Amberly Lago

In this best of FMOOD episode, we're revisiting the incredible interview that I had from episode 318 with Amberly Lago.

FMOOD 0505: The Best of FMOOD: Interview With Amberly Lago

Mastering the art of negotiation is a highly valuable and sought-after skill that can positively impact various aspects of your life, both personally and professionally.

FMOOD 0504: Mastering the Art of Negotiation

The Mint app, developed by Intuit Inc., is a highly acclaimed personal finance management tool that has garnered immense popularity for its user-friendly interface, robust features, and exceptional usefulness. Designed to cater to users' diverse financial needs, the app offers a wide range of benefits that make it an indispensable companion on the journey towards financial well-being. I mentioned this app several episodes ago and promised to follow up with an update after I had a chance to truly give it a go.

FMOOD 0503: Update on the Mint App

I want to inspire you today to be your own boss. Even if you don’t go all of the way and quit your job to become a full-time entrepreneur but simply start a business to earn additional income, you can still be your own boss on a part-time basis.

FMOOD 0502: Be Your Own Boss

A growth mindset is the belief that one's abilities, intelligence, and talents can be developed through dedication, effort, and continuous learning. It is the understanding that skills and qualities are not fixed traits but can be cultivated and improved over time.

FMOOD 0501: Growth Mindset

Living frugally can help you to save money, reduce expenses, and achieve your financial goals.

FMOOD 0500: 10 Ways to Live More Frugally

Money and relationships, especially within the context of marriage, can be a complex and sensitive topic.

FMOOD 0499: Managing Finances as a Married Couple

Today we’re going to be going over 10 easy steps to help you to be laser-focused when working on a project, task, or goal. Here’s the bottom line: when you’re laser-focused, you will accomplish more and in less time.

FMOOD 0498: 10 Easy Steps to Being Laser-Focused

I’ve been a business owner for many years, but I made it official back in 2007. With this in mind, I wanted to add a new component to this show and spend some time talking about tips to help out other small business owners out there.

FMOOD 0497: Small Business Tips: 25 Creative Ways to Attract More Clients

Reducing or eliminating consumer debt can have numerous benefits for individuals and their overall financial well-being.

FMOOD 0496: Why Should I Get out of Debt?

The Follow Me out of Debt podcast is an easily-digestible show that's a unique peek into Tom's personal strategies that will show you what works (and what doesn't) to get out of debt and get into prosperity. This isn't your typical get-out-of-debt show like others you may have heard before from other well-known authors and show hosts, including Dave Ramsey, Clark Howard, and others. Instead, Tom is taking only the best and most recent and relevant information that's out there and distilling this into his own exclusive brand of successful and time-tested strategies that will help you to get out of debt and get into prosperity.

It really helps me a lot on how to manage my finances. Short clips but full of information.

Awesome advice

A good resource to have, to actually follow you out of debt. Actually helps. Love the community!

Trust the Process

The Follow Me out of Debt podcast is an easily-digestible show that's a unique peek into Tom's personal strategies that will show you what works (and what doesn't) to get out of debt and get into prosperity. This isn't your typical get-out-of-debt show like others you may have heard before from other well-known authors and show hosts, including Dave Ramsey, Clark Howard, and others. Instead, Tom is taking only the best and most recent and relevant information that's out there and distilling this into his own exclusive brand of successful and time-tested strategies that will help you to get out of debt and get into prosperity.

Follow Me out of Debt | Get out of debt and get into prosperity!

We already know that saving money is one of the ways that will help us to reach our goal of getting out of debt. I have complied a list of the more common ways that we can save money this year and going forward.   Some of the methods mentioned are for smaller purchases while others are for some larger purchases that we may need to make in the near future. With this being said, we can easily adjust many of these topics mentioned in this particular episode to match other purchases that we may need to make as well.   As we continue to head into the new year, let's continue to think of other ways that we can save money in 2020 and beyond. God bless.

We already know that saving money is one of the ways that will help us to reach our goal of getting out of debt. I have complied a list of the more common ways that we can save money this year and going forward. Some of the methods mentioned are for smaller purchases while others are for some larger purchases that we may need to make in the near future. With this being said, we can easily adjust many of these topics mentioned in this particular episode to match other purchases that we may need to make as well. As we continue to head into the new year, let's continue to think of other ways that we can save money in 2020 and beyond. God bless.

FMOOD 0369: Ways to Save Money in 2020

We all make mistakes. Here are some of the mistakes that I have made in the past, and I'm hoping that by hearing my account of previous errors, you'll learn a thing or two about what not to do. I'm also hoping that you'll realize that even if you have made mistakes in the past, it's never too late to start over and do things the right way.   Keep in mind that it's also common for many of us to start out strong but still let life's pressures win and go against our better judgment. When this happens, we have to treat it as a life lesson learned and move on from there. Remember, admitted past stupidity can actually help us to do things the correct way later on down the road. God bless.

We all make mistakes. Here are some of the mistakes that I have made in the past, and I'm hoping that by hearing my account of previous errors, you'll learn a thing or two about what not to do. I'm also hoping that you'll realize that even if you have made mistakes in the past, it's never too late to start over and do things the right way. Keep in mind that it's also common for many of us to start out strong but still let life's pressures win and go against our better judgment. When this happens, we have to treat it as a life lesson learned and move on from there. Remember, admitted past stupidity can actually help us to do things the correct way later on down the road. God bless.

