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Our Debt Free Family

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3 Money Horror Stories That Will Keep You Up At Night

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Money Horror Stories

As you know, we have been on our own debt-free journey for some time now. My husband and I have come a long way, but before we got together (and even for a while afterwards), we’ve made some pretty awful money mistakes. Here are three stories from my past that still keep me up at night.

That Time I Cosigned For A Car

Let’s go back nearly a decade to 2013. At the time, I was living with my boyfriend. We’d been together several years and we combined some of our finances to pay the rent as well as other bills. However, we maintained separate bank accounts and still supported ourselves, for the most part.

That was, until his older car broke down and he needed a new one. His car being out of service hindered me quite a bit – I worked full time and commuted to college, so sharing my car was difficult. So, he went to see about buying something new and I went along with him.

Of course, his credit wasn’t approved for the car and he asked if I’d consider cosigning. Without thinking, I did it. Two years later, after he failed to make payments, the car was repossessed and it remained on my credit for several years. It made it hard for me to get a car on my own and even made it difficult to get approved for housing.

Never again! It still haunts me.

Paying For My Books On Credit

Another past financial decision that I’m occasionally reminded of is applying for an Amazon Credit Card in college. It was a horrible idea. I bought all of my school books on credit through Amazon, but not only that. I was buying anything and everything I could with that credit card. I maxed it out and neglected to pay it on time.

Eventually, my mom helped me pay it off, even though the account was closed. I think about how much debt I was happy to rack up at that time and it’s insane.

Ignoring Bills Until They Go To Collections

At one time, I used to ignore bills that I couldn’t afford and just let them go to collections. It got so bad that, at one time, I had more than $5,000 hanging out in collections. Crazy, right?

Now, I’ve changed a lot of my own personal finance habits to make sure none of these things happen ever again, but…

They still do keep me up at night sometimes.

What are some of your financial horror stories? Share them in the comments below!

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Financial Infidelity Is Real! Make Sure You’re Not Doing It

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Financial Infidelity Pinterest image - Our Debt Free Family

I came across a post recently that talked about committing financial infidelity. The blog post mainly focused on one person’s story, but I got to thinking about my past relationships, my current marriage, and what kind of infidelity of experienced – and committed – financially. It was a toe-stepper.

What Is Financial Infidelity?

According to Investopedia, the official definition for financial infidelity is this: it occurs when couples with combined finances lie to each other about money. Simple enough! This could mean anything from using joint funds to physically cheat, hiding money in a separate account, covering up debt, or spending crazy amounts of money on personal items.

Marketwatch Discusses How To Mend Wrongdoings

Many of my recent posts have been reflective (it’s just that time of year for me). However, after reading the post on Marketwatch about this person’s admitted financial infidelity. Here is a clip from the post:

I have committed financial infidelity. This is a second marriage, and one of my sons is unstable and a substance user. He has stolen from us in the past, and two of his children are now living with him.

He doesn’t work, is on public assistance, and demands money from me. He gets very abusive when I don’t give it to him. This is the second time I have gone into debt behind my husband’s back.

They go on to share that, in order to help their child, they have racked up $50,000 in credit card debt that their spouse doesn’t know about. While I haven’t had anything exactly like that happen to me, I have experienced financial infidelity in my life.

My Experiences With Financial Infidelity

On my end, I have committed this plenty before getting together with my husband. I did not communicate about financial transactions, hid money away for a get away, and spent $400 on a painting because I felt entitled to the money in the joint account. All of this without permission, without consent.

Prior to meeting my husband, I was living with a long-time boyfriend. We had combined a lot of our finances, but we were never married (something I’ve learned from). Throughout our relationship, he hid money and spent money on various inappropriate things while I struggled to pay our rent while waiting tables, working a catering job, and going to school full-time. Many times, he lied to me about having money and I would have to ask friends or family, only to find out he had money all along.

He also had me co-sign on a car loan for him and when he failed to make the payments, he allowed them to repossess the car and drove mine into the ground. It is crazy how different my financial relationship with my husband is. We’ve never committed financial infidelity, and there are things you can do to avoid it.

How To Avoid Doing ‘It’

The biggest thing we do in our marriage to ensure these things don’t happen is we communicate about everything, especially when it is money related. Now, it is a little less strict than it used to be because we have more cashflow in our home. So, smaller purchases didn’t need to be talked about. However, when we first got together, there were times we had to discuss a $10 purchase.

These days, we don’t have to talk about every little thing we buy, but we discuss big purchases – even gifts. Sometimes, we still catch each other checking with the other person about a $20 spend even though it isn’t necessary. This is because communication is key to success in your marriage and with your finances.

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Ways to Improve Your Chances Of Winning Sports Betting

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Gambling is a kind of addiction to mind. By its nature, it is a method of filling your time and trying to make money.  But those who are into a healthy betting and do it sensibly, they can make it fun and exciting to be a part of sports.

Sometimes it may result in an uncertain outcome as it is all about finding the best value for money. So, do you know the ways to make the most of your bet? Do you know the tricks to get the best?

