I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 12/28 – It’s My Birthday!

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    You read correctly, today is my birthday!  So, maybe just this once….. since it is my happy day and all, you could love me like a blogger?  Hahaha!  If you didn’t know it was my birthday, and completely neglected to get me a present,  maybe I could guilt you into checking out the following posts and give their authors some love – because they totally deserve it!  🙂   Favorite Posts: Grit Your Teeth and Stay the Course from CareOne’s Straight Talk on Debt Reader’s Question: Handling Finances In Marriage With A Reluctant Spouse from Money Q & […] Read more »

Our Story: An Interview on Talk Credit Radio

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About three months ago, I was honored to be a guest on Gerri Detweiler’s Talk Credit Radio program.  I was thrilled to share Vonnie and I’s debt story and answer Gerri’s questions regarding  how it has changed our lives forever.  She has been generous enough to provide me with a link to audio streaming of the interview, and I wanted to share it with The EOD Nation.  Click on the picture of Vonnie and I below to hear the interview.                 I’d love to hear your thoughts on the interview, or answer any […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 12/21

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We had a blizzard in Southeastern Minnesota this week but it didn’t seem as bad as they said it was going to be.   We did get about 7 inches of snow so at least we’ll have a white Christmas!   It is still pretty cold and windy outside, so I think most of my weekend will be spent indoors.  If you’re in the same boat, here’s some awesome reading to keep you occupied! Favorite Posts Anyone Can Stop Dreaming and Start Doing from American Debt Project Brown-Bagging Lunch Has Drawbacks Too from Dollarversity Why I Love My Budget (For Serious) from […] Read more »

Pssssst, I’ve Got Something Really Cool To Show You……

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If you like free stuff say, “Hell YEAH!” and throw a big fist pump into the air. If you’re currently sitting in an office environment and are concerned about what your coworkers will think, you can just do it mentally. Regular readers of personal finance blogs know that at any time there are a ton of giveaways in progress. There are even websites that are devoted completely to hosting giveaways. It is for that very reason that as of last week the Friday “I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup” posts include a “Kick Ass Giveaways” section. Since free stuff […] Read more »

My First Trip to Costco: Why I Hate Club Stores

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I’m not a fan of “club” stores. Vonnie and I have a membership at Sam’s Club, but to me it’s useful only for the selection and price of certain cuts of meat worthy to be put on my smoker. Other than that, I could dump the membership and not miss a beat. My problem with club stores is the magical trance that comes over people (including myself) once the store is entered.  It’s the perspective  that if you find a product that you use (no matter how rarely), it should be snatched up immediately because every product is the sale […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 12/14

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Confession time:  Vonnie and I haven’t even started our Christmas Shopping.  That’s right, not a single gift has been purchased.  The good news is, the kids have made their lists, and we have the cash – we just have to go get them.  Anyone want to take a guess at what we’ll be doing this weekend? Favorite Posts Payday Loan Smackdown- Convenient or Ripoff?   from Dr. Jason Cabler What do you mean I cannot return this? I don’t want a store credit from Free At 33 Sleep on the Pavement, Piss in a Bottle from My Broken Coin 2012 […] Read more »

Dirty Dice: A Fun and Frugal Way To Exchange Gifts

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Over the weekend Vonnie and I hosted a family Christmas gathering for her side of the family. We sent the invite out via Facebook several weeks ago, and it didn’t take long for the RSVPs to start rolling in. We also started getting questions regarding whether we were going to have a gift exchange, but with over 30 people expected to show up, we weren’t sure how to do it and keep it economical. Talking about it for awhile we remembered a game that we’ve played at Christmas gatherings before, and decided it would be perfect for this one as […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 12/07

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We’re a week into December and it’s officially the holiday season.  Vonnie and I are hosting a family get together tomorrow for her side of the family which should prove to be a great time.  I hate to admit this, but I really wish it would snow.  Look, I’m as big of a summertime, warm weather fan as they come but if it’s going to be colder I’d rather there be snow on the ground instead of everything be all brown and dreary.  Even my daughter agrees.  Last night she said, “We’ll probably have another dirt Christmas.”  She does have […] Read more »

Kids, We’re In Debt

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Preface: My wife and I were discussing various financial subjects over dinner one evening last week when  Tori, our ten year old daughter, blurted out, “I remember when mom told us we were in debt.”   After she told us the story from her perspective, I asked her if she would be willing to write me a blog post about it.  Immediately after dinner she sat down in front of the computer, and began typing away.  The following is the story of our journey out of debt through the eyes of our daughter. Three years and four months ago my mom […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 11/30

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Thanksgiving is in the rear view mirror, and my family now turns it’s attention to Christmas.    Last weekend the fall decorations came down, this weekend the Christmas decorations go up.  This decorating extravaganza will include putting up the Pizel family Christmas tree followed by the traditional viewing of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.  Oh, and the weather is going to be abnormally warm for this time of year in Minnesota as highs will flirt with 60. Weird. What’s not weird is the list of my favorite posts below.  Check ’em out, and give ’em some love.  Tell them I sent you […] Read more »

Using Checks is Bad For My Finances

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I stared in confusion at the papers laying on the kitchen table as I attempted to reconcile our checking account. My mortgage statement said the amount due was $1543 as it always does. The numerical dollar amount written on duplicate of the check I dropped off at the bank matched, as did the receipt I got from the teller. But that’s NOT what the written amount on the check said. The written amount was, “One thousand forty three dollars.” I had apparently omitted the “five hundred” when I wrote out the check. I needed to find out exactly how the […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 11/23

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Its Black Friday……and I really don’t care.   I slept in.  Instead of getting up super early, or even worse staying up all night I think my time would be better spent reading awesome blog posts.  If you agree, you’ll definitely enjoy my favorite posts of the week.   Favorite Posts:   15 Truths About Money from The Daily Money Shot Being On A Budget Doesn’t Mean You’re Poor from BudgetBlonde Thankful For a Perfectly Flawed Life from ExConsumer Personal Finance Lessons That Should Be Taught In High School is a guest post from Briana at Money Q & A   […] Read more »

My 8 Step Plan to Resolve Financial Conflict and be a Super Hero Husband

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My wife is a “Go big, or don’t do it at all” kind of person.   We once had a Valentine’s Day themed Pampered Chef party which included tables in our living room set with tablecloths, centerpieces, and a full dinner. While we were planning the party, we had several disagreements regarding how elaborate it should be.  It even became a joke of sorts between us as every time we disagreed, she would utter the phrase, “Don’t you see my vision?”  We had a huge turnout, and earned a ton of product credit from the sales. Taking into account the […] Read more »

I Love You Like a Blogger Roundup – 11/16

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For the first time, in a very long time, I feel caught up and in control of every aspect of my life.  I had more time for reading blogs, and wow there were a TON of great posts this week!  Below are links to my favs.   Favorite Posts The Most Popular Budget and Why It Sucks from Money Life And More We’re Switching To Cash! (Our ‘A-Ha’ Moment Weekend)   from Plunged In Debt Seriously. What’s 1 percent gonna do?  from Money Plan SOS Life After Debt: How Budgets and Planning Become Lasting Habits from Ask CareOne How I […] Read more »