Today I am introducing a new “feature” to the blog. Please click here to read about the all new
No Credit Needed Network.

Do you have a specific financial or personal goal? Would you like to share it with the world? Be the first to sign up with the No Credit Needed Network.

Wow, that sounds info-mercialist…

Anyway, if you want to be included, check out the new site, and hit me up with an email.

(We are going through some “stuff” here at home. My mother in law was admitted to the hospital last night with chest pains. For those of you who pray, please do so for her.)

Thanks for stopping by…

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Tons to talk about:

Check out the latest Episode of the No Credit Needed Podcast. I discuss my first credit card mistake, step 4 in getting out of debt, and my weight loss.

There are a lot of “systems” or “methods” for getting out of debt. Here are the first 4 steps that I used, and I think that they are basic enough that anyone can use them.
1. Know what you owe. (This seems basic, and it is, but there are people who just do not realize how much they how and to whom they owe it. Make a list of your debts, your balances, you minimum payments, etc. Understand your debt “load”.
2. Get organized. (Clear some space off of your desk, clear your mind, organize your files, etc.)
3. Understand how much extra you can pay towards your debts each month. (Add your MINIMUM payments together, and subtract this amount from the TOTAL amount you can pay towards debt reduction each month. Pay this amount towards your lowest balance or your highest interest rate, depending on which method you chose. I used lowest balance. Remember: ALWAYS pay your minimums, and put the extra on ONE debt.)
4. Make a plan and stick to it. (Use a budget program, use pen and paper, but use something. When you fail, get right back on plan. That is what the plan is for.)

No Credit Needed Network: More details to come in the very near future. If you have a financial or weight loss goal, and want to share it with the world, you can! Check back MONDAY!

Today, I am announcing my own brand new goal, of saving 12000 dollars by 10-10-2006! Check out the new chart on the right hand side of this page.

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Weight Loss Update: Down 4 Pounds this week! Yep, 4 pounds, for a total of 22.6 pounds. That is just over 39 percent of my goal. I began 7 weeks ago, so that is an average of 3.22 pounds per week.
Keys so far?
3 miles a day on treadmill, every 2 days or so.
Eat breakfast.
Eat my points.
3 apples a day.

Oh yeah, and you can’t eat “fluff”. Eat real food.

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Wow, thanks for all of the positive responses to my last post. We are certainly excited about our new “debt-free” status. Now I am going to start focusing on saving 3 to 6 months worth of expenses. New chart should be up Monday!

There is a brand new episode of my podcast up at NCNPODCAST.COM. I hope you will click over and check it out. I discuss being debt free, I say thank you, and I reveal a new feature here in No Credit Needed land. Stop back by here Monday for more information about our brand new No Credit Needed Network. I think you will really dig this new idea.

It is really cool knowing that I do not have any more debt. Now, I just really need to focus on my weight loss. I am walking a minimum of 30 minutes a day, more like 60 minutes. I received a treadmill for Christmas, and it is AWESOME. I did not lose any weight this past week, so no need to update the old chart. Hopefully, with renewed focus, I will be down a pound or so next week. Fingers Crossed.

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I am debt free. I am debt free. I am debt free. I AM DEBT FREE!

Check out the chart to the right, and you can see that I have, as of February 06, 2006, paid off every single penny of our debt. I am truly, for the first time in 14 YEARS, debt free. I want to thank every single one of you who have stopped by to read this page and check out my podcast. Your support has meant, and continues to mean, so much. I am so glad that I decided to write this blog. It has provided that little bit of “extra” motivation that I needed to get over the hump and get rid of my debt. Wow… $11510.22 GONE in less than 10 months. Boom.

I hope you have enjoyed reading about my progress. I will have special post up Tuesday or Wednesday, detailing the journey from start to finish. Also, I’ll news about what I plan to do now! (Hmmm… What WILL I do with the time I used to spend thinking about debt re-payment?)

Free at last, free at last, it’s hard to believe but it feels so good, I am Free at last!

Bye, Bye Ford Motor Credit! Bye Bye Chase and Citi! Bye, Bye Credit Card Companies!!! Bye, Bye! Bye, Bye MasterCard and Visa! BYE, BYE!!!

Dork!

Thanks for being here for the ride, and I hope you will continue read the blog.

EDIT: Here is a list of the comments that were left when I originally posted this article, before I moved my site from blogger to my own domain name:

42 Comments:

At 8:27 PM, Cap said…

wow. awesome!gone in less than 10 months, that is indeed crazy progress.congrats!

At 8:40 PM, Dave said…

Congratulations! Now for the weight loss chart.

At 12:33 AM, Anonymous said…

Congratulations! Job well done!

