A New Book

I have been at it fairly feverishly for the past 10 days as I have decided to write a second book about debt, but I have included a whole section on using coupons to save massive amounts of money. For this portion, I have enlisted the assistance from a former high-school classmate of mine. She is notorious for buying a cart load of items and walking away with a receipt for often under a dollar. She knows her stuff!

I am excited that I am attending her class in Branson Missouri on the 6th of March! I am going to first attend her class on coupons, and afterward will team up to write that section of the book.

I am still playing with a few ideas for the title, but will know more later. The book will be available for purchase/download by July 1, 2011 and 50% of the profits are going to go for her charity in Branson that helps the less fortunate people who need a hand up (and some complimentary food and supplies will be greatly appreciated! I will be sharing a few tidbits on here as the book progresses!

Where Has Summer Gone?

Looking at the calendar, I realize that it is the last day of July and that means that summer is on the downhill side. When I was a band director and teacher, August typically meant the end of summer vacation and the beginning of band camp to prepare for the upcoming marching season. Time has slipped away, and you don't know where it all went.

That's the same thing with your money.

You must keep a constant watch on your credit card spending, or it will creep up on you and before you know it, you have a balance of thousands of dollars and the balance keeps growing and growing and it overtakes your entire life. You struggle to make ends meet, you take a cash advance to pay a bill that is due that you cannot afford, and you drive yourself deeper and deeper into the hell that follows.

That is why I wrote Never Surrender!!, an ebook that can help you to forever eliminate your credit card debt. In there, I discuss many strategies that can be used to use a lifestyle that can free you from the oppression of credit card debt. I know firsthand (as I am sure that you do as well) that credit card debt can make your life a living hell and that it affects all aspects of your life. Check it out, if you want to get out of credit card debt forever.

Have a GREAT day!

Frugality is NOT The F-Word

In the quest to become credit card debt-free, some (myself included) adopt a frugal lifestyle. They start to find ways to spend less money so that they free up money which can then be used to eliminate their debt. I know that my family has started to use strategies that allow us to enjoy life at a lower sticker price.

Case in point: this is the Fourth of July Holiday weekend (OK, it doesn’t really start until Friday, but who is counting). We have decided to camp at the timeshare/RV park that we got for a steal. Usually the level of membership that my wife managed to nab over the Internet sells for $21,000,but we managed to secure it for much, much less (less than 10% of the full price). We have reserved out spot for two weeks, which, if we had rented a small hotel room for $100 a night would have cost over $2,000. Instead, with the groceries, wood, and accessories, we will walk away with a mini vacation for less than $150. Not bad.

One other thing that we saved on was food. There is a small grocery store/meat market near our home (that is on the way to my day job) which always has an 8 oz. bacon-wrapped fillet for $4.99. I am a big guy and I could easily eat two of those myself, but if I take the time to eat, my wife and I do well just splitting one. (If you are doing the math, it is $4.99 vs. $14.97, a savings of $9.98). It is the little things like that which can save you money. Look for simple ways that you can save money that, in turn, can be used to more quickly get you out of credit card debt.

The sooner you are free, the better you will feel.

Have a GREAT day!

New Half-Year For Credit Card Debt Elimination

Today is July 1, 2009 and it marks the beginning of the second half of the year. This is a good time for reflection on a checkup on all of your goals. Traditionally New Year's Day is the day that people traditionally do that sort of thing, but perhaps a new tradition is in order for you. After all, there is a goal for many of us to get out of credit card debt. So,

How Are You Doing?

I began the year having $61,960.24 in credit card debt. Today, the number is $54,432.81. Better than it used to be, especially considering that I had to go to court on several of the cards, and there were lawyer's fees and such added in. Having that sort of reality slap you in the face is not a pleasant experience. Today, however, I am seriously meeting with several attorneys to discuss Chapter 13 bankruptcy. I have fought my problem for many years and I have to explore the possibilities. It is not a road that I am traveling lightly.

