We must develop a power over purchase — instead of allowing our purchases and the people from whom we make the purchases to have power over us. We must remember that we can always spend more than we make. I once met a man whose annual income in one year increased from $42,000 to $175,000. [...]

What troubles me most about people struggling to become debt-free are their spending habits. I strongly emphasize taking an honest look at one’s spending: Have you really cut out all non-essential costs? Are you paying more for goods that would be cheaper if you made them yourself? A lot of debt-ridden people would admit they [...]

What about those families with middle-class aspirations who earned a little less than average or those who lived in a particularly expensive city? Even with both parents in the workforce, they have fallen behind. Rather than drop out of the bidding war [for suitable homes] and resign themselves to sending their kids to weaker schools, [...]

According to research conducted in late 2002 by RoperASW, although 88 percent of Americans have enough money to make their rent or mortgage payments every month and nearly as many have enough money to buy the things they need, only 44 percent can afford to pay off their credit cards each month, and only 52 [...]