Why Do We Get Into Debt?

Debt has a way of sneaking up on us. It seems as though one moment we are free and clear and the next we have a mountain of trouble in the form of money owed. Knowing why we can get into debt is the first step to preventing it from getting worse or from happening at all. Here are some common reasons why we get into debt and how we can minimize out risk of debt in the future. Unexpected Expenses or Loss of Income An unexpected expense or a loss of income can plunge even the most affluent families … Continue reading

Paying Down Debt? Why You Need a Credit Check

Before even thinking about getting out of debt, you should find out your credit scores and your credit reports. Not factoring in this information can affect your get-out-of-debt success. Seeing What You Owe Being armed with your credit scores and your credit reports will give you a good starting point for your debt repayment plan. You will be able to see all that you owe and who you owe it too. Sometimes when we are in major debt, we concentrate so much on just getting the monthly payments in that we underestimate the amount of debt that we have, or … Continue reading

Which Debt Reduction Strategy is Right for You?

You are committed to doing whatever it takes to get out of debt and remove financial worries from your life. You see a promising future, filled not with stacks of bills or collection calls, but a paid-off home and enough liquid assets to be able to enjoy life and to provide a future for your children. What a wonderful goal and one that could come true with some good choices and perseverance. Gaining financial freedom first starts with getting out of debt, with forming your own debt reduction plan that contains solid and achievable goals. It is do it yourself … Continue reading

To Get Out of Debt, Start Small

The bills are piling up in the corner of your desk, and it seems that every day the mail brings a new stack to deal with. Although the collection agencies haven’t started calling yet, you know that it is only a matter of time before they do. You want to get out of debt and get back on track, but the whole thing seems so overwhelming. Fortunately, it really doesn’t have to be. Just start small and go from there. Most financial advice about debt will guide you toward paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first. This … Continue reading

Making Financial Resolutions

Tis the season for New Year’s resolutions. For many, the start of 2012 ushers in a fresh commitment to get financial affairs in order. This can take shape in a variety of ways. For example, some people may be inspired to take on another job to pay down debt. Meanwhile, others plan to spend less on necessities, or go cold turkey on impulse buys. For tweens and teens, January is a great time to line-up summer employment. With jobs so hard to come by in this dismal economy, students can no longer wait until May in order to start their … Continue reading

Getting Your Spouse to Be Frugal

One of the most frustrating things is get your budget down significantly, only to see it blown by a spouse who is not with the program. All of the hard work and careful planning that you do to save money can be unravelled by one impulse purchase or bad decision. So how do you get your spouse or other family member on board? Read on for some tips. Address the Stigmas My friend Bonnie (not her real name because I don’t want to embarrass her) is almost ready to give up on trying to be frugal and save money. Her … Continue reading

Getting Out of Debt: A New Attitude

The idea of completely getting out of debt takes some getting used to. After all, most of us “need” to carry mortgages and car payments. If we want to go to college, we have to take out loans. Many of us struggle with credit card debt just to cover the necessities. As a family, we made a decision that we wouldn’t carry any debt that wasn’t necessary. Now, after Financial Peace University, we have learned that no debt is really necessary. That is quite an adjustment. I look around at all of the things that we would like to have, … Continue reading

Things to Know About Life Insurance

There are many reasons why a person should get a life insurance policy. This type of insurance provides your family with financial protection in case you pass away. Most people find some peace of mind in knowing that their family will be taken care of after they are gone. Not all life insurance policies are same, though. Before you purchase a life insurance policy, you should ask yourself some questions, to help you discover which kind of policy you need. What are your goals? Do you want your life insurance policy specifically for the purpose of keeping your family out … Continue reading

We’re Broke! Why Do We Need a Financial Planner?! Part 1

After my divorce, the financial planner who had worked with my former husband and I continued to call me every six months or so, wondering if I was ready to put a new financial plan into place. I was flattered, if a little confused, about why he was bothering with me. I had primary physical custody of our infant daughter, I was receiving no financial support from her dad, and I was working for a notoriously underpaying local non-profit. Let’s face it, I was broke. The answer to the question, of course, is that it is an undisputed fact that … Continue reading

Making it Meaningful

We had a friend some years back who applied to be a marriage celebrant. His aim was to be able to marry people who wanted a service but didn’t necessarily want it in a church but who still wanted something meaningful. If you and you intended are both members of the same church, then it makes sense to want to be married in that church. If you attend two different churches, then you are going to have to reach a compromise unless you decide to marry somewhere else entirely like a garden or a beach. It doesn’t have to make … Continue reading