FMOOD 0324: How I Failed

From personal experiences as well as from the experiences of others, I have compiled a list of five simple steps to help you to get out of debt. These steps and actions can be applied to whatever strategy that you are currently implementing towards completing your goal.   First, I'll discuss why you shouldn't bury your head in the sand. I'll discuss how to ensure that you don't do this, because doing this is probably the worst thing that you can do when it comes to getting started with paying off debt. Next, I'll talk about how you can curb your spending and certain strategies that will help you to free up some financial resources that can be applied towards your debt payoff. Third in this list is the importance of not allowing the IRS to hold your money hostage for a year and what you can do to ensure that this doesn't happen in the future.   The last two on this list tend to go hand-in-hand. The first of these and number four on the list is to make paying off debt a priority. Wherever you are at in your plan, make sure that you apply the amount towards debt that you had originally planned. I'll discuss a brief tip that will help to ensure that you aren't tempted to use that money that was set aside for paying towards debt for something else. Finally on this list of five is to never, ever add to the pile. You don't want to continue using debt or accumulating more debt while you are trying to pay it off. This is a surefire way to hinder your plans and may even bring your plan to a complete standstill (or worse yet, you end up going backwards). Don't do this.   If you liked this show so far, please take a minute to subscribe to the show, rate it, and leave a review. Your positive and kind words are always appreciated.   Visit the http://followmeoutofdebt.com website to read my blog and get my latest status updates on my personal journey out of debt and into prosperity!

From personal experiences as well as from the experiences of others, I have compiled a list of five simple steps to help you to get out of debt. These steps and actions can be applied to whatever strategy that you are currently implementing towards completing your goal. First, I'll discuss why you shouldn't bury your head in the sand. I'll discuss how to ensure that you don't do this, because doing this is probably the worst thing that you can do when it comes to getting started with paying off debt. Next, I'll talk about how you can curb your spending and certain strategies that will help you to free up some financial resources that can be applied towards your debt payoff. Third in this list is the importance of not allowing the IRS to hold your money hostage for a year and what you can do to ensure that this doesn't happen in the future. The last two on this list tend to go hand-in-hand. The first of these and number four on the list is to make paying off debt a priority. Wherever you are at in your plan, make sure that you apply the amount towards debt that you had originally planned. I'll discuss a brief tip that will help to ensure that you aren't tempted to use that money that was set aside for paying towards debt for something else. Finally on this list of five is to never, ever add to the pile. You don't want to continue using debt or accumulating more debt while you are trying to pay it off. This is a surefire way to hinder your plans and may even bring your plan to a complete standstill (or worse yet, you end up going backwards). Don't do this. If you liked this show so far, please take a minute to subscribe to the show, rate it, and leave a review. Your positive and kind words are always appreciated. Visit the <a href="http://followmeoutofdebt.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://followmeoutofdebt.com</a> website to read my blog and get my latest status updates on my personal journey out of debt and into prosperity!

FMOOD 0054: Five Simple Steps to Getting out of Debt

Beware of this new scam that may be hitting your mailbox soon (if it hasn't already). This scam targets folks who are getting desperate or folks who want to get on the fast track to reducing debt expenses in the form of reducing the interest rates on credit cards.   While this is definitely a scam, the notice being mailed out to folks does appear to make it seem official. Included in this notice is your name along with a personal case ID. You'll even receive a summary of what you owe on your credit cards along with an average interest rate. This scam notifies us that we've been selected to participate in an initiative that I have personally never heard of before, and that's because it simply doesn't exist.   The notice that you receive may be the same or similar to the content immediately following below:   We're assessing your situation. Supported resolution documentation requested.   You have been selected to participate in a Nationally Sanctioned Debt Reduction Initiative. This program allows select individuals to reduce their adjustable unsecured credit card rates to as low as 0% APR.   We now need you to provide information to support your claim summary. We encourage you to act fast as program guidelines only allow for a limited number of participants. This program is backed by every major credit card provider in the country and is specifically designed to keep your credit score in excellent standing.   Failure to respond may affect your program rights. It is important that you call toll-free WITHIN 5 DAYS OF RECEIPT of this letter.   The bottom line is this. The best way for us to pay off our debt and eventually get into prosperity once we've paid off our debt is to roll up our sleeves and get to work. There truly is no better way, and there are no shortcuts to cleaning up the messes that we have already made. Don't fall for these scams that will surely make your situation worse than before. God bless.

Beware of this new scam that may be hitting your mailbox soon (if it hasn't already). This scam targets folks who are getting desperate or folks who want to get on the fast track to reducing debt expenses in the form of reducing the interest rates on credit cards. While this is definitely a scam, the notice being mailed out to folks does appear to make it seem official. Included in this notice is your name along with a personal case ID. You'll even receive a summary of what you owe on your credit cards along with an average interest rate. This scam notifies us that we've been selected to participate in an initiative that I have personally never heard of before, and that's because it simply doesn't exist. The notice that you receive may be the same or similar to the content immediately following below: We're assessing your situation. Supported resolution documentation requested. You have been selected to participate in a Nationally Sanctioned Debt Reduction Initiative. This program allows select individuals to reduce their adjustable unsecured credit card rates to as low as 0% APR. We now need you to provide information to support your claim summary. We encourage you to act fast as program guidelines only allow for a limited number of participants. This program is backed by every major credit card provider in the country and is specifically designed to keep your credit score in excellent standing. Failure to respond may affect your program rights. It is important that you call toll-free WITHIN 5 DAYS OF RECEIPT of this letter. The bottom line is this. The best way for us to pay off our debt and eventually get into prosperity once we've paid off our debt is to roll up our sleeves and get to work. There truly is no better way, and there are no shortcuts to cleaning up the messes that we have already made. Don't fall for these scams that will surely make your situation worse than before. God bless.

