends the budget is busted. It kills your motivation and desire to budget, and before you know it you are right back to your [...] Read more »

Tags: credit, debt, Investing, kids, money, Priorities, prosperity, Recession, Wealth

Are You Waiting For Washington To Save The Day?

Written by Brad Chaffee on October 16, 2008 · 1 Comment

As it stands now this is not a political blog, and I want to keep it that way. However, with the upcoming election, coupled with recent events (bailout, mortgage crisis) and the state of our economy, I feel it is important to address this issue. It seems that so many people are putting all of their faith into electing a President that they feel will fly down from the sky with his Presidential cape and leotards to save the day. Why is that? Do people really believe that Washington is going to come to the rescue? Do you really [...] Read more »

Tags: budget, credit, debt, Economy, Emergencies, life, money, Personal Responsibility, Political, Priorities, Recession, savings, Washington D.C., Wealth

My Payments Ate My Savings!

Written by Brad Chaffee on August 4, 2008 · 6 Comments

America has no use for Piggy Banks anymore! America is in the RED! With a negative savings rate, America is in DESPERATE need of a Total Money Makeover. What will it take? When will people finally understand why saving money is too important to ignore? America needs new priorities, like yesterday! As one of the very many bloggers who blog about money and personal finance, it is my duty to help spread the word. How much do YOU have saved up? What in the world is keeping us from doing what we know we should? Is your savings account overflowing [...] Read more »

Tags: credit, debt, Emergencies, Priorities, savings