I fear most hurting the ones that I love the most. I don't want to involve them if I can help it, but something has got to be done. That is why I write this blog, and this blog is both therapeutic to me and also I hope to teach others how to avoid this if at all possible. My parents taught me better, that's for sure, but I never saw them suffer or felt as if we had money issues (and I feel that we must have). I am being as open as possible with my family and hopefully, my son will develop some good spending and saving habits so that he doesn't have the struggles that I have.

Keep up the good fight, I write about it in my ebook, Never Surrender!! and it can help others to get out and stay out of credit card debt.

Have a GREAT day!

How To Save Money at the Ballpark

In a quest to save money and more quickly pay down my credit card debt, there is a lot of time devoted to looking for ways to save money. Taking time to plan is a way to ensure that you can save money yourself. I make no bones about it, I like to go see the Cardinals in action. My father-in-law bought a package of tickets that are mid-week games and got a good deal on them. About every other week we head down to the ballpark to watch the action. Parking there is $20 a shot. Sure, we could save money by parking further away, but we usually don't make it until the first inning because of my work schedule and we don't want to miss more of the game.

When we first started going to the game, we ate at the ball park. That is at least $12.00 a person. Then we started planning a bit and now we have plenty to eat for about $15.00 altogether (there are three tickets and four people, so somebody has to stay at home). Rather than get a hamburger, fries and a drink at the stadium, we now will get two Subway foot long sandwiches and a trio of sodas from the refrigerator. Yes, it is a bit of a hassle to have to wait for the gatekeepers to inspect our coolers, but the money saving is well worth it. We also used to go to get custard, but for time, weight management, and money savings, we go only once in a blue moon.

Perhaps there are ways that you can still enjoy some of your favorite summertime activities and find ways to do them for less money. Use the savings to pay down your credit card debt, or, at least, to save for bigger items.

Have a GREAT day!

PMA: Developing The Habit

A Positive Mental Attitude is essential to success when it comes to your life and when it comes to eliminating your credit card debt. Some people mistakenly assume that you have to think that they have to walk around the whole time of their life with a smile on your face, say that "everything is great" (even with your world crumbling down, and always be peppy. That may be perfect for a select few, but

I am a realist.

Some may say that if a 16 ounce glass has 8 ounces of water in it that, if you are a pessimist, the glass is half empty. Somebody else will look at that same glass and say, if they are an optimist, that the glass is half full. I will look at the glass and say that the glass is the wrong size. The same exercise can be used with credit cards. You may have the ability to keep up with your monthly payments so you may look at how much credit line you have left. Or, you may look and see how much debt is piling up.

Sometimes you have to step back and ask yourself what the heck is going on. Credit cards can be a trap for many people and it may take them years to develop the habit of not using credit cards except in an emergency. Developing that type of habit can take time. Having a positive mental attitude to help you attract the things that you want in life takes time as well. Start small, if you must by writing down a small goal and work toward that. Make it attainable and achievable and when you tackle that goal, move on to another one that is slightly more challenging for you and that will build on the strength that you developed earlier. The pattern of success will help "train" you to become more and more successful.

Keep working at it and have a GREAT day!

Can Credit Card Debt Elimination Happen In A Timely Matter?

That's a question that is answered by: "It Depends." It depends on a combination of things:

*Your Ability To Pay at Least the Minimum Monthly Payment in a Timely Matter - If you are having a difficult time making your minimum payment on all of your credit cards, you might have to look at getting a higher paying job, getting a second job, getting a loan from a bank (with poor credit, that may be easier said than done), getting a loan from family (unless they have none to loan), getting a loan from friends, or, when all else fails, seeking professional help

*Your Ability To Stay Employed - In these tough financial times, it may be difficult to keep your job. There have been times where I have not been as fully employed as I could have been, but I have always been willing to work, even if it meant that I was doing something "below" my abilities. After all, "Oatmeal is Better Than No Meal".

*Your Desire To Get Out of Credit Card Debt - Sometimes you have to keep a PMA (positive mental attitude, but "Where There's a Will, There's a Way" has never rang more true. Once you decide to do something, subconsciously, you cut yourself off from all other possibilities and you find ways to make it happen.

Hang in there, Have a GREAT day!

