Heard About This One??

I heard of something new and exciting that made me want to get back to the blog and tell everyone the news. Have you ever heard of the government helping you to pay off your debt? Well, if you haven't, you better believe it because it is a possibility. As with any good news, of course you'll have to expect there will be a couple of catches but they aren't as bad as you might think.

I truly cannot come on the blog and try to advertise as if I know everything about how it works and this is why I am providing a helpful link below for you to take a look at the information for yourself. The two key things are this; number one possible scenario you would need to be in for the government to even consider giving you a grant to help pay off your debt is that you need to be one of the many people in the world looking to purchase your very first home. We cannot argue the fact that an awful lot of people out in the world are stuck under a mountain of debt but still dreaming to some day be a homeowner. The second possible scenario is that you are one of those brave souls looking to open up your own business.

These are two good reasons the government might be willing to grant you money to help with the debt. Believe or not, the government does want you to succeed so get out there and give it a whirl. As always feel free to leave your opinions and advice below each post. Take care and don't forget the link below to read all about this opportunity.
Click Here To Read About How The Government Can Help You Pay Off Debt

Time To Laugh A Little

Time To Get Back To Work People!

WOW, has it been a long time since I've visited and/or updated my blog...YES! It's been too long and I apologize to my regular readers for the long break. I'll try to pick things up again on a regular basis. This blog, while I hope it helps you, is really my own way of trying every measure possible to get out of debt that would otherwise eat me alive. I've noticed we've had some great visitors to the blog giving some great advice to go along with what I've said. I can't thank you all enough and you know who you are :).

These days when gas prices are absolutely killing us and everyone is scraping to get by, it is even more important than ever to be aware of our spending. I've heard of people quitting their jobs because the price for gas to commute along with childcare expenses is greater than what they make in salary. Can you imagine?Bottom line is, times are tough and we need to get tougher to beat them. This post is about finding all the ways possible you can help yourself get through the difficult financial times. Being a stay-at-home-mom myself, I'm sure I speak for many others out there when I say that it's hard to live on one income but there are tons of ways to make things better and a little easier. Put that brain to work and think of what might be even the simplest ways to make a little extra money. This will help to not only get through the gas price increase but also a little extra to help pay off those debts, which is what the main goal is long term! Some ideas are as simple as offering neighbors who don't have the time themselves to walk their dogs around for $5 or $10 See if you can mow a neighbors yard for an extra $30 a week. Maybe even take in a friend's child over the summer while they are out of school. The ideas are out there, you just have to get up and run with them and make it happen. I'll be trying out some of these ideas myself so take charge and get to work. WE can do this!

Give Yourself A Break

Sometimes I wonder if perhaps this is what got me into so much debt in the first place, but at the same time I cannot help feeling like we need just a couple of our own simple pleasures now and then. It's different for everyone. For some it's a pair of brand new shoes and others it is a night out to dinner and possibly a good flick. No matter what it is for you, I do believe it's important to indulge yourself now and then. The only trick is, don't put your simple pleasure on a credit card!! In my journey so far with trying to get out of debt I've realized that there is a lot of pride that comes in paying for things with cash instead of pulling out that ever so easy to use credit card. It's amazing how it starts to feel like free money after awhile.

Anyhow, what I basically am getting at with this post is to remind all of you readers that getting strict about getting out of debt should not also rob you of your simple pleasure. Indulge a little. Just remember to pay with cash and leave those stinking credit cards at home so you're not tempted to over do it!

Keeping Track Of How Far You've Come

At this point in the game it's a really good time to talk about tracking how far you've gotten with your debt management. One thing I do that I do believe is a great way to get more motivation to keep going is to keep track of the debt as it goes down. I keep a sheet, actually a note file on my computer, that shows me where I started with my total debt. I added up what I owe for every one of my credit cards and then I update it each month with the new balance and the amount I paid that month. It's a great way to watch your debt get paid down. It's very easy to feel like you're literally getting nowhere when you're trying so hard to pay off debt but trust me this will help you see it plain as day and you feel proud when you get to type in a lower amount each month for your total debt. It really does help and it will make you proud. Try it!

Another Informative Video

Using A Home Equity Loan To Pay Off Credit Card Debt

I've heard some talk recently about people wanting to sign up for home equity loans in order to pay off their high interest credit cards. I wanted to give some advice on the matter and let everyone know this is a VERY BAD IDEA! I'm only giving advice and not trying to tell anyone how they should handle their money but I wouldn't do it. If I did do it, I'd have to be pretty darn bad off with credit card debt and in way over my head. You're basically putting yourself at risk of losing your most precious asset if you end up not being able to pay the bill. I think we would all agree that being in credit card debt is bad enough without having to worry about losing your house on top of it BECAUSE of the credit card debt loan you took out against your house. Try to keep things as simple as possible and look at every possible resouce before you turn to your house. This, in my opinion, should be the very last resort! Managing money is not easy but if we don't learn, we'll never get ahead and we'll always be sinking further and further into debt. Think about it!

