These Are the Times!

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“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 »

Frugal Fun: Geocaching

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My family started a new hobby this weekend and we are totally hooked! Geocaching.  It’s completely free and a total blast.  If you’ve never heard of geocaching it’s a world-wide treasure hunt. You can sign up for free at geocaching.com and there are lists and lists of hidden caches. (The caches are the treasures.) You can search by zip code to find ones near you. Each treasure has coordinates that you can plug into your GPS that will bring you within feet of the cache. Then you have to use your noggin. So far I’ve found three. They were an […] 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 »

The Debt Snowball Calculator

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If you are trying to get out of debt and you’re savvy enough to be reading personal finance blogs then you’ve probably heard of “The Debt Snowball“.  I’m sure Brad has you all well aware it. If not, I’ll explain it really quickly. A debt snowball is when you line up all your debts and the organize them from smallest balance to largest balance. You make the minimum payments on all debts except the one with the smallest balance. On the debt with the smallest balance you pay the minimum payment plus every single extra dollar you can get your hands […] Read more »

A Lost Decade, Really?

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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 »

Save Money and Energy and Pay Off Debt

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Are you paying too much on your energy bills? Compare energy prices online now and you might just find a way to give a welcome boost to your summer budget. Energy saving ad campaigns are everywhere at the moment – on TV, the radio, the internet, on billboards – but many people are still unaware of the importance of cutting back, not just for the planet, but for your finances. Energy saving habits like switching the light off every time you leave a room can save you hundreds over the course of a year. Surely, there is nobody out there […] Read more »

Hello Enemy of Debt Readers

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Hello Enemy of Debt readers!! I’m so excited to be a contributor of this site. I’m really looking forward to getting to know all of you. So I thought I’d start off by telling you a little about myself. My name is Ashley. I’m a work-at-home mother of two. My littlest one is starting Kindergarten this year, which when that happens it will be the first time in 10 years that I don’t have a kid at home with me. I’m kinda freaking out about that. I better see my productivity go through the roof! If not, I’ll have no […] Read more »

Where Debt Begins: The Disconnect Between Perception and Reality

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If you are like most people today, you have debt payments challenging your future and creating a drag on your ability to invest. In addition to the financial issues debt creates, it also affects how we feel about ourselves and how we look at the world around us. We may think to ourselves, “what’s wrong with me?” or “where did I go wrong?” To move past these feelings, it might be helpful to consider where it might have all started. Read more »

Are You Teaching Your Children to Avoid a Financial Stomach Ache?

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Photo credit: newyork808 During the last week of school, my twelve year old son went on a class trip to the Nickelodeon Universe theme park inside the Mall Of America. When I picked him up from school, he told me that he didn’t go on any rides the last hour because he didn’t feel well, and still didn’t. Trying to determine the cause of his stomach issue, I asked him what he had for lunch.  The conversation went something like this: Tristan:  “I wanted Subway, but there wasn’t one in the food court where we went to eat. So we […] Read more »

Frugality Tips – Spending Less Before and During Vacation

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Are you planning a vacation? Everyone looks forward to going on vacation. It’s the time of the year when people can cut loose and enjoy some quality time with friends and family. However, it’s an easy mistake to make to ‘enjoy’ yourself a little too much before you realize upon your return that you’ve spent too much. Being frugal on vacation can be tricky because you don’t want to be watching every last dollar all the time and you’d much rather have a relaxing time creating memories that will last a lifetime. But you can do both and have a […] Read more »

Is Netflix Really the Devil?

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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 […] Read more »

Understanding Need Versus Want

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Understanding Need Versus Want Understanding a need versus a want is the first step that we should all take when trying to get control of our spending habits and monthly budgets, but it’s often a step we skip. There’s a lot of rationalization in our reasons for spending the way we do and far too little self-introspection. It’s easy to differentiate between need versus want. The definitions are clear and if asked we could all, most likely, tell the difference. Where it gets difficult is in those moments where we’re not really thinking about how much we want something, or […] Read more »

July Love Drop — Help Felicity

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The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month they gave over $5,000 worth of cash and goods to their recipient, the Aubin family, who was struggling financially after the passing of their dad, and this month they’re ready to do it again and help out another person 🙂 They’ve given out over $45,000 in the past 6 months, and show no signs of stopping. If you know of anyone yourself that could use their help, make sure to let them know. Watch the Aubin Family Love Drop Video! This month they’re heading down to Atlanta to help Felicity, […] Read more »

How to Avoid Debt as a College Student

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This is a guest post. These days, it can take a considerable sum of money to attend college. However, the effort doesn’t have to break your bank account or put you into a considerable amount of debt. Here are some tips for helping you keep your finances under control. Save Your Pennies The sooner you start saving for college, the better. Parents can help support their children though options such as 529 plans, for which some states even offer income tax breaks. Remember, anything you’re able to save now, you’ll have to put toward your college education later. Academic Preparation […] Read more »