Search Results for: blog baby steps for debt reduction

Debt Free, Debt Free, Debt Free At Last!

My Hubby and I were married 26 years before we became 100% debt free – but we could have done it years earlier if I’d known a few simple things. Easy rules really, ones that everyone knows, but few live by. It took me a very long while to understand the charge card concept. I wish I’d learned this simple rule early: If I have to charge it, I probably don’t need it. Charging on credit cards doesn’t help. It just gives you more debt. Yes, I can live on less. Being debt free now means we can live on … Continue reading →

Adding It All Up–How Much Debt Do You Really Have?

Have you sat down and actually added up how much money you owe to creditors? This can be eye opening to people. You may want to leave out your original mortgage, but if you have a home equity line or second mortgage you should include that amount in your total. This would also include what you owe in student loans, and on your cars. It the number manageable. Is there anyway that you could pay this off in a year? Or is the number higher than what you bring home in a year? Adding up your total debt can be … Continue reading →

Financial Preparedness Advice from Money Bloggers

One important part of preparing for the future is having your finances in order. The money blog here at families.com is a great resource for learning to budget your money, save, invest, and get out of debt. Here are some great articles to read that will help you be financially prepared for whatever life has to offer: Preparing for death: Writing Down Your Wishes Everyone should have a will, especially those with children or those married with children from a previous relationship. The Basics of Estate Planning For more information on starting a will or trust, read this article. Getting … Continue reading →

Marriage and Family Issues: Debt

We know that financial problems can strain a marriage and in fact stress the entire family. How does a family manage debt without making that hole deeper? With predatory lenders advertising at alarming rates, not to mention alarming interest rates, it is no wonder some families end up compounding their debt rather than alleviating it. Do any of the following facts surprise you? Couples or families that borrow even more money in an attempt to get out of debt are the number one source of profits for many lenders. Predatory lenders target families in debt for high interest loans and … Continue reading →

Where to start on my debt reduction plan?

How do you set priorities when starting to budget or set up a savings account? Should you pay off debt first? Pay off your home mortgage? Save for emergencies? I think the answer is yes yes and yes, but actually, it depends upon who you ask. Some advisers tell you to pay off your largest debt first, or the debt with the highest interest rate first, and others tell you the opposite, leaving you more befuddled than ever. Perhaps you’ve also heard that you have to get an emergency fund going before you pay off any debt. Who should you … Continue reading →

Baby Steps for Debt Reduction

Are you up to your eyeballs in debt and feel overwhelmed? Welcome to the club. Most of the USA has more debt than they can handle and most of the of population says they are stressed about money at some point or another during their lives. Many people have made a New Year resolution to pay off debt and stick to a budget but don’t know how or where to start. Here’s my easiest baby step list for newbies: 1. Read this blog. There are several writers on the Money Blog that come with different perspectives and tips to help … Continue reading →

Credit Card Scammers on the Horizon

Just when you thought you were safe we hear about a new credit card scam out there. If you ever needed a reason to cut up your cards and just say no, now is the time. I still use a card for a few items. I like to use it when I purchase from the internet – but it also opens me up for scammers. If you are using a card, be careful, the scammers are getting smarter and cleverer and just downright nasty. Here’s how it works: A person calls you on the phone and identifies themselves as a … Continue reading →

Two Tools to get you Started

Several times over my twenty five year marriage I’ve tried to set a budget. Hubby and I both would sit down, get motivated, write down a bunch of numbers and set good intentions. At the end of the month we’d be surprised when our buget and our spending didn’t match. Finally, we got a clue. Actually, we took a class that helped us see where we were going wrong and taught us how to budget. We were budgeting, but allowing ourselves to go over budget – just because we could. As soon as we got a few tools, we were … Continue reading →

Small or Big, where do I watch my pennies?

Should you sweat the big stuff or the small stuff when starting out? What a great question I received from a friend, and I’ll try to answer simply. Both of course. Watch both the pennies and the dollars Ok, but that may be easier said than done – after all, your starting out and want to pull your finances in line, but everything seems so, well, daunting! I’ve written about baby steps to take when you are starting to plan a budget, but what if you have to start even smaller than that to get yourself motivated? Here’s what Hubby … Continue reading →