At 1:25 AM, lpkitten said…

congratulations! you are proof of what hard work and determination can accomplish!

At 2:12 AM, mbhunter said…

Fantastic!!

At 3:34 AM, Jonathan said…

Congrats, well done indeed.

At 6:20 AM, Tracy said…

Congratulations! You have been an inspiration to us all!

At 8:09 AM, michael kimsal said…

Congrats ncn!You have proved that it *is* possible to do this sort of thing - I’m close myself, and you’ve given me the inspiration to keep going and finish things off!

At 8:37 AM, Finder said…

Congratulations. Your story really helped me to turn my financial life around!

At 9:13 AM, bored said…

congrats!

At 9:33 AM, Misty said…

Congratulations!!!

At 10:16 AM, Madame X said…

Congratulations!

At 10:38 AM, Make Love Not Debt said…

Congrats! That’s quite an inspiration for us, knowing that someone else has done it.

At 11:15 AM, SMB said…

C-O-N-G-R-A-T-U-L-A-T-I-O-N-S!!!

At 12:26 PM, abileneblues said…

That is awesome, NCN. I’m sure the focus and dedication you used to accomplish this will help you in accomplishing many other great goals. Thanks for letting us share in your triumph.

At 12:38 PM, Seattle Simplicity said…

Wahoo! Fantastic!!!

At 1:13 PM, Daland said…

Congrats on a great lifetime achievement! You are now one of the few. Break loose a few $, go ahead and celebrate and savor the victory! Gently!

At 1:37 PM, kassy said…

Congratulations!!! And thank you for being such an inspiration. I hope to be where you are in 18 months and reading your blog has been a huge part of my motivation.

At 2:37 PM, Chrees said…

Wonderful! Be sure and save up for a celebration *lol*Seriously, congratulations and enjoy it!

At 2:43 PM, Adult ADD and Money said…

You have helped not only yourself, but have given inspiration to others who are just starting on the road to being free of debt.

At 8:26 PM, j.a.random said…

Congratulations! And may you have continued prosperity in the future.

At 2:31 AM, jesse said…

2 thumbs up! I can’t wait to say the same thing myself. I’m just starting down that journey, and I’ve used your blog as encouragement.

At 7:48 PM, Million Dollar Goal said…

Let me add my congratulations to the list. Well done! You are an inspiration to many.

At 8:25 PM, Anonymous said…

Let me also be one of many to congratulate you. I am on the same journey and hope to be done paying credit cards by the end of 2007. My student loans will be slightly longer. I won’t envy you… but man.

At 2:26 PM, Caitlin said…

Wow…this is so awesome! Congratulations on all your hard work…it’s all very inspiring

At 4:24 PM, savvy saver said…

great job, you have accomplished a very daunting task!!

At 5:48 PM, jim said…

Congratulations man, very impressive indeed. I’m sorry I didn’t know until Thursday!

At 8:02 PM, mapgirl said…

Great news! Glad to hear it!

At 9:41 PM, Tiredbuthappy said…

You rock, NCN!

At 10:33 PM, supermom said…

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!
I hope I’ll be doing the happy dance (just like you) before the end of 2006. I’m sure my dwarves will be joining me as well! Then once again, all will be well in my KINGDOM!

At 10:46 PM, Flexo said…

Awesome news, NCN! Congrats!

At 8:08 PM, John said…

Great job! Keep up the good work, and show everyone else in America how it’s done!

At 9:00 PM, Gigi said…

Fabulous job.

At 12:04 AM, Hazzard said…

Well, it’s about time!! Just kidding! Congratulations NCN. You have been an inspiration to a lot of people!
Hazzard

At 9:39 AM, Steve said…

Time to celebrate and get yourself a new plasma screen!

At 5:41 PM, ProsperCouple said…

You are the miracle-maker! Congrats!-Jeff & Heather

At 8:18 PM, Amdollar said…

SORRY IF ITS LATE BUT CONGRATS!!! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!

At 1:10 PM, Jose Anes said…

Congratulations!Your website and success story was posted on:Money And Investing

At 3:27 PM, Hazzard said…

Hey! Just because your debt free doesn’t mean you don’t have to get off your and post some more!! :)Now you have to start telling us all about where you are going to put your excess income!I just love this PF Blog community. It’s great to be around like minded people!
Hazzard

At 12:56 PM, JLP said…

NCN,I saw this post way back when you posted it but didn’t leave a comment.Congrats! That’s great news!JLP

AllThingsFinancial

At 3:02 PM, Anonymous said…

awesome! hopefully i’ll have the answers to your secret formula after reading your blog.LN

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