Carry Cash Instead Of The Cards...

I mentioned before about the great tip to leave your credit cards at home so you don't even have the option to add more debt to them and this tip goes along with that but I thought it was even better and worth mentioning on it's own. So many people these days use their debit cards instead of cash but it occurred to me that putting away every card you have, even a debit card can really help cut down your spending. The way this should be done is you should set a limit each week of the amount of money you think you will spend for that week. Calculate it all out or even go as a daily guide and then visit an ATM for only the cash you need. This way you won't be able to overspend because you won't have any other option in your wallet. To some it may seem very silly but each person is different and I believe in giving advice that can reach a large variety of people and their different personalities. Try it out and see what kind of difference it makes for you. Share your thoughts with comments below.

It's Time For Another Laugh...

I truly apologize about not having been on the blog very much this month. It has been such a crazy month so far. I hope it isn't a preview of things coming! We are just so busy! Here's a good laugh for you this week. I like to add these videos here and there on the blog to help remind us to laugh out loud as often as possible.

Find Ways To Bring A Little Extra Income In

A lot of times when we hear these ideas about bringing in more money we think it's only possible for those of us who have tremendous talents or that can build a business up from scratch. The fact is this isn't at all true. There are a lot of ways to help bring in a little extra money without being business savvy or having a house full of valuable stuff just sitting around waiting to be sold. I have another blog that gives a lot of great tips on how to make money from home and you might be surprised to learn what some of the options are. I think all of us could use some extra cash now and then so get creative, do the research and start making that money!

www.letsmakemoneyontheweb.blogspot.com

Think Your Mood Can Put You Further Into Debt?

If you answered "No" to that question then you could be wrong. I came across a very interesting article today that shows study results for how people spend money based on their mood. Take a look. Information like this can help us understand why we might be sinking further and further into debt. It just might go deeper than we think.

Click Here To See How Your Mood Affects More Than You Might Have Thought

Pay Off Mortgage Even Quicker Without Paying Any Extra Money

First of all let me say that I'm sorry it's been a few days since I have posted. What a busy week this turned out being for our family. I'm glad it's done and now we can get things back to normal.

This new tip is something I heard of and could not believe but it's the truth. Here is a great way that maybe doesn't put as much emphasis on your actual credit card debt but it's a terrific tip for debt in general. So here's what I heard. By splitting up your mortgage payment into two seperate payments per month you're actually paying it off faster in the long run. Does this sound impossible? Well, trust me it isn't. Check out this site that I have attached below to see just how it works. You'll be amazed the money that you save and how much faster you pay the loan off by following these amazingly simple steps.

Click Here To See How You Can Save Big Bucks On Your Mortgage

Have Your Weekly Laugh

I couldn't resist attaching this video I found today. I love to laugh and this one made me laugh a lot! It's a collection of pranks pulled on people. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Great Motivation For Getting Debt Paid Down

Have you ever sat down and figured out the total amount that you're paying on your credit cards each and every month? One fun and very interesting thing to do is to figure out exactly what that amount is and then have a little daydream about what else you could be doing with that money after those credit cards are paid off. Sometimes even just to think about putting away for retirement or being able to send the kids off to college is the greatest thought in the world, more so than buying that new car or finding an awesome vacation spot. My personal daydream is to no longer live paycheck to paycheck and having money to put away for the unexpected. Simple fun daydreams like this can really help you stay focused on paying those debt down...way down! It's hard to break the cycle when you're possibly so used to satisfying the never-ending desire to buy now and pay later so everything you can do to help keep focused is worth practicing on a regular basis. Go on and daydream. It might be the smartest thing you'll do.

Try Making More Than One Payment Every Month

A lot of people don't think about this but it's a very good tip and like so many other things, you will be amazed how much faster that debt gets paid down by following this simple step. I'm sure we've all experienced the pleasure of getting a little extra money when we didn't expect it. Yes, I can hear you now, "NOT ME!" The thing is though, it's not always about getting a little extra money but rather just using a set amount of out of each paycheck (because a lot of us are paid twice monthly) to put on your credit cards. It doesn't have to be a lot, just a little something extra and you are suddenly paying that debt down even faster. Just think of all the interest payments you could save yourself! Try it out for a month or two and see how it works and share your comments.

