Comments on: Two Books That Will Change Your Financial Destiny

By: Tashi

Tashi — Fri, 28 May 2010 19:53:25 +0000

Thanks for the book reccomendation, Carrie! I have been reading Mary Hunt’s column for about 6 years, and love it. I will have to locate this book of hers. And by the way, I really love the first paragraph of your article! :-D Funny. I have a copy of “Untamed Heart”. Now you’re going to force me to watch it again this weekend and search in vain for you. Thanks. LOL (just teasing) Keep up the great work!!!

By: Lynette

Lynette — Wed, 19 May 2010 03:34:44 +0000

I’ve used the snow ball method that is listed in most of the getting out of debt books. I learned about it in Larry Burkett’s book “Debt Free Living”. He has written some really good books about how to get out of debt and stay out of debt. I initially found it at the library and then purchased a copy so I could highlight and earmark it. It has some phenomenal ideas that I was constantly saying to myself, “Duh, I should have known that!” and “That sounds easy enough!”

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 14:32:32 +0000

(Found your site via the article on good credit in Yahoo Finance). I’ve done a lot of work on my own personal finance, and also teach “stewardship education” in my religious denomination. There are many good books out there, but for me the very best was and remains YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE. I first learned of it by participating in a six-week study group in my small town. Later I led a YMOYL group. Now I’m re-reading the book after several years, and am back to tracking all my expenses to the penny. Nothing beats staying conscious!

By: Tamara Holmes

Tamara Holmes — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 11:00:14 +0000

I think the key piece of solving your debt crisis is to ensure you do not discount the condition completely. You must analyze the problem and resolve how to answer it. Talking to people with economic knowledge (be it family, a close friend, or even employees at the concerned credit card company), can bring about viable solutions. Timing is of the essence, so you must be fastidious; nevertheless taking the necessary steps to negotiate a settlement can sometimes be the advantageous decision.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 22:20:57 +0000

I am currently reading Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez. It teaches you to think about money in a different way, thus transforming your relationship to money and spending. I find the book liberating. Many of the ideas were not necessarily new to me, but the force of the arguments and the stories of success are inspiring.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:04:27 +0000

I highly recommend taking Financial Peace University. It is offered at hunderds of locations, dates and times. You can find a class by putting in your zip code at daveramsey.com. Going through this class offers 13 weeks of accountability and changed the way we communicate in our marriage & think about money. We no longer fight about money! Many employers are now offering it to all their employees also, including Wal-Mart.

By: Danielle

Danielle — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:15:31 +0000

You should write a book! It sounds like you have some fantastic stories of your journey (so far) to tell!

By: Daphnemomof9

Daphnemomof9 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:05:49 +0000

Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University was the key for us getting more financially grounded. I had read Mary Hunt’s books quite a few years and implemented her techniques but lost steam. Dave Ramsey is so in your face and you can listen to him on the radio daily to stay motivated and on track.

By: Ursula

Ursula — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 17:19:31 +0000

I love the Movie “Untamed Heart” I am going to have to see if I can find you next time I watch it . My husband cousin ( our neighbor) was the Boom Boy in the movie!

By: Jae

Jae — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:14:32 +0000

These are the tips I have for paying off the mortgage faster.

1. Contact your lender to see if biweekly payments are an option.
2. Send in an extra mortgage payment when you can afford it.
3. Divide your monthly mortgage amount by 12. Take that extra amount and add it to your monthly mortgage payment.

By: Doreen

Doreen — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:56:28 +0000

Sorry…when I said we were debtfree, I should have added “other than our mortgage.” Dave Ramsey has you do things in steps. First you get $1000 in the bank for an initial emergency fund. Then you do a debt snowball to get rid of your debt other than a mortgage. Third, you fully fund your emergency fund by getting 3-6 months of income saved up so you are prepared for a BIG emergency. Only after that, do you start putting extra away on your mortgage, in his plan. We are on the third step now…saving up 3-6 months of income.

By: Angel Peterson

Angel Peterson — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 12:23:12 +0000

Doreen, thank you for posting about Dave Ramsey. I have done Financial Peace University online and paid $99 for that and then because of what it did for our finances with just me doing it, I asked my husband to do it with me at church too and we paid again. I’m ok paying twice so far, but I told my husband last weekend that I think it’s good to revisit the class in a year or so because we’ll be at a different place in our financial journey. And even the 2nd time for me I’m getting new things because I’m with a different group of people. I will check out Mary Hunt too because I’m always searching to see if I can pick up new tips. No doubt if we just really dug into the Bible and studied for ourselves what it has to say about money we’d have the ultimate guide!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:36:26 +0000

Does anyone have any ideas on how to pay off a mortgage faster?

By: Penny

Penny — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 04:31:47 +0000

Wow I just ordered Debt Proof Living on Amazon, along with a 3.99 Corduroy Christmas Book and one of my favorite movies “The Horse Whisperer” I wanted the super saver shipping…I had promotion $$ from magazine subscriptions ordered through amazon, so my total was $0 – zero..What a kick!

Plus the magazines I ordered (special promotion – cheapest I’ve ever seen) ended up being $.25 to $.50 per month…at that price my goal is to get one good coupon out of each and then they will be free!

Thank you Carrie!!! You’ve changed the way I shop, saved me $$$, given me a way to gather great free items for the food shelf and get items that are luxury’s (candles, books, movies etc) in these tough economic times. I’ve been rolling over RR’s and ECB’s – what fun.

Also, I started a college savings acct for my 4 year old son and all the rebate checks go into it.

Sorry I jabbered on so long, but you’ve made a huge difference in my family!

Thank you.

By: Carrie Rocha

Carrie Rocha — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:27:49 +0000

Martha – I have read Live Your Life for Half the Price. Debt Proof Living is the how-to get out of debt and Live Your Life for Half the Price is money-saving tips and tricks. I’d read Debt Proof Living first, then Live Your Life for Half the Price.