There are many things to take care of, like the right market, the best time to put your bet on and other little things. These things are like a guide for you to see if you can make the most from your gambling experience. By following an approach that is structured, better can possibly win more than losing. Here are a few ways out that can help a gambler to have a winning bet on sports:

Look around for bookmakers, do not stick to one

In the competitive sector of betting business, there is a big emphasis on brand loyalty. The companies will try to convince you to choose them for bet through various loyalty schemes. They all have the same intention and it’s on you to choose the best. Shop around the best bookmakers who has the best price for the market you want. Check the offers available and as a result, bookies all have their own spin on it.

Know the bookmakers and their odds

At times, the popularity of the event you are betting on will determine the odds of the bookmakers. Their odds will be a reflection of what bookmakers expect the general public to play and actually not the real probabilities of either outcome. They will set their odds in order to attract the betters on their side and to balance their liability. So, choose wisely and opt to play with reputable ones like sports.williamhill.com/ who offers fair odds across all markets, even promotions. Calculate the margins of smart bookmakers, to find great value for your events and a profitable strategy.

Keep the past away and do not celebrate for too long

In the past, whether you lost or win, do not let it run throw you off your game. Keep it out of the league, out of your mind and start a new analysis. The spin will surely be on your side. Also, do not assume a false courage due to some past experience. Stick with your plan, have a good analysis.

Develop a long term stability

Who doesn’t want to get rich quickly, but that is not actually possible. It is a long term process. Getting rich through betting involves stability. You need to build a betting bankroll to increase the amount you bet on each game. When you steadily gain a stability you will find yourself making a decent pocket money and maybe also living wage out of it.

Maintain the records

Keeping a record of your betting game will help you in long term success. Keep a record of your betting by having a spreadsheet that will track your bets, the odds and what other things you want to add regarding your matches you bet on. When you do this, your betting will become more disciplines and it will assist you to keep a track of your profit and loss during every bet. Overall, it will enhance your betting discipline.

So, in a nutshell, follow these ways to have a win-win betting.

From Credit Card Debt to Loving Her Money with Sarah Li Cain

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A few years ago, Sarah Li Cain found herself jobless, broke, and in $9,000 credit card debt after a breakup with her boyfriend.

Today, Sarah is debt-free, married, and living a happy life with her husband and spirited toddler.

Sarah is a freelance writer and illustrator. She believes in the power of storytelling and wants people to share their money stories to remove the stigma around money. An avid traveler, she believes that the way to a happy and productive life is to love your money and be compassionate when it comes to your finances.

I am so excited to share Sarah’s story and introduce her brand new book, Cha Ching! A Money Coloring Book.

In the interview, Sarah shares:

  • The lessons she learned from racking up more than $9,000 in credit card debt from an unhealthy relationship
  • How she paid off the credit card in less than a year
  • Her advice to anyone currently in a similar situation
  • How she’s using her experience to teach others to love their money
  • And the message behind her brand new coloring book

Thanks again to Sarah for sharing her debt-free journey and her new coloring book with us! [bctt tweet=”How @sarahlicain went from credit card debt to loving her money.” username=”MonicaRLouie”]

Sarah’s brand new coloring book, “Cha Ching! A Money Coloring Book” is available by clicking here.

You can find out more about Sarah at HighFivingDollars.com.

Now I’d love to hear about you!

What did you learn from Sarah’s story? Have you been in a relationship that put you into debt? If so, how did you handle it? Please share in the comments below.

Have you joined our free community yet?

Join me in our private Facebook group called Your Debt Freedom Family, where we’ve got an awesome community of people who are kicking debt to the curb so they can break free and live life on their terms.

Click here to join the fun!

I’d love to see you there!

Keep moving forward toward your goals. You really can live the life you dream about!

How Lauren Greutman, The Recovering Spender, Paid Off $40,000 of Debt

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Lauren Greutman and her husband, Mark, hit rock bottom in their finances a few years ago when they found themselves underwater in their mortgage, $42,000 in debt, and running a $1,000 deficit in their budget each month.

Fast forward a few years, and Lauren and Mark are now debt-free and run her popular frugal living site that helps millions of people, LaurenGreutman.com, formerly IamTHATLady.com.

I am so honored to be joined by Lauren in today’s interview to have her share her story and introduce her brand new book, The Recovering Spender: How to Live a Happy, Fulfilled, Debt-Free Life

Lauren is a wife, mom of four and a recovering spender. If her name sounds familiar, you may have seen her on TV as a frequent guest on The TODAY Show, Good Morning America, Nightline, The Dr. Oz Show, Rachael Ray, and more.

In this interview, Lauren shares:

  • How she and her husband, Mark, dug themselves out of $42,000 of debt in four years
  • What she did to cut her family’s grocery spending from $1,000 per month to $200 (Say what?!)
  • Her advice for those wanting to start a blog to bring in extra income and the great opportunities her’s has brought to her family.
  • What her brand new book, The Recovering Spender, is all about and who will benefit from reading it
  • What to do if you’re a Saver married to a Spender


I love this interview with Lauren! She has such an inspiring story of how she turned her life around from being a compulsive shopper to getting out of debt and now helping millions of others do the same.

