Hey, check out this article over at About.Com. It’s a review of my podcast! I was surprised to find it, and delighted by what the author had to say.

By the way, I just uploaded the latest episode of the podcast, so head over to the ncnpodcast.com page and check it out. Thanks.

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Here are 10 things that I did to quickly get out of debt. I hope this helps some of you:

1. I balanced my checkbook so that I knew EXACTLY how much money I had. (I know it sounds basic, but I’ll bet many of you don’t have a balanced checkbook. I wanted to know exactly how much extra money I had, down to the penny, for debt reduction.)

2. I took advantage of a single zero-balance credit card transfer, and I used the time period for the offer, 9 months, as added incentive to get out of debt. (The date that the zero percent ended became my goal date.)

3. I used online banking so that I could easily and effortlessly send in MULTIPLE credit card payments per month. (At one point, I was sending in 5 dollars A DAY.)

4. I kept a minimum emergency fund of 1000 dollars and I used every available extra dollar for debt reduction.

5. I adjusted my tax with-holdings so that I brought home more money with each paycheck.

6. I reduced (for a VERY limited time) my retirement contributions. (I still contributed the amount of the match from my employer.)

7. I learned how to save money on groceries, satellite television, and my cell phone.

8. I communicated with my wife about money, and we were both on the same page.

9. I learned that eating out is expensive, but so is cooking at home. It’s not enough to prepare your own food. You must prepare WISELY.

10. I read. I read. I read. I read everything that I could get my hands on about debt reduction. (Magazines, books, blogs, websites, etc. etc.) Reading about the success of others kept me motivated!

Oh yeah… I also started this blog!

Click here for: 10 MORE Tricks of the Trade!

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My wife and I are coordinating Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University at church. Our first class was yesterday at 3PM. It rocked! We had a total of 7 families attend our first meeting, and everyone left PUMPED to save money and get out of debt. If you are unfamiliar with FPU, it is a money management system created by Dave Ramsey. This is the first time I’ve actually “sat-down” with all of Dave’s literature, and I have to tell you, it is very, very cool. There are 13 sessions included in the FPU kit, and they cover topics like saving, debt management, and retirement.

The first lesson is called “Super Savers”. Dave talks about an emergency fund, saving for purchases, and saving for long-term investing and retirement. He is energetic, enthusiastic, and informative. If there is a FPU class going on around your area, I highly suggest that you attend!

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I have decided to run a 5K.

To prepare for the 5K, I will use this plan.

I started to day. I feel great. I need water.

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As I mentioned a few posts ago, I have opened a trading account at TradeKing.Com.
My first trade went well (I made $2.04!) I rock.

Here’s the deal:

Bought 400 shares of RAD (Rite-Aid) @ 4.40 = 1760.00
Sold 400 shares of RAD (Rite-Aid) @ 4.43 = 1772.00
Paid Commissions of 4.95 X 2 = 9.90
SEC Fee of .06

1772.00 - .06 - 9.90 - 1760.00 = 2.04 PROFIT

I know, I know. $2.04. Big deal. But, to me it is. This was my first foray into the world of buying and selling stocks on my “own”. I enjoyed it and I made a bit of money. (Think of it this way… at 5 percent interest, it takes about 8 DAYS for 1800 dollars to make 2.00 in interest. I made 2.00 in less than 1 HOUR!) Pretty cool.

Xanax, I needs me some Xanax.

(I’ll post more later, if I decide to buy/sell some more today. This is fun.)

By the way: To all who feel the need to warn me about the dangers of day trading and buying and selling… Please just don’t bother. I am responsible with my money, and I am making a CHOICE to risk every dollar of my 1800. I am trying to learn something here. Hands on baby, hands on!

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The following is brought to you by my own personal outrage:

I like my car. I like the fact that it takes me from place a to place b. But, I refuse to me defined by the type of car I own. YOU are not YOUR CAR, idiot. No one (at least no one who should really matter to you) cares what type of car you own. Buying a new car does not make you “cool” or “hip”. Grow up! Please. Stop defining yourself by what you park in your garage. Seriously. If you find your “self-worth” in your “net-worth”, you need to get a life. Come on!!! Why in the name of all that is holy would ANYONE buy a 40 thousand dollar automobile. You are driving your retirement! Please, stop wasting your money on an item that simply moves you from one place to another. But a decent, used, well-maintained, clean, and comfortable car. You can get a decent auto for less than 5k and a really nice auto for less than 10K. 15K will buy you WAY more car than you will ever need. And, please, please, please, do NOT lease a car. You will get hit on the back-end with fees and penalties. Lease=Fleece!
What brought this rant on? I was watching the television show King Of Cars. Disgusting. People buying cars they don’t need, using money they don’t have, co-signing loans for people who can’t pay…ARRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH! I was screaming at the tv.

Breathe, 2, 3, 4.

Stop wasting your money. Do not buy a new car. Pay cash. Take control. Find your self-worth.

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