FMOOD 0321: Nationally Sanctioned Debt Reduction Initiative Scam

Do you struggle to make your money last until the end of the month? Regardless if you are paid monthly, bi-weekly, or otherwise, I'll be explaining a couple of strategies that will help you to make your money stretch until the end of the month.   What I'll be covering today: -How to change your due date with your lender's permission and some caveats -How to stretch your grocery budget -How to stretch any other frequently-changing budget category that you are struggling with (fuel, spending cash, etc.)   The best compliment that I can receive from you for this show is for you to subscribe to the show, rate the show, and leave a kind review for the show on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. It really helps to get the show in front of others so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity.   I'm also on various social media outlets if you'd like to join me on:   Twitter: @fmoodpodcast Facebook: http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fmoodpodcast

Do you struggle to make your money last until the end of the month? Regardless if you are paid monthly, bi-weekly, or otherwise, I'll be explaining a couple of strategies that will help you to make your money stretch until the end of the month. What I'll be covering today: -How to change your due date with your lender's permission and some caveats -How to stretch your grocery budget -How to stretch any other frequently-changing budget category that you are struggling with (fuel, spending cash, etc.) The best compliment that I can receive from you for this show is for you to subscribe to the show, rate the show, and leave a kind review for the show on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. It really helps to get the show in front of others so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity. I'm also on various social media outlets if you'd like to join me on: Twitter: @fmoodpodcast Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt</a> Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/fmoodpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.pinterest.com/fmoodpodcast</a>

FMOOD 0110: How to Make Your Money Stretch

Even the most driven and focused individuals can succumb to laziness. We don't even realize that it's happening to us when it happens, but when we were set to work on certain tasks but binge-watch Netflix instead, laziness has crept in and successfully defeated our plans.   So what do we do about this? The best way to defeat laziness is to plan ahead and manage time in the best way possible. Use a task list or calendar and strategically plan what you are setting out to accomplish. Many times, putting it in a schedule format seems to make it more official in our minds and less likely to be ignored.    Does this mean that we shouldn't have any downtime while we're in the process of accomplishing goals? Of course not. However, another useful tip that I have is to actually plan downtime as well. The difference between downtime and laziness is that we can actually schedule our downtime on purpose. Think about the best way to take a break and cool your jets. Perhaps it's reading a good book. Perhaps it's hanging out with friends and being social or spending time with your spouse (and perhaps leaving the smartphone off for a night). It could even be watching television if that's what you truly want to do, but the difference here is to not be hypnotized into watching three straight hours of Netflix or Hulu. Do something like this in moderation.   The point is that we can all do a better job at time management. Time management and being aware of how time is being spent is a surefire way to defeat laziness and rid it from your life for good.   Have you enjoyed this podcast so far? Would you mind providing a review for this show? It's super easy. Just go to http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review and follow the simple steps to leave a review. It only takes a few minutes, and it helps others to find this show so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity. We'll start a movement, and it all begins with you leaving a review!   If you're not in the mood to write a review right now, that's okay! All that I ask is that you simply share this show with three friends or family members today who may end up loving it as much as you do. Text, call, or post about it on social media - whatever works best for you. Because remember... sharing is caring!

Even the most driven and focused individuals can succumb to laziness. We don't even realize that it's happening to us when it happens, but when we were set to work on certain tasks but binge-watch Netflix instead, laziness has crept in and successfully defeated our plans. So what do we do about this? The best way to defeat laziness is to plan ahead and manage time in the best way possible. Use a task list or calendar and strategically plan what you are setting out to accomplish. Many times, putting it in a schedule format seems to make it more official in our minds and less likely to be ignored.  Does this mean that we shouldn't have any downtime while we're in the process of accomplishing goals? Of course not. However, another useful tip that I have is to actually plan downtime as well. The difference between downtime and laziness is that we can actually schedule our downtime on purpose. Think about the best way to take a break and cool your jets. Perhaps it's reading a good book. Perhaps it's hanging out with friends and being social or spending time with your spouse (and perhaps leaving the smartphone off for a night). It could even be watching television if that's what you truly want to do, but the difference here is to not be hypnotized into watching three straight hours of Netflix or Hulu. Do something like this in moderation. The point is that we can all do a better job at time management. Time management and being aware of how time is being spent is a surefire way to defeat laziness and rid it from your life for good. Have you enjoyed this podcast so far? Would you mind providing a review for this show? It's super easy. Just go to <a href="http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review</a> and follow the simple steps to leave a review. It only takes a few minutes, and it helps others to find this show so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity. We'll start a movement, and it all begins with you leaving a review! If you're not in the mood to write a review right now, that's okay! All that I ask is that you simply share this show with three friends or family members today who may end up loving it as much as you do. Text, call, or post about it on social media - whatever works best for you. Because remember... sharing is caring!

FMOOD 0118: The Common Enemy: Laziness

Are you considering a HELOC (home equity line of credit)? A HELOC is a borrowing instrument that allows you to use the equity in your home to borrow against. My wife and I talked about this and did some research, and this is the information that I found on the subject that I want to share with you today.   Personally, I think that the scariest thing about a HELOC is that your house is on the line. If you don't make the payments, your house is in serious jeopardy. Some folks ignore this risk and focus on the benefits of a HELOC, a couple of those benefits being lower interest rates than a straight personal loan as well as tax deductions at the end of the year. After looking into this, I feel that the benefits simply do not outweigh the risks when it comes to a HELOC.   Also, if you are using a HELOC to consolidate credit card debt, you are likely turning unsecured debt into secured debt. The credit card companies get their money, so they're happy. However, if you fail to pay the HELOC, you have your home securing the loan. You could actually lose your home over what used to be your credit card debt. That doesn't sound like a wise move.   A HELOC typically has a variable rate attached to it, so interest rates could rise and take your HELOC payment up with it. I personally do not like an unpredictable circumstance when it comes to managing money. Of course, you can pay more than your minimum payment due, but if you're doing that already, why not just use cash? Why put your house on the line in the first place?   Have you enjoyed this podcast so far? Would you mind providing a review for this show? It's super easy. Just go to http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review and follow the simple steps to leave a review. It only takes a few minutes, and it helps others to find this show so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity. We'll start a movement, and it all begins with you leaving a review!

