Financial security isn’t about being lucky, miserly, or the child of well-off parents. It’s about discipline.
— mamessner, Lifehacker commenter 

Well, for me, the quest for smart money management is not only the search for security, it’s the journey to find balance. If I can fill my life with unforgettable, fulfilling experiences, I don’t think material goods will matter as much to me. Sometimes the search for the perfect pair of jeans, the latest make-up, […]

…Honesty is a predicate for success. Specifically, if you intend to get ahead financially, it’s a lot easier if you’re willing to discuss your money openly and honestly. For me, this means not disguising my identity on-line and it means truthfully revealing information like my net worth or income (with a reasonable degree of safety […]

If you don’t owe anyone money, they can’t control you. If they can’t control you, you can think in terms of what is truly best for you. If you’re in debt for any consumer purchases (credit cards, cars, etc.) develop a plan to get out as quickly as you can. You will be amazed at […]

The problem with treating the symptoms of credit card debt rather than the root cause (spending too much), is that the symptoms will return. If you want to kill the debt, you have to hack it off at the roots. One of the best ways that I know to kill a spending problem is through […]

Add Up All of Your Monthly Minimum Payments on Your Debt. For me, this was a HUGE eye-opener. After seeing all of the money that I have to use every month to pay debt, I realized that there is a very large chunk of money that could be used for other things, like perhaps saving […]

If you are overwhelmed, and you feel like there is too much info out there, or that you are too “stupid” to do anything about your finances…STOP!!! There is hope. You must learn to grasp hold of today, forget about yesterday, and plan for tomorrow. Quit borrowing money. Get out of debt. Make a plan. […]

… Because we are debt free, and when you are debt free, your conversations about money take on a brand new TONE. Why? Because you are talking about how you are going to spend, save, and give away your money, NOT how much you are going to give to the finance company, the credit company, […]

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 […]