A Centennial Celebration

Today marks the 100th post to this blog. Thanks for stopping by. We have looked at ways to help eliminate your credit card debt and the main focus has been on finding ways that money has been slipping through your fingers and driving you deeper in dept. Perhaps you haven't had as much control over your spending as you would like to have had (guilty). Perhaps you have been maxing out your credit cards and shuffling between payments and even using the "free checks" that come with your statement to pay the minimum on a different credit card (guilty).

It takes a conscious effort to change your habits and use credit more wisely (or or not at all).

It can be a daunting task to stop cold turkey and that it exactly what some people do. They say to themselves, "I am not going to use my credit cards any more". They cut them up, and that is that. Some people wait until there is no credit left to use. Either way, change (in this case) is good. You need to take a stand and not let yourself be run over by credit card debt any longer!

How?

Educate yourself. Seek advice from others. Negotiate. Pay your bills on time. Seek help, if necessary. The important thing to know is that you have the power to get out of credit card debt and break free of the chains that bind you.

Thanks, and have a GREAT day!

We All Have The Same Amount of Time

Yet, time seems to be the one thing besides money that we never seem to have enough of. As people most of us seem to have mastered the art of multi-tasking, or doing more than one thing at the same time. There are times when we take our laptop to the dinner table to finish reading or researching something interesting on the Internet while we mindlessly shove some food into our mouths. Or we catch up on our e-mail on our mobile device in a meeting at work or on our break at work.

In striving to eliminate our credit card debt it has been mentioned that we need to develop a single-mindedness of purpose, but seeing that many of us do more than one thing at the same time, perhaps we need to devote one or more of our streams of consciousness for that goal. While shopping, for example, there should be a steady stream of thought of how money can be saved that can, in turn, be used to pay off credit cards.

The more that you can save, the sooner you can be out of debt. The sooner you are out of debt, the sooner that you can begin to live your life wisely and freely. There will be challenges, but save that nickel here, that dime there, and those cents will grow to dollars which will help you to live your life the way that you want.

Have a GREAT day! and be successful!

Credit Card Debt, Don't Let It Get You Down

Sometimes it is easier said than done. When it seems overwhelming, it is hard to stand up and stand your ground. This has been a trying time lately for me. The possibility of filing for bankruptcy, which has been avoided for the last ten years, is looming ever larger and ever more powerful.

If I can help it, I don't want to go down that road.

Bankruptcy stays on your credit for seven years. My credit already leave a lot to be desired, and, if you have ever missed credit card payments, overdrawn your checking account, or any other financial stumble, your credit score is probably less than stellar. I have resisted asking for debt because I am a proud man. A pride cometh before a fall.

I am not a loser, except when it comes to managing my own finances. Always secretive, it has come around to bite me in the butt (so to speak). My intention has always been to take care of my own, but I am not as able to continue as I once was. Bob Seger summed it up in Against The Wind "We're just older now and still running against the wind.". Perhaps one of the darkest things I can ever recall is the speech that Chief Joseph of the Nez Perce gave at his surrender "..I am tired. My heart is sick and sad. From where the sun now stands, I will fight no more forever."

That is why I have written Never Surrender, A Practical Guide to Forever Eliminating Your Credit Card Debt. It will be available next week. Sign up on the right of the blog to be notified of its availability. Have a GREAT day!

Negotiating Credit Card Debt Help

There may come a time when a credit card company is tired of waiting for your money and they will sue you. You may have been asking them to provide substantiation of the debt, but they hadn't been responding. One day, a stranger may come calling on you and give you a summons to appear in court. At that point you may feel a bit overwhelmed.

Help is actually around.

I had earlier gotten a letter from a mediation firm stating that there was to be a court action against me soon. I fished out that piece of mail and gave them a call. Seems there was a company that was representing a credit card that I had once used that was now actively pursuing the money from me. They stated that the balance owed was $9,000 and were taking me to court about it.

I showed up to court and asked for a continuance (especially since I had just been given the summons a few days prior). Visions of wage garnishment and such were running through my head. It was a total feeling of panic.

That's where the mediator came in.