Are you considering a HELOC (home equity line of credit)? A HELOC is a borrowing instrument that allows you to use the equity in your home to borrow against. My wife and I talked about this and did some research, and this is the information that I found on the subject that I want to share with you today. Personally, I think that the scariest thing about a HELOC is that your house is on the line. If you don't make the payments, your house is in serious jeopardy. Some folks ignore this risk and focus on the benefits of a HELOC, a couple of those benefits being lower interest rates than a straight personal loan as well as tax deductions at the end of the year. After looking into this, I feel that the benefits simply do not outweigh the risks when it comes to a HELOC. Also, if you are using a HELOC to consolidate credit card debt, you are likely turning unsecured debt into secured debt. The credit card companies get their money, so they're happy. However, if you fail to pay the HELOC, you have your home securing the loan. You could actually lose your home over what used to be your credit card debt. That doesn't sound like a wise move. A HELOC typically has a variable rate attached to it, so interest rates could rise and take your HELOC payment up with it. I personally do not like an unpredictable circumstance when it comes to managing money. Of course, you can pay more than your minimum payment due, but if you're doing that already, why not just use cash? Why put your house on the line in the first place? Have you enjoyed this podcast so far? Would you mind providing a review for this show? It's super easy. Just go to <a href="http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review</a> and follow the simple steps to leave a review. It only takes a few minutes, and it helps others to find this show so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity. We'll start a movement, and it all begins with you leaving a review!

FMOOD 0124: Considering a HELOC?

There is a certain freedom that comes along when we pay with cash. For one, we know right away that we don't have to pay later like we would if we were to use a credit card. We also know that we don't need to update our checkbook or budget line item like we would if we use a debt card. We know that once we exchange the cash for whatever product or service that we are purchasing, we are absolutely finished with the transaction; there are no further steps required.   There's no doubt that there is some sort of emotional trigger when we use cash. We may feel a sense of loss at first, mostly because we know that the amount of cash that we originally had has been diminished. However, shortly afterwards, we experience a sense of freedom. Most of us who decide to use cash will also take additional time to consider the decision to purchase; we may not do so if we are swiping plastic, whether that is using a credit card or a debit card. There is something in our psyche that feels the cash transaction which does not directly translate to using a credit card, debit card, or even our checkbook! This emotional trigger helps to keep us in line; we are less likely to spend more when we are only using cash when compared with any other form of payment. In most cases, that's a good thing.   The best compliment that I can receive from you for this show is for you to subscribe to the show, rate the show, and leave a kind review for the show on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. It really helps to get the show in front of others so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity.   I'm also on various social media outlets if you'd like to join me on:   Twitter: @fmoodpodcast Facebook: http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fmoodpodcast  

There is a certain freedom that comes along when we pay with cash. For one, we know right away that we don't have to pay later like we would if we were to use a credit card. We also know that we don't need to update our checkbook or budget line item like we would if we use a debt card. We know that once we exchange the cash for whatever product or service that we are purchasing, we are absolutely finished with the transaction; there are no further steps required. There's no doubt that there is some sort of emotional trigger when we use cash. We may feel a sense of loss at first, mostly because we know that the amount of cash that we originally had has been diminished. However, shortly afterwards, we experience a sense of freedom. Most of us who decide to use cash will also take additional time to consider the decision to purchase; we may not do so if we are swiping plastic, whether that is using a credit card or a debit card. There is something in our psyche that feels the cash transaction which does not directly translate to using a credit card, debit card, or even our checkbook! This emotional trigger helps to keep us in line; we are less likely to spend more when we are only using cash when compared with any other form of payment. In most cases, that's a good thing. The best compliment that I can receive from you for this show is for you to subscribe to the show, rate the show, and leave a kind review for the show on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. It really helps to get the show in front of others so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity. I'm also on various social media outlets if you'd like to join me on: Twitter: @fmoodpodcast Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt</a> Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/fmoodpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.pinterest.com/fmoodpodcast</a>

FMOOD 0087: Feeling Freedom by Paying Cash

At the end of the month, do you find yourself asking where your money has gone? Unfortunately, for many folks, this is an all-too-common occurrence.   The good news is that there is a way to stay focused and stay on track so that you'll find yourself in that sweet spot with personal finance success. If you'll keep this simple rhyme in mind and pay close attention to the tips given and the content of today's episode, you'll soon find yourself consistently within budget each and every month:   Point A to point B, Getting debt-free, Getting into prosperity.   If you haven't done so already, I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to leave a rating, leave a review, and while you're there, subscribe to the show. Your input helps to guide other listeners to tune in to the show, and I truly believe that there is great strength in numbers as we all move towards getting out of debt and getting into prosperity. God bless.

At the end of the month, do you find yourself asking where your money has gone? Unfortunately, for many folks, this is an all-too-common occurrence. The good news is that there is a way to stay focused and stay on track so that you'll find yourself in that sweet spot with personal finance success. If you'll keep this simple rhyme in mind and pay close attention to the tips given and the content of today's episode, you'll soon find yourself consistently within budget each and every month: Point A to point B, Getting debt-free, Getting into prosperity. If you haven't done so already, I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to leave a rating, leave a review, and while you're there, subscribe to the show. Your input helps to guide other listeners to tune in to the show, and I truly believe that there is great strength in numbers as we all move towards getting out of debt and getting into prosperity. God bless.

FMOOD 0338: Where Has Your Money Gone?

Nobody cares more about your money than you do. You are the only one to experience the pain of a poor financial decision or an unexpected expense. On the other end of the spectrum, you are the only one who will experience the excitement when you pay off that first debt (or all of your debt).   Personal finance is personal. It's as simple as that. It applies directly to you, and it affects you positively or negatively, depending on your particular situation. At the end of the day, you need to decide on how you should apply the advice and knowledge that you've gained from various resources. There is no cookie-cutter approach to personal finance. Your situation is unique, and you need to actively apply solutions to your problems in order to follow the correct strategies where it fits in and do what's best for you.   Let's clarify this a little bit. It's not that your friends and family don't care; I do realize that they do. I care about your personal financial situation because you are one of my valued listeners. However, the above point still holds true: nobody cares more about your money or your personal finances more than you do. Don't forget that.   Get updates and other fun extras by following the show on Twitter @fmoodpodcast or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt (you may also send me a message directly via either one of these mediums).

