http://www.debtfreeblog.net Get Out of Debt Today Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:54:14 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I've been struggling lately trying to find a way to cut expenses. I just keep going back through the same list of bills and there's not much left to cut. We already have the slowest Internet, basic cable, basic phone, no long distance, etc. We have cut so many "luxury" ... http://www.debtfreeblog.net/uncategorized/there-is-more-than-one-way-to-skin-a-cat/ I stumbled upon this excellent post by Josh Kaufman at The Personal MBA. This is exactly how I feel about debt... with the exception of a mortgage or reasonable car payment. If it's not going to make you money, you shouldn't even consider financing. Check out "The Nefarious Hidden Costs of ... http://www.debtfreeblog.net/tips/the-hidden-costs-of-debt/ After sitting down (for several hours) yesterday and hammering out a new monthly budget, we were able to allocate a whopping $1,700 a month towards credit card debt! After a few rough calculations on our credit card debt minus total payments plus interest charges, it might actually be possible for ... http://www.debtfreeblog.net/debt-free/getting-out-of-consumer-debt-in-one-year/ The Common Craft Show is a website that makes hard to understand topics easy to understand with short, simple video explanations. They've released a video about saving money that describes how compound interest and investments work, and it's a great explanation for people who are unfamiliar with investing. Take a look: Also ... http://www.debtfreeblog.net/resources/saving-money-in-plain-english/ Credit Karma is an online service that offers a free credit score, along with interesting information about how you compare with others. You can see how your score compares with the entire nation, or just people your age. You can track your credit score over time, and get offers from ... http://www.debtfreeblog.net/resources/free-credit-score-and-credit-tools-at-credit-karma/ A lot of people get Christmas bonuses at work that range from a free turkey to several thousand dollars. Unexpected income usually leads to unexpected purchases! If you know you're going to get a bonus, plan on using that money before you get the check. Here are some productive ideas for ... http://www.debtfreeblog.net/tips/use-unexpected-income-to-slash-debt/ I recently watched Maxed Out, a documentary about the dark secrets of America's banking industry. If you're reading this blog, then you most likely already know that debt is bad... but you probably have no idea how bad it is. Maxed Out focuses on banks and financial institutions that lend money ... http://www.debtfreeblog.net/commentary/maxed-out-the-truth-about-debt-in-america/ How many times have you woken up the day after making a big purchase and regretted it? That TV, computer, furniture or car seems a little more expensive than it did yesterday. You suddenly get a funny feeling in your stomach as you realize the credit card bill's coming in ... http://www.debtfreeblog.net/tips/spend-less-with-this-quick-tip/ There are two schools of thought when it comes to paying off your debt. One says that you should start with the account with the highest interest rate, then move to the next nighest interest rate and the next until you've paid everything off. The other says that you should ... http://www.debtfreeblog.net/tips/should-you-pay-off-the-highest-interest-rate-or-lowest-balance-first/ Dave Ramsey is a speaker, trainer and consultant on debt and financial planning. After making it big in real estate, his debt got the best of him. He went bankrupt after the bank called in some large short-term notes and he vowed never to go into debt again. He has a ... http://www.debtfreeblog.net/resources/dave-ramsey-total-money-makeover-live/