My life and business style was/is to be financially prudent and very honest, to hedge against potential bad outcomes, etc.. I can’t begin to tell you how well that worked out and how I watched others that had a deficit of economic common sense and business morality crash and burn in the same area of [...]

People are simply amazed that I don’t use plastic. Some are actually “offended” by the fact that I don’t take advantage of the “float”. I’ve had more than one person tell me that I’m “crazy”. On the other hand, I’ve had a bunch of people say, “Man, I’d love to live that way. I use [...]

The credit card companies don’t care whether you’re addicted; they’d prefer that you are. They will offer people credit whether the consumer can handle it or not. It’s up to the individual to make the decision as to what tools they will use. Credit cards are a part of life in this country, and they’re [...]

Perform some action from your financial recovery plan every day, even if it’s just balancing your checkbook to keep your finances in order. This will build positive momentum. You won’t always have the awareness to think about your plan consciously, so it’s important to habitualize the routine actions, so you learn to do them automatically. [...]

… accept and acknowledge how you honestly feel about your financial situation.  When you’re broke or in debt, you know something isn’t right.  That sinking feeling you get whenever a bill arrives in the mail isn’t healthy.  When your finances are strong, a bill is nothing but a piece of paper that takes two minutes to process.  But [...]

…you should only buy things that add value to your life.  A budget is, in every sense, your money value compass.  As Covey talks about in Seven Habits, your To-Do list should reflect what you value.  A budget is your money’s To-Do list.
— Jesse Mecham, YouNeedABudget founder; “Interview with Jesse Mecham”

Having financial troubles and being in debt can be so shameful, but tell someone about it.  Have someone you can share with and don’t keep it all bottled in.  Everyone needs someone to be there when you are down and out.  It could be a friend, a spouse, message board buddies, or a support group.  [...]

It’s great to be motivated, but if you don’t know what you’re doing, you’re basically nothing more than a really fired up idiot.
— Steve, financial blogger @ AdventureMoney // “Investment or Money Down the Toilet”

Getting rid of debt is a huge relief — unlike anything else I’ve ever really felt in my life.  And the great thing about it, which I noticed pretty quickly, was that once I had a written plan and put it into action, I got a little jolt of energy every month.  Just looking at those decreasing [...]

Contentment is natural wealth. To be content, happy with one’s situation in life, is to be wealthy. Riches come not from money and material items, but through living life in a manner that fulfills you.
— Lisa, financial blogger; Contentment Is Wealth (blog) || “Contentment Is Wealth” (post)

Bottom line on frugality is that it is a gift to you and your family. When the accomplishments of savings and less stress over bills start to add up, you’ll realize that fiscal responsibility doesn’t mean doing without. It means making good choices so you can have what you want.
— Dawn, blogger, Frugal For Life:  [...]

If you really do struggle with debt, then the most important thing you can do is DON’T TAKE OUT ANY MORE DEBT. Cut up your credit cards immediately. As you pay each one off, cancel it. Don’t equivocate. You don’t need them. Nobody needs a credit card. And if you’ve had problems with them in [...]

I was trying to think of exactly what it is that I appreciate more but I really think it is EVERYTHING. I appreciate not having to worry about money and all the things that I learned you can enjoy without money. I appreciate how I learned who my true friends are and how you can [...]

People in debt have cash-flowed their future right into their past.
— alberen, blogger

… I refuse to be anyone’s slave. I want to be free. I want to work for my wages, use my wages to buy things that I can afford, and go to bed every single night knowing that only God controls my destiny. I will not be another man’s slave. I refuse. I will not bow [...]