Nobody cares more about your money than you do. You are the only one to experience the pain of a poor financial decision or an unexpected expense. On the other end of the spectrum, you are the only one who will experience the excitement when you pay off that first debt (or all of your debt). Personal finance is personal. It's as simple as that. It applies directly to you, and it affects you positively or negatively, depending on your particular situation. At the end of the day, you need to decide on how you should apply the advice and knowledge that you've gained from various resources. There is no cookie-cutter approach to personal finance. Your situation is unique, and you need to actively apply solutions to your problems in order to follow the correct strategies where it fits in and do what's best for you. Let's clarify this a little bit. It's not that your friends and family don't care; I do realize that they do. I care about your personal financial situation because you are one of my valued listeners. However, the above point still holds true: nobody cares more about your money or your personal finances more than you do. Don't forget that. Get updates and other fun extras by following the show on Twitter @fmoodpodcast or on Facebook at <a href="http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt</a> (you may also send me a message directly via either one of these mediums).

FMOOD 0070: Nobody Cares

Today you'll learn how you can actually become a better saver while you are in the process of paying off debt. It's not as difficult as you may think, but with that said, it will still take some focus and a little determination on your part to get this thing off of the ground.   Most of the time, when many of us come across a month where we're short on financial resources, we'll reach for the credit card in order to make up for the difference. Of course, this isn't a good thing if we're trying to get out of debt. Doing this repeatedly can easily get us into a bad habit where we're constantly taking two steps forward and five steps back. Understandably, we simply don't want this.   Instead, I started thinking about ways that I could somehow prevent this from happening by using a type of sinking fund (for lack of a better term). I decided to save up enough money to provide wiggle room from month to month for added expenses that didn't qualify as an emergency but still needed addressed. The emergency fund is still there, but this is for emergencies only. A shortage of funds in any given month isn't typically considered to be an emergency, and this is one of the main reasons that I knew that a different type of sinking fund needed to be established.   A great benefit of this strategy is that it has forced me to become a better saver. I had to temporarily put off more aggressive debt payoff strategies for a little bit while I was saving up for this new sinking fund. I knew that it was necessary to shift gears in order to get this sinking fund off of the ground. This was a good thing; I've already had to use the sinking fund and was happy that it was available.   Go ahead and give this a try. I can't say that this will work for everyone, but it is worth considering if you think that it may be beneficial to have an extended comfort zone while you're getting out of debt. It truly is a backup plan that gives you a little peace of mind and prevents you from continuing to use credit cards when expenses inevitably increase in the ebb and flow of life. God bless.

Today you'll learn how you can actually become a better saver while you are in the process of paying off debt. It's not as difficult as you may think, but with that said, it will still take some focus and a little determination on your part to get this thing off of the ground. Most of the time, when many of us come across a month where we're short on financial resources, we'll reach for the credit card in order to make up for the difference. Of course, this isn't a good thing if we're trying to get out of debt. Doing this repeatedly can easily get us into a bad habit where we're constantly taking two steps forward and five steps back. Understandably, we simply don't want this. Instead, I started thinking about ways that I could somehow prevent this from happening by using a type of sinking fund (for lack of a better term). I decided to save up enough money to provide wiggle room from month to month for added expenses that didn't qualify as an emergency but still needed addressed. The emergency fund is still there, but this is for emergencies only. A shortage of funds in any given month isn't typically considered to be an emergency, and this is one of the main reasons that I knew that a different type of sinking fund needed to be established. A great benefit of this strategy is that it has forced me to become a better saver. I had to temporarily put off more aggressive debt payoff strategies for a little bit while I was saving up for this new sinking fund. I knew that it was necessary to shift gears in order to get this sinking fund off of the ground. This was a good thing; I've already had to use the sinking fund and was happy that it was available. Go ahead and give this a try. I can't say that this will work for everyone, but it is worth considering if you think that it may be beneficial to have an extended comfort zone while you're getting out of debt. It truly is a backup plan that gives you a little peace of mind and prevents you from continuing to use credit cards when expenses inevitably increase in the ebb and flow of life. God bless.

FMOOD 0301: Become a Better Saver While Paying off Debt

It's time to blow a hole through what you owe! I have a way of picturing things in my head sometimes, and recently I was picturing taking action to extend our arsenal available to us in order to blow a hole through what we owe. When we blow enough holes into what we owe, the entire debt structure will fall; our enemy will finally be defeated!   I love that visualization, and what's great about this visualization is that it's something that truly links well with reality. We need weapons in our arsenal in order to be able to cause some serious damage to our debt enemy. How do we get these weapons? We build up our weaponry just like any other entity who has declared war. When we declare war on our debt, the weapon of choice is additional revenue. Taking a part-time job or taking other steps to increase our income is akin to putting together weapons that will cause serious damage to this debt enemy of ours.   The larger the amount of increased income, the larger the holes will be and the more damage we will be causing to our debt enemy. We may be starting with a smaller hole, but once we gain some traction, each and every time we blow another hole in what we owe, we weaken our enemy even more. Eventually, we'll become so strong of an adversary to our debt enemy that our victory is almost guaranteed.   Let's go to war against debt! Let's defeat this enemy with tenacious persistence that knows no bounds as far as what it takes to win this war and stand victorious! God bless.

