Mortgage

Mortgage Payoff Progress For June With Chart

In February of 2010 my wife and I purchased our very first home.  We have a conventional 15-year mortgage and our plan is to pay it off in less than 10 years.  Our stretch goal is to pay it off in less than 7. As of June 27, 2011, we have made 16 regular mortgage payments – and several, additional,…

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Debit Cards, Emergency Fund

Break The Credit Card Cycle

It has been several years since my wife and I regularly used credit cards for monthly purchases.  Instead, we use cash, debit cards, and online bill pay.  Here’s how we broke our credit card cycle – 1.  We put our credit cards in our wallets – and just left them there.  We didn’t cut them up.  We didn’t cancel them. …

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Budget, Cash, Money Management

Structure And Freedom

Over the years I have learned the true value of creating structure and following a routine.  My wife and I use the following structured systems to control spending, plan for saving, and manage our finances. Monthly Calendar – Each month we sit down and plan out that month’s events and scheduled activities.  We brainstorm and try to be thorough.  We…

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