We met and discussed my earnings, my expenses, etc. The mediator put together a proposal (after a fee was paid) and there was a voice mail a few days later that they would settle for a lump sum payment of $5,600. I was saved, after taxes and expenses, around $1,500. It wasn't exactly what I wanted, but better than the alternative.

My advice: Be careful, be open to all options, and use your head. Have a GREAT day!!

Help Getting Out of Credit Card Debt

Face it. You have to charge less than you are paying off. Bottom line. Freeing up extra money on an ongoing basis is key to achieving this. Yesterday, we discussed a bit about automobiles. It was revealed that a used card will cost less because it is, well, used. But you don't lose nearly the amount of money that you would (buying new) when you leave the car lot.

Too often people are driven only by "How much will it cost per month?" This kind of thinking is so short-term that it is frightening when you actually take the time to do some of the math. Sure, it only costs $250 dollars a month. The sticker price may say $10,999. "I can afford that", you say. A new car loan can often be rolled into a package that is for 72 months, or six years. Most people don't keep a car for four years, so if you trade it in, your car may only be worth $3,000 after four years. You still owe $6,000 on that car. You are now upside down on the car and a dealer would be happy to roll that into your new car purchase. Now, you will have a very difficult time getting out from being upside down.

If you did keep your car for the full six years, that $10,999 car would have cost you $18,000. Guess who pockets the extra $7,001? It isn't you. With a used car, you loan is for a shorter term, you pay less up front, and somebody else has already taken the depreciation hit on it.

All I have to say is that you need to think with your head and not your heart. Do your homework and you will thank yourself for that in the long term. Have a GREAT day! (visit my website, the book Never Surrender is scheduled for release on June 14, 2009)

How 'You Gettin' There?

To eliminate credit card debt you need to have ways in which to save money and hopefully there have been some ideas presented that you could use. With the automobile daily in the news nowadays, perhaps we should explore buying a vehicle, after all, most people need one to get to and from work and to places in your life. If you are fortunate enough to live in a metropolitan area that has public transport, that can save a lot of money.

With a car being the biggest expense that one may make besides purchasing a home, you really should do some homework when buying a car.

*NEW vs USED - Nothing beats the feeling of having a new car that nobody else has driven. The challenge is that a new car immediately loses value the second that you drive it off the lot. Too often people look at how much a car costs per month instead of taking the time to figure out how much you will be paying over the long term. With today's financing options, you can blend in the insurance, taxes, and such into the loan. Back in the 1970s, a new car was often a three-year loan. Today, however, it is often a six year loan. You will always owe more than the car is worth usually up until the last payment. Woe is you if you happen to total the car and you have to come up with the money to pay it off.

Nowadays, I vote for used. Somebody else has already taken the hit for loss of value when they bought it new. You can always buy an extended warranty, but you really should take the time to explore the reviews of the car, research its usefulness over its life, and see what cars hold their value over time.

I drive an 11/12 year-old car. It looks nice and it serves the car's purpose: to get you from point A to point B. It is not an investment because there are a very minute number of cars that increase in value, so it is always a liability.

Always.

Sure, there are things that will wear out with a used car. We have had to replace the suspension, oxygen sensors, brakes, and tires. The costs for those (plus the loan payment) is still lower than the cost for a new car.

Use your head, have a GREAT day, and keep looking for ways to save money so that you can eliminate your credit card debt!

Wow, It's Wednesday

In my struggle to eliminate credit card debt, there comes some point to where desperation is the order of business. Perhaps you get served a summons to appear in court a few days prior to being in court. You dutifully show up to court, realizing that you are one of 100+ to appear before the court to find out that if you didn't appear in court, you would have had a summary judgement against you. It doesn't matter that you have asked in writing (sent by certified mail) for proof that the debt was yours and so forth and so on, but, despite your efforts to achieve documentation of proof that the debt was yours, they just issued you a summons to appear in court.

That is a sobering experience.