It's time to blow a hole through what you owe! I have a way of picturing things in my head sometimes, and recently I was picturing taking action to extend our arsenal available to us in order to blow a hole through what we owe. When we blow enough holes into what we owe, the entire debt structure will fall; our enemy will finally be defeated! I love that visualization, and what's great about this visualization is that it's something that truly links well with reality. We need weapons in our arsenal in order to be able to cause some serious damage to our debt enemy. How do we get these weapons? We build up our weaponry just like any other entity who has declared war. When we declare war on our debt, the weapon of choice is additional revenue. Taking a part-time job or taking other steps to increase our income is akin to putting together weapons that will cause serious damage to this debt enemy of ours. The larger the amount of increased income, the larger the holes will be and the more damage we will be causing to our debt enemy. We may be starting with a smaller hole, but once we gain some traction, each and every time we blow another hole in what we owe, we weaken our enemy even more. Eventually, we'll become so strong of an adversary to our debt enemy that our victory is almost guaranteed. Let's go to war against debt! Let's defeat this enemy with tenacious persistence that knows no bounds as far as what it takes to win this war and stand victorious! God bless.

FMOOD 0270: Blow a Hole Through What You Owe

What do you do once you and your spouse have finally come together and are on the same page? You may not be there quite yet, but eventually, you will be. It's important to know the next steps that you'll need to take in order to move forward as one towards accomplishing your goals.   While many folks may have many different ways of working together as a team, the most important thing to do is to respect each other's opinions. You and your spouse come from different walks of life, and when the two of you got married, one of the challenges awaiting you was to be able to merge those two differing backgrounds into one. The wonderful thing to keep in mind is that once this has happened in the realm of personal finance, you will become a more powerful foe against debt, and you will win at personal finance together as one. God bless.

What do you do once you and your spouse have finally come together and are on the same page? You may not be there quite yet, but eventually, you will be. It's important to know the next steps that you'll need to take in order to move forward as one towards accomplishing your goals. While many folks may have many different ways of working together as a team, the most important thing to do is to respect each other's opinions. You and your spouse come from different walks of life, and when the two of you got married, one of the challenges awaiting you was to be able to merge those two differing backgrounds into one. The wonderful thing to keep in mind is that once this has happened in the realm of personal finance, you will become a more powerful foe against debt, and you will win at personal finance together as one. God bless.

FMOOD 0317: Coming Together

Between my wife and me, we've been receiving 0% introductory APR credit card offers at least three times a week lately. I started to wonder why there has been a sudden increase in aggressive marketing from the credit card companies. What I've come up with is that the credit card companies want to see who will transfer a balance or make a large purchase on one of these cards and forget about it until the time comes for the APR to kick in, usually 18 to 21 months later. By then, the standard APR kicks in, and the credit card company can now cash in on their gamble.   While I'm not completely against transferring a balance to a 0% introductory APR credit card, I don't think that it's a good idea to continue to do this in perpetuity. Not only will this hurt your credit score over time, but it will also keep you in debt for longer than you need to be. I think that it's fine to save some money by transferring a larger card balance with a higher APR credit card to a 0% introductory APR credit card to save money on the interest, but I also think that it's necessary to continue to aggressively pay off the transferred balance as quickly as possible. This is the only way that you will get yourself out of debt entirely.   Would you mind providing a review for this show? It's super easy. Just go to http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review and follow the simple guide to leave a review. It only takes a few minutes, and it helps others to find this show so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity. We'll start a movement, and it all begins today with you!

Between my wife and me, we've been receiving 0% introductory APR credit card offers at least three times a week lately. I started to wonder why there has been a sudden increase in aggressive marketing from the credit card companies. What I've come up with is that the credit card companies want to see who will transfer a balance or make a large purchase on one of these cards and forget about it until the time comes for the APR to kick in, usually 18 to 21 months later. By then, the standard APR kicks in, and the credit card company can now cash in on their gamble. While I'm not completely against transferring a balance to a 0% introductory APR credit card, I don't think that it's a good idea to continue to do this in perpetuity. Not only will this hurt your credit score over time, but it will also keep you in debt for longer than you need to be. I think that it's fine to save some money by transferring a larger card balance with a higher APR credit card to a 0% introductory APR credit card to save money on the interest, but I also think that it's necessary to continue to aggressively pay off the transferred balance as quickly as possible. This is the only way that you will get yourself out of debt entirely. Would you mind providing a review for this show? It's super easy. Just go to <a href="http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review</a> and follow the simple guide to leave a review. It only takes a few minutes, and it helps others to find this show so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity. We'll start a movement, and it all begins today with you!

FMOOD 0116: Beware of the Introductory APR

What makes you truly happy? It's a question that many of us have likely pondered at least several times. It's an important question to ask, though. It's even more important to find the answer to this question, because this particular question will start an inner dialogue that may help us to live a happy and balanced life. This is especially true if we are willing to drill down even further once we start to get an answer to that question.   While it's nearly impossible to experience joy all of the time, it is possible to minimize the negativity in our lives that contribute to sadness and feelings of defeat. If we reflect on what truly brings us joy, we can make those items a priority. Do you enjoy spending more time with your spouse? Do you enjoy spending time with your children? Do you have hobbies that you enjoy that you've been putting off due to lack of time? Do you enjoy time with friends? There are a plethora of circumstances that have the potential to bring more joy in our lives as long as we keep in mind to make time for these things.   To stay up-to-date on show updates and bonus content, follow me on Twitter @fmoodpodcast or on Facebook at http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt.

What makes you truly happy? It's a question that many of us have likely pondered at least several times. It's an important question to ask, though. It's even more important to find the answer to this question, because this particular question will start an inner dialogue that may help us to live a happy and balanced life. This is especially true if we are willing to drill down even further once we start to get an answer to that question. While it's nearly impossible to experience joy all of the time, it is possible to minimize the negativity in our lives that contribute to sadness and feelings of defeat. If we reflect on what truly brings us joy, we can make those items a priority. Do you enjoy spending more time with your spouse? Do you enjoy spending time with your children? Do you have hobbies that you enjoy that you've been putting off due to lack of time? Do you enjoy time with friends? There are a plethora of circumstances that have the potential to bring more joy in our lives as long as we keep in mind to make time for these things. To stay up-to-date on show updates and bonus content, follow me on Twitter @fmoodpodcast or on Facebook at <a href="http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt</a>.

