“When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” – Confucius We’ve all read the stories of folks out there who have paid off their debt at breakneck speed. By focusing solely on their goal and living and breathing that goal, they pay off their debt lightening fast. […]
What is the value of your time?
Time is money. An old proverb that tells us we are wasting our time when we are idle because we could be using that time to earn more money. Yes, time is our most precious resource. Yet, time is not equal to money. Time is much more valuable than money. Talk to a person […]
Why buying things won’t make you happy
You’re feeling bored or a little down. To cheer yourself up, you make it your mission to find that perfect shirt or pair of jeans for that special night out coming up. Or you finally get that raise you’ve been hoping for and, well, now that you can afford it, you buy that new car […]
What does living a “rich” life mean to you?
If you only had a year to live, how would you make that time really count? Where would you want to live? What would you want to do? Who would you spend your time with? Think about your perfect life. What do you really want in the limited time you have here on earth? […]
What works better than a budget?
A few years ago, we paid all of our consumer debt and students loans and boosted our savings for retirement, all without a strict budget. You can read our story here. In this post, I’m going to tell you exactly how we were able to gain control of our expenses and pay off our debt […]
Exercise your way out of debt? Creating habits to get to your financial goals
Use your exercise routine to pay off debt? Who knew that a healthy exercise habit can have a positive impact on your finances? In reality, it’s not that simple. But the point is, when you are able to make a positive change in one area of your life and stick with it, you are more […]
Lessons in Perseverance
Perseverance = Success What does perseverance have to do with personal finance? Just about everything. Whether you have a goal to pay down your debt, save more, or retire earlier, perseverance is going to be the key to your success. You have to be able to continue on your path toward your goals, even in […]
3 ways to keep your restaurant habit from destroying your budget
You got off of work late, have to get the kids to soccer practice, get home and find nothing in the fridge and have no time to get to the grocery store before bedtime, so you make that familiar call. The person on the other line doesn’t have to ask your address. You’ve made the […]
What to do when you have financial regrets
Recently I was discussing my age (ahem, 40) with some acquaintances, telling them it didn’t really bother me since I don’t feel old and I have no regrets. One woman made the comment that when she turned 40, she became painfully aware that she was not at the point in life that she thought she […]
How we paid off $100,000 in debt on one income
We saved a six month emergency fund, paid off $100,000 in debt and built up our retirement fund on one middle class income without a strict budget. True story. We did this. But it took time (about 8 years). We made mistakes and backtracked a few times. To this day, we continue to learn […]