Having prepared taxes for a few years for a major company ("You Got People"), I was well aware of the 10% penalty on early withdrawals from an IRA. I also knew that all of the money you take as an early disbursement is taxed as income. When backed against a wall, the options narrow. Fortunately, it appears, after preparing a mock 1040 with the new income, I was relieved last night (after watching the Cardinals at their stadium win a game) when I ran the numbers and it appears that things will work out, it still leaves a sinking feeling that credit card debt is a serious problem.

I am dealing with it as best I can.

Thank God I have family and friends that support my efforts and I know that everything will work out, even though I have to work twice as hard. Don't believe that it is easy to change years of habit. It isn't.

But it can happen. Believe that in your heart of hearts that it is possible, because it is. Thank you for all of your support.

Your Tax Dollars At Work

A library is wonderful resource that too few people take advantage of. I was fortunate to grow up loving libraries. My grandmother was the librarian for her little town in North Central Arkansas since I was a little boy. Some of my fondest memories were spending a week with my mother's parents down at their farm. It was a wonderful experience for a young child because I would spend the days with my grandmother while she was working at the library and the evenings with my grandfather who was a carpenter and farmer.

Learning to read at an early age and having been read to gave me a great escape with a book. Libraries are, for the most part, paid for out of our local tax, but remain a storehouse of knowledge. For free. You wouldn't have to pay for a newspaper because you could always read the copy at the library. You didn't have to buy books to read them, you would check them out at the library and return them when you were finished.

Libraries today are more than a repository for books. There are audio books available. You can check out movies and videos. There is even free Internet access available at many libraries. You should check out the one in your local town. It is a great source of entertainment for children in the summer. Heck, you don't need to limit it to just a few months a year.

In your quest to eliminate costs from your life and eliminate your credit card debt you should be open to many of the low-cost and no-cost options out there that you might otherwise overlook.

Have a GREAT day!

June-"Bugs"

As you strive to eliminate credit card debt from your life, there are always challenges or "bugs" that come up and may create a temporary hindrance to your goal. They will happen, and you have to pay them some attention, but you don't need to be paralyzed by them. In fact, knowing that things may come up can be empowering in some small way.

It is good to remain focused on the ultimate goal which is to become credit card debt free. Recently I had a bit of a "stumble" because I had to have one of my back teeth crowned. I was told that a tooth that had a filling (for about 30 years) had to be replaced. No big deal because I have dental insurance, although, I will admit, I don't like to visit dentists and often neglect to have regular checkups. There even was an FSA that had been set up through my work although it was funded for my yearly glasses expense. I was not "pleasantly" surprised when the bill was nearly $600 with insurance.

I paid it, although the money could have been used for my glasses, but we shall overcome that. The focus still remains on lowering credit card debt and eliminating that from my life. It does affect everything that is one and saving money has become somewhat of a passion in my life. Yesterday is a good example. Time was not allotted to prepare my lunch to take to work and when my lunch hour came, I went to Wendy's. I kick myself now because I could have used the money saved by packing ramen noodles to have an extra $6.85 to pay toward credit card debt.

So it is with life. It doesn't matter how many times you may stumble or fall, what matters is how many times you brush yourself off and get back into the race in which slow and steady wins the race in the long run.

Have a GREAT day! (You can sign up for my eBook notification on the right side of the blog).

Saturday In The Park

A good, inexpensive way to have some family time, or alone time, is in the park. Usually, there is not a fee (free is good) and you can pack a picnic lunch or dinner that should not cost as much as a meal out. If I didn't work on Saturdays, I probably would spend more time in the park or down at a campsite.

When you are looking for ways to save money to eliminate your credit card debt (or just plain debt if you are lucky enough not to be burdened with credit card debt), slowly the ideas trickle in until you find yourself looking at coupons online (coupons.com) or in the paper or in magazines. Not only do you look at them, you begin to use them. Perhaps it is saving 10 cents here or a quarter there, but that trickle of savings starts to build into a steady stream of formerly wasted money that now is buying you freedom.

One of the best ways to not have credit card debt is not to go there in the first place. Years ago, credit cards were few and far between and not very many people could qualify. As regulations loosened, interest rates dropped, and we, as a people, became more and more consumer-driven, credit card debt grew and grew.

So did the credit card companies.