FMOOD 0079: How to Live a Happy and Balanced Life

What is the best thing to do when you're having a bad day, week, month, or even a bad year? That first sentence sounds like the song from the TV show Friends, doesn't it?   The reality is that many of us aren't sipping coffee in a coffee shop with our friends as life simply happens. We're in the trenches, and we're dealing with the day-to-day battles that will eventually wear on us. We're not promised a perfect life, even as Christians, so that means that someday, we'll have a bad day.   When this bad day happens, it has the potential to creep into extending into several days before we realize that we're now experiencing a bad week. The problems may never be fully resolved and will have time to fester, so now we start creeping into a bad month. Before you know it, we might be fully immersed in a bad year, and it may continue even from that point.   The good news is that there is help available to end this cycle, and I want to guide you through the steps to discovering the four essential methods to turning around your negative situations that will happen in life in order to seek out the positive that is dwelling within these otherwise unwanted moments. God bless.

What is the best thing to do when you're having a bad day, week, month, or even a bad year? That first sentence sounds like the song from the TV show Friends, doesn't it? The reality is that many of us aren't sipping coffee in a coffee shop with our friends as life simply happens. We're in the trenches, and we're dealing with the day-to-day battles that will eventually wear on us. We're not promised a perfect life, even as Christians, so that means that someday, we'll have a bad day. When this bad day happens, it has the potential to creep into extending into several days before we realize that we're now experiencing a bad week. The problems may never be fully resolved and will have time to fester, so now we start creeping into a bad month. Before you know it, we might be fully immersed in a bad year, and it may continue even from that point. The good news is that there is help available to end this cycle, and I want to guide you through the steps to discovering the four essential methods to turning around your negative situations that will happen in life in order to seek out the positive that is dwelling within these otherwise unwanted moments. God bless.

FMOOD 0347: When You Have a Bad Day

Do you start your day by hitting snooze for a half hour before you actually crawl out of bed? Before you know it, you're rushing around like a crazy person trying to get out the door to get to work, get to school, drop the kids off at daycare, or get to wherever it is that you are headed. You've spent most of your initial energy just trying to make it on time to your destination. By the time you come home, you're exhausted. You may eat dinner, take care of a few small things, then you're off to bed for the night just to start the entire process all over again.   I am going to recommend a bit of a change in your schedule. All that I ask is that you try this new process that I'm describing on this episode for sixty days, and if it doesn't work out for you after two short months, feel free to go back to your usual routine. However, I would be willing to bet that you will be addicted to this new routine after you see what you can accomplish and which important items that you can get taken care of before you even start the majority of your day. It will set the pace for the rest of your work and tasks to be accomplished, and you'll end up being much more productive.   Have you enjoyed this podcast so far? Would you mind providing a review for this show? It's super easy. Just go to http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review and follow the simple steps to leave a review. It only takes a few minutes, and it helps others to find this show so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity. We'll start a movement, and it all begins with you leaving a review!   If you're not in the mood to write a review right now, that's okay! All that I ask is that you simply share this show with three friends or family members today who may end up loving it as much as you do. Text, call, or post about it on social media - whatever works best for you.

Do you start your day by hitting snooze for a half hour before you actually crawl out of bed? Before you know it, you're rushing around like a crazy person trying to get out the door to get to work, get to school, drop the kids off at daycare, or get to wherever it is that you are headed. You've spent most of your initial energy just trying to make it on time to your destination. By the time you come home, you're exhausted. You may eat dinner, take care of a few small things, then you're off to bed for the night just to start the entire process all over again. I am going to recommend a bit of a change in your schedule. All that I ask is that you try this new process that I'm describing on this episode for sixty days, and if it doesn't work out for you after two short months, feel free to go back to your usual routine. However, I would be willing to bet that you will be addicted to this new routine after you see what you can accomplish and which important items that you can get taken care of before you even start the majority of your day. It will set the pace for the rest of your work and tasks to be accomplished, and you'll end up being much more productive. Have you enjoyed this podcast so far? Would you mind providing a review for this show? It's super easy. Just go to <a href="http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://followmeoutofdebt.com/review</a> and follow the simple steps to leave a review. It only takes a few minutes, and it helps others to find this show so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity. We'll start a movement, and it all begins with you leaving a review! If you're not in the mood to write a review right now, that's okay! All that I ask is that you simply share this show with three friends or family members today who may end up loving it as much as you do. Text, call, or post about it on social media - whatever works best for you.

FMOOD 0121: How to Do the Most Important Thing First

While credit cards are not necessarily dangerous by themselves, we may find ourselves in what I call the credit card danger zones. We need to be aware of these dangers and take the appropriate actions in order to avoid these at all costs.   Some of the danger zones that I cover in this episode are: getting dangerously close to the credit limit on the card, not preparing for the 0% introductory APR expiration, and the combination of not preparing for the APR rate hike after the introductory period and having charged enough to be so close to the credit limit that the interest applied may just put you over the credit limit on the card.   The huge danger here is that some credit card companies charge an over-the-limit fee, and even worse, they may even hike up your APR for going over your credit limit. All credit cards are different, and while this may not apply to your cards in particular, you will want to read the fine print to make sure of this so you know precisely where you are in relation to the danger zones that are present with most credit cards.   If you do find yourself in one of these danger zones, my recommendation is to get yourself out first and foremost. Even if you had planned on doing a debt snowball plan or paying your cards off from highest APR to lowest APR, you need to get yourself out of the danger zone first. Put a solid cushion in-between what you have borrowed and the credit limit of the card, then stop using the card entirely and eventually pay it off with your debt payment plan of choice.   If you liked this show so far, please take a minute to subscribe to the show, rate it, and leave a review. Your positive and kind words are always appreciated.   Visit the http://followmeoutofdebt.com website to read my blog and get my latest status updates on my personal journey out of debt and into prosperity!