Share What's Working For You

Everyone is welcome to leave their comments at the end of each post on my blog. I'd like you to share what is working for you on your way to getting debt free. You can also ask questions and communicate with other visitors. So get started and leave your comments. Take care and God bless.

Here is a little something to make you laugh. This is a real video of a man that was arrested for DUI. See just how ridiculous he is!

Use That Tax Return To Pay Down Credit Debt

Okay, today's post is a difficult one for all of us big spenders out there. Let's face it, it's really hard to get a handfull of money and not go out searching for the best and biggest thing to spend it on. I ask you to imagine this though, whatever amount you get back on your taxes that could be immediately applied to your credit card debt, think how long it might otherwise take you to come up with that kind of a payment. Some of us are lucky enough to get a couple of thousand dollars back on our tax returns and that kind of money put directly on credit cards makes a huge difference in the long run on our payoff time. The most idea thing would be to take a percentage of your tax return and put it into a savings or IRA and then apply the rest to that nasty debt. It might hurt a little at first but you'll be thanking yourself later!

A Good Laugh...

Here is our joke cartoon for the week. Remember to keep laughing. It's good for the soul.

Don't Carry Your Credit Cards With You

Okay, today's post is going to sound like a no-brainer to a lot of people out there but as I've talked with many it appears that people still aren't grasping what a huge difference this one trick all by itself can do for helping to get credit card debt under control. Have you ever thought about simply not carrying your major credit cards with you every where you go? I had this tip first given to me by a friend years ago and I thought to myself, "You're joking, right?" I ask you to think about it though. If we really lived day to day as if we didn't even have the credit card (which is a heck of a lot easier to do if you don't have it ready at hand all of the time) then suddenly you would start learning to tell yourself, "I don't really need that and I cannot afford it anyways". This is a trick you will need to start training your brain to do no matter what if you want to win the war against credit card debt. We have to get back into the frame of mind where we tell ourselves, "NO!". I will admit, this is a very hard one for me as well but I'm going to do it right along with you and maybe we can help each other out by sharing our experiences. Leave your comments at the end of each post and let others know what is and is not working for you on the road to getting debt free, or at least trying really hard! Until next time, God bless and put those credit cards away in a drawer at home. For some people you cannot just cut them up so this is the second-best thing. Do it and see what kind of a difference it makes for you.

Not Always A Good Idea To Close Credit Card Accounts

This is a really terrific peice of advice I picked up recently that I didn't know about for years. Often times I figured it was a good idea to keep up with closing old credit card accounts that I wasn't using because I thought it was a good way to keep control of it all. Well, to my surprise I have since discovered after talking with others that this isn't always a good idea. Apparently some creditors see closing accounts as a sign that you cannot handle the different accounts, in other words, you aren't responsible enough with them so you need to get them closed out and canceled for good. Yeah, I was shocked to hear this too because like I said, I always thought it was just good credit card mainteanence. You should definitely always talk with your creditors before you close out any accounts and be sure whether or not closing that account would put any kind of negative effect on your credit. And remember too to be sure if you are being charged annual fees just to keep a credit card open. Those accounts, when not in use, I would say close no matter what because you certainly do not want to pay out of pocket just to keep a card open. That wouldn't be very smart at all. As I say with everything, always double-check with your creditors first before you make any big changes. Don't be afraid to ask questions because it directly affects you!

Stressed Out?

I've seen a lot of comments lately on TV talking about how out of hand credit card debt is and how much Americans need to get a grip before credit card debt completely ruins their lives. Because of these comments I thought it would be a good time to add a little something about dealing with the stress of your credit card debt. Number one is that it is very important to be honest about your debt and talk to friends and family about it. Often times when people know what you're really dealing with they will have much more respect for you in the long run. Also, when people know and understand your situation with debt they too can offer you advice and encouragement to keep working hard at paying it down. Secondly, it's important to vent about the things that stress you so talk about it with those who are close to you and don't worry yourself sick that it will never get better. It will! Another great outlet is to add your comments below each post on this blog. All it takes is for a few people to start commenting and sharing for a whole new world of support to open up right before your eyes. So relax, we're all basically in this together otherwise there wouldn't be so many people out there searching for ways to make it better. Take care and God bless until next time!

Get Late Charges Removed...Yes You Can Do This!