Sure, President Obama has pushed for legislation to help the consumer, but don't be so smug thinking that the credit card problem has gone away. It hasn't. It won't until all are educated about their credit cars and the wise use of them (or non-use of them). Hang in there, because you can be free too.

Sign up for a newsletter to let you know when my eBook Never Surrender will be available. Have a great day!

Carpe Diem

Seize the day! A lot of us will see people taking action and will wish it were us. You have that ability to do things and many times it will require you to do just one thing...TAKE ACTION! Often it doesn't matter what the action is, you must just do SOMETHING!

The same is true when you are eliminating your credit card debt and securing your financial future.

You may ask, "Should I save by using coupons? Should I pay the highest interest card first while maintaining minimum payments (on time) with my other credit cards? Should I sell things I don't need?" and on and on. You could work yourself into a frenzy just wondering what it is that you need to start with. Each action has its own merit and can certainly get you toward a goal of being credit card debt free. Each plan and idea is good.

Choose one.

Use it to build momentum to develop a habit and then choose another. And another. Soon you will have developed an amazing strength as your own strength is bolstered by success after success. Sure, you may find a dud once in a while, but use the lesson learned to build wisdom.

TAKE ACTION! Have a GREAT day!

Warrior Wednesday

In our quest to eliminate credit card debt and to straighten out our financial lives, a little bit of help along the way is sometimes welcome. One way to straighten things out is to pay our balances in full each and every month. When you get to that point, you might consider getting some free money from your credit card. While perusing Dolans.com, I ran across some suggestions that they have.

American Express offers their Blue Cash program which allows you to earn up to 5% back on everyday purchases. When you get to where you don't need a credit card, this can serve as a bit of an incentive, and it can help to increase your credit score. Having a good credit score is a great way to have lower costs for your loans that you will occasionally need and can save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime.

If your are a working class family, there may be a free health insurance program for them. For the inside scoop, visit InsureKidsNow.gov. If your employer offers the FSA program at work, you could consider that the next time open enrollment comes along. Mine has come in handy. I have my amount set this year at $700 which is available for me on January 1. Having a crown done is not a cheap procedure and it nearly depleted the funds that were in my FSA. What is great is that I will now owe $196 less on taxes next April because of it.

Other places for freebies that will cost you little or no money include TotallyFreeStuff.com and JustFreeStuff.com. You should at least check them out to see what sort of things that you can get and not have to pay for.

Have a GREAT day, and visit my site. My eBook is nearly complete now and should be available in mid-June.

Memorial Monday

Memorial Day is a holiday that was intended for us to remember the service men and women who have given their lives for us to enjoy the freedoms that we do now. I am grateful for those who have dutifully served, be it by volunteering or by being drafted. As Americans, we enjoy so many freedoms that others around the world only dream of. But those freedoms are balanced with responsibilities.

So it is with credit card debt.

Most Americans have been given the opportunity to have a credit card debt. Owning a credit card can give you the freedom to purchase something that you wouldn't normally have the cash on hand to purchase right away. In times past, stores such as KMart or WalMart would offer lay-away programs. They worked like this: You would make payments toward something that cost more money than you have available, but, for a small fee you could reserve the item until it was paid for. Then along came credit cards that gave some the opportunity to purchase something immediately and make payments on the credit card.

Most haven't used that wisely, including myself. It was sort of like being a child in a candy store with unlimited selection. We, as Americans have gotten to the point to where we don't look at the total cost of an item (i.e. a car) but rather at the monthly payments. That has come to bite me in the behind. Now many find themselves in a situation where their credit scores are abysmal and a large portion of their paycheck is going to pay on a credit card that was used to pay for something trivial in the past. Many times, that item is long gone and forgotten. With as much as has been paid on the credit card, one would think that their would be a fancy car or a beautiful home, but that is not the case.

It doesn't have to be that way.

There are solutions out there that can help you to eliminate your credit card debt and earn more money in the process. If you want money making ideas, you could always visit my website or take some time to think things through. Don't despair, you can get out of credit card debt, but there is something that others will not do for you, and that is TAKE ACTION!!

Have a great Memorial day!!!