While credit cards are not necessarily dangerous by themselves, we may find ourselves in what I call the credit card danger zones. We need to be aware of these dangers and take the appropriate actions in order to avoid these at all costs. Some of the danger zones that I cover in this episode are: getting dangerously close to the credit limit on the card, not preparing for the 0% introductory APR expiration, and the combination of not preparing for the APR rate hike after the introductory period and having charged enough to be so close to the credit limit that the interest applied may just put you over the credit limit on the card. The huge danger here is that some credit card companies charge an over-the-limit fee, and even worse, they may even hike up your APR for going over your credit limit. All credit cards are different, and while this may not apply to your cards in particular, you will want to read the fine print to make sure of this so you know precisely where you are in relation to the danger zones that are present with most credit cards. If you do find yourself in one of these danger zones, my recommendation is to get yourself out first and foremost. Even if you had planned on doing a debt snowball plan or paying your cards off from highest APR to lowest APR, you need to get yourself out of the danger zone first. Put a solid cushion in-between what you have borrowed and the credit limit of the card, then stop using the card entirely and eventually pay it off with your debt payment plan of choice. If you liked this show so far, please take a minute to subscribe to the show, rate it, and leave a review. Your positive and kind words are always appreciated. Visit the <a href="http://followmeoutofdebt.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://followmeoutofdebt.com</a> website to read my blog and get my latest status updates on my personal journey out of debt and into prosperity!

FMOOD 0027: The Credit Card Danger Zones

Many of us feel the weight of our past mistakes for a long time, and this weight prevents us from moving forward. This is especially true if you're feeling like you have passed a certain age and look back to see people much younger than you making better financial decisions than you did. This makes you feel like you've missed out on an opportunity, and you end up kicking yourself instead of making your current situation better.   It's time to run through a few steps today in order to give yourself a mental clean slate so that you can move past your mistakes and become who you wish to be. Remember, you are the one who has the power to write the proper ending to your story, and you're going to love how it turns out because you now have the unique opportunity to take charge and come out as a winner! God bless.

Many of us feel the weight of our past mistakes for a long time, and this weight prevents us from moving forward. This is especially true if you're feeling like you have passed a certain age and look back to see people much younger than you making better financial decisions than you did. This makes you feel like you've missed out on an opportunity, and you end up kicking yourself instead of making your current situation better. It's time to run through a few steps today in order to give yourself a mental clean slate so that you can move past your mistakes and become who you wish to be. Remember, you are the one who has the power to write the proper ending to your story, and you're going to love how it turns out because you now have the unique opportunity to take charge and come out as a winner! God bless.

FMOOD 0342: The Secret to Succeed (Even If You've Screwed up Before)

Back on episode number 8, I talked about how you can save your first $1,000.00 for your starter emergency fund, then you can repeat the process to be able to apply large chunks or cash towards your debt. The example given was that if you had $20,000.00 in consumer debt, you could have your debt paid in full by repeating this process about twenty times. In other words, you've already proven that you could do it once, so why not repeat the process as many times as possible in order to increase your focus to pay off debt?   Another benefit that wasn't mentioned was that you are effectively establishing a habit of saving while you are in the process of getting out of debt. You train yourself to be able to save money, and this will come in handy with goals that you will eventually set for yourself once your consumer debt has been paid off. You'll want to eventually save for an actual emergency fund of four to six months of expenses. This savings strategy of saving $1,000.00 at a time will make this much easier, especially once you have no other payments except perhaps a mortgage. You could also apply this strategy for larger expenses, whether that's a newer used vehicle, vacation, or new kitchen appliances. This savings strategy will come in handy many times over as you realize the increased focus that comes with saving for various expenses in certain dollar increments over time.   The best compliment that I can receive from you for this show is for you to subscribe to the show, rate the show, and leave a kind review for the show on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. It really helps to get the show in front of others so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity.   I'm also on various social media outlets if you'd like to join me on:   Twitter: @fmoodpodcast Facebook: http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/fmoodpodcast

Back on episode number 8, I talked about how you can save your first $1,000.00 for your starter emergency fund, then you can repeat the process to be able to apply large chunks or cash towards your debt. The example given was that if you had $20,000.00 in consumer debt, you could have your debt paid in full by repeating this process about twenty times. In other words, you've already proven that you could do it once, so why not repeat the process as many times as possible in order to increase your focus to pay off debt? Another benefit that wasn't mentioned was that you are effectively establishing a habit of saving while you are in the process of getting out of debt. You train yourself to be able to save money, and this will come in handy with goals that you will eventually set for yourself once your consumer debt has been paid off. You'll want to eventually save for an actual emergency fund of four to six months of expenses. This savings strategy of saving $1,000.00 at a time will make this much easier, especially once you have no other payments except perhaps a mortgage. You could also apply this strategy for larger expenses, whether that's a newer used vehicle, vacation, or new kitchen appliances. This savings strategy will come in handy many times over as you realize the increased focus that comes with saving for various expenses in certain dollar increments over time. The best compliment that I can receive from you for this show is for you to subscribe to the show, rate the show, and leave a kind review for the show on iTunes or Stitcher Radio. It really helps to get the show in front of others so that they too can get out of debt and get into prosperity. I'm also on various social media outlets if you'd like to join me on: Twitter: @fmoodpodcast Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://facebook.com/followmeoutofdebt</a> Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/fmoodpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.pinterest.com/fmoodpodcast</a>

FMOOD 0099: The Habit of Saving While Getting out of Debt

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