Thanks again to Lauren for sharing her debt-free journey and her book with us!

[bctt tweet=”How @LaurenGreutman, #TheRecoveringSpender, Paid Off $40,000 of Debt” username=”MonicaRLouie”]

Lauren’s brand new book, The Recovering Spender: How to Live a Happy, Fulfilled, Debt-Free Life, is available in bookstores and online wherever books are sold.

You can learn more about Lauren at LaurenGreutman.com and find out more about her book at TheRecoveringSpender.com.

Now I’d love to hear about you!

What did you learn from Lauren’s story? Are you a Spender in need of recovery, or do you know someone who is? Please share in the comments below.

Have you joined our free community yet?

Join me in our private Facebook group called Your Debt Freedom Family, where we’ve got an awesome community of people who are kicking debt to the curb so they can break free and live life on their terms.

Click here to join the fun!

I’d love to see you there!

Keep moving forward toward your goals. You really can live the life you dream about!

How a Side Hustle Helped Melanie Lockert Break Up With Debt

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Have you considered adding a side hustle to help you break up with debt?

Well, in today’s video, we’ll learn how Melanie Lockert used a side hustle to break up with debt.

If you don’t know Melanie, she’s the personality behind the award-winning blog, DearDebt.com, where she chronicled her journey out of $81,000 in student loan debt. Through her blog, she inspires readers to break up with debt by writing their very own breakup letter to debt.

In 2015, Melanie (and her journey out of debt) was named one of the top five most inspiring personal finance stories of the year by Yahoo! Finance. She currently works as a freelance writer and event planner. Melanie and her work have appeared in Business Insider, The Huffington Post, Yahoo! Finance, INC, and more.

After graduating from college with $23,000 in student loans, Melanie had the opportunity to attend her dream school, NYU, to earn her master’s degree. There, she incurred $58,000 more in student loans for a total of $81,000.

Upon struggling to find a stable, decent-paying job after graduating from NYU, Melanie made some extreme changes in her life to pay off her student loans. In December 2015, Melanie made her last payment and became 100% debt-free.

She is also the author of a brand-new book, “Dear Debt:  A Story About Breaking Up with Debt” which shares her journey and her advice for those in the process of breaking up with debt.

In the interview with Melanie, she shares:

  • What drove her to rid herself of her student loans
  • How she cut her expenses and started side hustling to bring in extra income
  • How her side hustling has led to an unexpected career path
  • Her best advice for how to find a side hustle that’s right for you, and
  • What to do if you want to get out of debt but feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start

Melanie has an inspiring story that I think anyone struggling with debt needs to hear, and she shares it all in this interview. So here is my interview with Melanie Lockert from deardebt.com. Enjoy!

Thanks again to Melanie for sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly about getting out of debt with us!

[bctt tweet=”How a side hustle helped Melanie Lockert (@DearDebtBlog) break up with debt” username=”MonicaRLouie”]

I hope you pick up her book, “Dear Debt:  A Story About Breaking Up with Debt.” I know it will help you break up with debt once and for all.

I encourage you to check out Melanie’s blog at DearDebt.com and consider writing your own Dear Debt letter to break up with debt.

For others that have got out of debt check out these articles.

How Alice and Scott Paid Off $200,000 of Student Loans in Less Than 7 Years
From Credit Card Debt to Loving Her Money with Sarah Li Cain
How Lauren Greutman, The Recovering Spender, Paid Off $40,000 of Debt

Now I’d love to hear about you!

What did you learn from Melanie’s story? Have you started a side hustle yet so you can break up with debt? Please share in the comments below.

Have you joined our free community yet?

Join me in our private Facebook group called Your Debt Freedom Family, where we’ve got an awesome community of people who are breaking up with debt so they can break free and live life on their terms.

Click here to join the fun!

I’d love to see you there!

Keep moving forward toward your goals. You really can live the life you dream about!

3 Ways to Set Yourself Up for Success on Your Debt Free Journey

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Do you feel like your debt is holding you back from living life to the fullest?

Are you afraid that if you had an unexpected drop in income or increase in your expenses that it would put you in financial stress?

That’s how we felt when we started our debt free journey three years ago.

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How Marian and Dave Paid Off $120,000 of Debt in 3 Years!

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I’ve got another debt success interview to share with you today!

Marian Nguyen and her husband, Dave, paid off $120,000 of debt in three years!

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How One Couple Found Financial Freedom by Paying Off $500,000 of Debt

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Can you imagine what it would be like to pay off $500,000 of debt?
Well, our guest today did just that!

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How a Family of 7 Paid Off $137,000 of Debt in 4 Years

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Do you feel like you’ll never get out from under your pile of debt?

If so, you need to read this inspiring story from the Miller family.

As their family grew from five mouths to feed to seven and with a wage of no more than $14.50 per hour, Ella and Lavern Miller paid off $137,000 of debt in four years!

Read on to hear from Ella Miller herself how they paid off so much debt in such a relatively short time.

[Read more…]