To Mortgage or Not to Mortgage?

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When some people say they are debt free they mean they have absolutely no debt. Other people mean that they are consumer debt free and have paid off all debt except their house loan. Recently I had a reader ask me if she should purchase a home with a loan or if she should save up and pay for the home in cash. Surprisingly, I said, “It depends”. This may be confusing to some readers as I’m known to say things like, “Debt is slavery” and “Avoid debt like the plague.” Here are some reasons you might actually want to […] Read more »

I’m Not Paying For Your Mistake, Even If You Are Only 13

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I’m a night owl, commonly staying up several hours later than the rest of my family. I use this time to do various tasks that I never seem to find time for during the day. So it wasn’t out of the ordinary when I decided to take up a late night activity to resolve my checking account spreadsheet with my online banking portal. With my wife and daughter comfortably sleeping, and my son hiding out in his room playing Xbox, I sat down at my computer around 11:00pm and got to work. 11:05pm: I notice a debit from Microsoft for […] Read more »

Use the Internet To Stay Connected

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Like many families, my family is spread out throughout the U.S. Before we had a child, this aspect of our lives didn’t bother me or my husband too much. It was nice to have our own space but we knew that our parents were a relatively short drive away (3 hours north to my parents, 2 hours south to his) if we needed or wanted to visit (or if there was an emergency). It was a pretty sweet set up, actually. Then we had our daughter. Both of us grew up with our extended families less than 20 minutes from […] Read more »

Debt Free News #24 – Jeff Lundberg

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The Enemy of Debt Questionnaire – Congratulations to Jeff Lundberg! How much debt did you have and how long did it take you to pay it off? We paid off over $65,000 in 22 months. How does becoming debt free actually feel? Does it feel better than you imagined it would? We paid off our last debt (besides the mortgage) last month. It feels great! We’re very excited to start building wealth and being able to give!? What were some of the struggles that you had to deal with along the way? Was there ever a time where you almost […] Read more »

Weathering Economic Recessions – One Man’s Approach

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Many of us are wondering when we’re going to punch our way out of this economic recession we’ve been wallowing in for the past five years or so. It’s anyone’s guess, but I’d say we’re going to be in it for quite a while, and perhaps it will get even worse, simply because so many of us only learn the hard way. It seems we insist on repeating failed behavior patterns largely because they’re what we know and are comfortable with. Failure to obtain different results by doing the same thing again and again apparently has no bearing on the matter; we do it anyway. Read more »

Youth Sports: Are They Worth the Expense?

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My son has been involved in youth sports since he was three. We have run the gamut; gymnastics, karate, soccer, wrestling, lacrosse, and football. My initial goal in exposing him to youth sports was to have him expend some of his little boy energy in a way that was safe and fun for him. Little did I know the love for competition would blossom at such a young age; he is addicted… to thrill of practice, games, and being a winner. For those of you that don’t know me, I am a divorced single mom and my son is a […] Read more »

The Four “P’s” of Debt Reduction

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The process of getting out of debt is as much physical work as it is mental. Making changes in our life style and our mindset is such a difficult but important step. I have found that there are four very important aspects to this process that need to be remembered and achieved in order for you to reach the level of success that you strive for. Those aspects are the four “p’s” of debt reduction Positivity Planning Practicality Perseverance Like many of you, I am in a great deal of debt. In fact, I am in more debt now that […] Read more »

You Definitely DON’T Need a Credit Score

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This guy thinks he needs a credit score

Do you have a credit score?  Probably so.  Do you have any idea what your credit score is?  Maybe you do, maybe you don’t.  Do you really believe that it’s totally necessary to have a credit score?  Most people do, and I think they are wrong. First, let’s take a quick look at exactly what your credit score is and why you have one.  Your credit score, also known as the FICO score, was created by the Fair Isaac Company (Thus “FICO”) to estimate a person’s credit worthiness.  Your FICO score is really just a number that tells people how […] Read more »

What Will You Sacrifice for Freedom?

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C-H-A-N-G-E. People hate it! People hate having to change anything, sometimes regardless of the benefits that lie ahead. Change is uncomfortable and sometimes a little scary. The fear of having to face something unfamiliar can often paralyze us into inaction. Sometimes change is forced upon us and sometimes the choice is our own to make. So whether we like it or not, change is a very big part of who we are. We may as well embrace it. In terms of personal finance, change is constant. And when it comes to debt change can save you from financial destruction. Nobody […] Read more »

Saving Money on Vegetarian Meals

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Just about 4 years ago, I decided to become a vegetarian. I did it after reading a few books and having the vivid imagery stick with me.  My imagination started to get the best of me and before I knew it, meat was literally off the table. It’s been good not only for my health but for my family’s budget as well. There’s a reason that when people are trying to cut back on their grocery budget they opt to have meatless meals each week. Meat is expensive. But vegetarian meals, if not planned properly, don’t actually save money. In […] Read more »

Have You Ever Considered Hiring a Financial Advisor?

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I’ve always held the position that if you can do something yourself, you shouldn’t pay someone else to do it for you. From car repairs and home remodeling to weight loss and personal finance. Over the last year I have realized some things that have caused me to reconsider that approach. Until I met Travis Pizel, you would have heard me say things like “avoid debt relief companies like the plague”, but have since realized that what method you choose should depend on what’s best for you. I generally try to base my opinions on a case-by-case basis. I think […] Read more »

Debt Free News #23 – Serguei Merzliakov

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The Enemy of Debt Questionnaire – Congratulations to Serguei Merzliakov! How much debt did you have and how long did it take you to pay it off? Took a relatively small 20k loan to finance my nightschool studies (professional education with chartership at the end). Took 4 years of sweat to repay it as I became unemployed in year 3. Used advice from Eliminate the Muda, Wisebread, and The Motley Fool. Finally, going shopping with the list and not being afraid to donate old things (without replacing it) was also helpful – gave me understanding of my own spending habits. […] Read more »

Inexpensive or Free Outdoor Family Fun

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summer fun for free

Last week Team EOD member, Jana gave you some great ideas for free or inexpensive indoor activities that you can do this summer. Today I want to give you some activities to do outdoors that are budget friendly and super fun! Keep with What Works The traditional outdoor activities should definitely not be over looked. A trip to the park for a picnic and romp on the playground will never get old. You can take the fun up a notch but being a kid yourself. Nothing gets those kids laughing more than watching their grown-ups acting silly and having a […] Read more »

Failing Financial Literacy?

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Financial Literacy Month is a great time to take a look at how we are doing when it comes to making the grade with our financial knowledge. Millions of Americans are failing miserably and among them, are college students. With little financial finesse and the freedom to make their own decisions many are starting their financial lives in need of debt help. Researchers from five American universities recently conducted a survey on credit card debt and financial literacy among college students and released the results in April just in time for Financial Literacy Month. The findings confirm that our youth […] Read more »