We have missed a couple of days due to a long Martin Luther King holiday weekend but we are back in full force this morning with another great tip. Today's tip is about getting late charges removed. Granted this isn't always going to work for everyone but the reminder about this topic is once again that credit card companies want your business so there are lots of things they will work with you on. One of these things are late charges. If you are someone who doesn't regularly get late charges for late payments, you can call your creditor to request that a late charge be removed. They won't be as willing to help you out if you are a repeat offender but if you haven't made a habit of this they will certainly be more on your side. Being that some late charges range anywhere from $29-$39+, this can be a pretty big savings. Remember to stay calm and respectful when you speak with your creditor and let them know you're doing your very best to get these debts paid off so will they please work with you. Also, don't be afraid to ask to speak to a supervisor if you're not getting what you want out of the customer service rep you speak with. A lot of times the reps will try to talk you out of needing the supervisor but you might be amazed sometimes at what a supervisor can do for you that a rep has no authority to do. No matter what, don't give up. It's your debt and you have to take control of it!

Want A Lower Interest Rate?

Did you know that you can often haggle with your creditors over your interest rate charges? It's true! Remember that credit card companies want your business so you are definitely in control. If you are not happy with your interest rate simply call your creditor and ask for it to be lowered. Now here's the trick. You have to give them the impression that if they don't lower the interest rate that you're going to move the balance on that credit card to another credit card with a lower interest rate. They don't want you to take your balance to another credit card company so very often they will work with you on lowering interest rates. Be firm and don't be afraid to ask for what you want. You might be surprised what you can accomplish!

All About Saving

I thought it would be a good time to add a little note about savings accounts. Now I'll be honest, this is an area where I have done horrible in the past but am trying to change. It makes such a huge difference over time when we add whatever we can to our savings accounts each time we get paid. Even if you put only $5 it's better than putting nothing and you might surprised how even small amounts here and there add up to big savings over the course of a year. It's so important to have savings and most people with a lot of credit card debt would probably say they have very little in savings, if anything at all. So today's tip is about paying yourself first. When you get your paycheck, however often that is, take a small amount and put it in savings before you do anything else. "Pay yourself first", is actually the tip that Suze Orman gives about debt and if you don't know who Suze Orman is my advice is to Google her for even more great advice on managing and paying off debt. She is filled with great tips.

I welcome anyone regularly reading this blog to add your comments at the bottom of each post if you'd like. It's a great way to share with me and with others reading this blog what has and has not worked for you. You can share tips, unload your problems or just chat about what you read in that days post. Basically whatever you'd like to talk about. Until tomorrow, God bless!

Pay Off Higher Interest Cards First

Today's update is about which order you should pay off your credit cards in. A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that you should pay off credit cards according to the amount that is owed. For instance, people who have several credit cards ranging from balances of $1,000 up to say $10,000 think they should automatically concentrate on the lowest balance first. I believe it's best to first pay off the card with he highest interest rate. In the long run you will probably pay more over time for the card with the higher interest rate than you would on the card with the lower balance or lower interest rate. It requires doing some math on your own personal situation but most people feel it is best to pay off credit card accourding to interest rate charges.

Take your time and work out your own plan of action. You may choose to do it differently which is good because everyone's credit card debt is different so you certainly have to figure out what the best way to pay off is for your situation and hopefully your plan will also save you the most money. You CAN do this!

This Week's Cartoon Joke To Lighten Things Up

When it comes to the stress of credit card debt, or any kind of debt for that matter, you have to sometimes just laugh about it!

One More Thing About Consolidation

Hi everyone and welcome back to my blog. After thinking a little about about the debt counseling programs that are available and the many people on them, I did want to add one more bit of advice on this subject that I left out. If possible, you should try to consolidate on your own before you go searching for a debt consolidation program. The way you can do this is to work at applying with just one credit card company or asking a current creditor if they will raise your limit enough to cover the amount you need to move all of your credit cards onto one card. Naturally you'll want to do this with the credit card that will offer you the very best interest rate for the longest period of time. So, try your hand at consolidating on your own initially and then if that just isn't possible then move onto debt counselors and their programs. Remember to do your research on the company you consider consolidating with and always check with your creditors on a regular basis to be sure they are getting paid the amounts they were promised by the debt counselor. Lots more great tips will be coming next week so join us then. In the mean time, take care and God bless!

Debt Consolidation Isn't A Bad Thing

Today's post is about Debt Consolidation. For those of you who don't know, there are companies that you can contact who will take over your credit card debt no matter how many different accounts you have open. They consolidate it for you, often times even talk with your creditors to lower and in rare cases elimate your interest rates until you pay the debt off. It's very important to know that debt consolidtion isn't something you want to jump into if you don't have to. It does put a sort of temporary glitch on your credit report, however, if you are at a point where you cannot even pay your minimum payments without a struggle, debt consolidation is definitely the next thing to consider. Basically it is FAR BETTER than declaring bankruptcy.

Now when choosing a debt consolidation company to go with, do all the reseach you can. Make sure they are a member of the BBB and see if you can possibly get references or any type of information about other people that have used them and whether or not their experiences with that company were good or bad. And the most important thing of all, and this one I cannot stress enough...make sure that you do not leave everything in the company you choose. No matter if you're handing over your debt or not, you always need to keep a very close watch on each and every one of your credit cards. Make sure they are getting paid monthly and if you notice any problems at all, even ones that seem a little off but you don't think are a big deal, always contact the creditor to make sure everything is still in good standing. It's all still in your name so don't just trust that it's being taken care of because you've signed up with credit counseling. Join us daily for more great tips and thank you for visiting my blog. God bless.

How About A Free E-Book For Everyone!!

I have a surprise for everyone! I wanted to say thank you so much for stopping by and visiting my blog. Let's face it we're all in debt . I am and I am assuming you are or you wouldn't have stopped by, right? Well I want to help you get on your way to clearing up this debt along with me so I an giving everyone a Free Ebook to help all of us learn all the secrets and truth behind what these credit cards are all about. All the things the companies don't want you to find out.

So this is my thank you gift for you. I sure hope you enjoy the book and I hope you will stop back again!

Click Here To Download Free Credit Cards The Low Down eBook

Every Wonder How Long It Would Take You To Pay Off That Credit Card Debt?

If you are like many other families you have a mounting pile of credit card bills and are paying the minimum on them each month. Just barely making the payments, month after month. It is reported that the average family have over $8,000 in credit card debt and credit card companies are charging up to 30% interest. can you believe that is even legal? It is and this is why credit card companies hide out in states that allow them to push the rules to the limit. South Dakota & Delaware are the two that really support the credit card companies.

Did you ever wonder how long it will take you to pay off that $6,000 bill when you are only paying the minimum? Well, here is a calculator that will help you see just how long it will take.

Click Here To Calculate Your Pay Off Date

If you are interested in taking a FREE get out of debt seminar on line, then you can join our friends At Motley Fool. There is no catch and need to fear the man behind the curtain like in the Wizard of Oz. There there is no curtain. Just a good, free program we can all follow and it even has free Debt consolidation workbooks.

Click For Information On The Free Get Out Of Debt Program

Click Here To Download Free Debt Work Book

I say we all take this program. We can all take our worrying and turn it into become debt busters! Let's go bust some debt!

Today's Priceless Bit of Advice About Handling Credit Cards

Hello everyone and welcome back to the site. Today is a beautiful day in Texas and I hope it was nice for a lot of others too.

Today I have a video to show you with a super great bit of advice. This is one of the first major tips offered on this site. It was something I had planned to go in depth about with words but when I discovered a video that laid it out so well I decided it was a much better way to inforom you about how to handle different issues that come up with credit cards.

I have tried these tips myself, actually many times over the years and they work great. Remember when talking to your creditors that they want your business so you do have the upper hand! Take a look at this latest and greatest video offered up and remember to keep checking back! Thanks and God bless.

The Credit Card Song by Old Man Pie

I think we would all agree that occasionally we have to laugh at things that might sometimes otherwise make us cry. Here is a great little video about credit cards that will hopefully put a smile on your face and remind you that this is such a common problem. Enjoy!

Start The New Year With Me Getting Out Of Debt

I'm building this site up to be a great place to get advice about how to get out of debt. I strive to provide new tips on a weekly basis on ways to win the war against the creditors hounding you to make your payments. Let's face it, being in debt is a HUGE problem in today's world. Everyone is putting everything on credit cards and it's a trend that seems to start at a very young age. For me, I got my first credit card at 16 years old to a major department store. From there it grew to several credit cards with different banks until at a ripe age of 20 I found myself already struggling with payments. I did the right thing and by age 22 I was on my way to getting debt free. I had joined a credit counseling program and by age 27 I had just about paid everything off until the next major phase in life hit...buying a home. At that point it was too easy to put every single thing I could think of on credit cards to help furnish and decorate my new home that I was so proud of and wanted it all to be just right. The concept of "buy now and pay later" was always the greatest thought on my mind. Now at age 30, my family and I are in over our heads with credit card debt. My goal is to start concentrating seriously on the problem before it takes everything away from us.

So here's the plan, I hope you will join me on a journey to get out of debt. I have some great tips that I've learned through my ups and downs with credit card companies. I am going to put them to good use and help you as well. Take a moment to subscribe to my blog and join me daily for new updates on how the process is going for me and you just might find some great ideas for yourself as well. Take care and God bless.