Image by Gemini When I Realized Budgeting Wasn’t the Problem June 1986. I’d just finished six years active duty in the Air Force and started my first civilian job. I should have felt relieved – steady paycheck, benefits, the whole American dream setup. Instead, I was lying awake at night doing math that didn’t add […]
Tips & Advice
Why Budgeting Advice Fails When You’re Living Paycheck to Paycheck
Image by Gemini When every dollar goes to survival, “flexible budgeting” isn’t the answer The $400 Emergency That Wasn’t I remember getting the call from my wife while I was at work. The washing machine had died, and there was water all over the laundry room floor. “How much to fix it?” I asked. “Four […]
Why “I’ll Start When Things Calm Down” Is a Trap
Image by Dall E The Lie We Tell Ourselves There’s a phrase I’ve heard countless times, and if I’m honest, I’ve whispered it to myself plenty too: “I’ll start when things calm down.” It sounds so reasonable, doesn’t it? Of course we’ll get to the budget, or the health plan, or the side project—just as […]
Why Money Shame Keeps You Stuck (And How to Break Free)
Image by Dall E The Shame Kept us Stuck Early in our marriage, my wife and I got some credit cards. We didn’t fully understand the responsibility that comes with having credit cards, and we got ourselves into a deep, deep hole. For months, we lived in shame about it. We felt stupid. Irresponsible. Like […]
Why “Find Your Why” and “Get Organized” Advice Keeps You Stuck (And What Actually Works)
image by Dall E When you’re overwhelmed, the last thing you need is more advice to follow. The Question I Couldn’t Answer My brother and I talk regularly, and he’s always been genuinely interested in how my business is going. But after a few months of conversations, he finally called me out. “David, what’s up […]
Why Most Solopreneur ‘Organization Systems’ Actually Make You More Scattered
Image by Dall E I managed $125M operations but couldn’t organize my own business – here’s what I was missing. The 3 AM Wake-Up Call I was lying in bed last Tuesday night, staring at the ceiling, thinking about Wednesday. Not because I didn’t have work to do – I had plenty. But I genuinely […]
When Your Business Starts Running You Instead of Vice Versa
Image by Dall E I was Wrong! I used to think being stressed was just part of leadership. For years, I managed massive retail operations – high-volume stores, hundreds of employees, constant pressure. I thought the knot in my stomach and the edge in my voice were just the cost of getting things done. I […]
I Built This System to Save My Own Sanity (Then Realized Others Might Need It Too)
Image be Dall E How Did I Get Here? Last month, I was sitting at my desk, staring at what felt like 47 open browser tabs, three different spreadsheets, and a notebook with half-finished project lists scattered across two pages. Suddenly, I felt like Gandalf facing the Balrog – shouting “You shall not pass!” before […]
4 Simple Tools That Changed How I Think About Money
Image by Dall E Quick note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products I actually use and believe in. The Right Mindset I used to think the secret to financial success was willpower and discipline. […]
Before the Budget: Struggling to Make Ends Meet
Image by Dall E Making Good Money, Still Broke I remember standing at a gas pump, my debit card flashing “DECLINED” on the screen. I tried it again. Same result. What the hell? I was making six figures. Six. Figures. And I couldn’t buy gas to get to work. I sat in my car for […]
From Scarcity to Stewardship
Image by Dall E The Whisper We All Hear Ever looked at your bank account, let out a slow sigh, and thought, “If I could just make a little more…”? Yeah, me too. Usually, while standing in front of the fridge trying to decide between eating what we have… or justifying a $37 DoorDash run […]
How Much Should Your Family Have in an Emergency Fund?
Image using Dall E I Realized We Had a Choice to Make It was the week our washing machine decided to die and our daughter needed braces. I remember staring at the estimate — $800 for the washer repair, $2,400 for orthodontics — while doing mental math that wasn’t adding up. We had been so […]
How to Build an Emergency Fund While Paying Off Debt
Created using Dall E The Week that Taught me Something Different I remember the week our washing machine died. Same week our daughter needed emergency dental work for a chipped tooth. Same week I had already committed every available dollar to extra debt payments because I was “finally getting serious” about paying off our credit […]
Why Your Family Needs Both an Emergency Fund and Debt Repayment Plan
Image Created with DALL – E Both Approaches Failed Spectacularly “David’s great at making other people money, but he can’t hang onto his own.” My dad said this to my mom. I wasn’t supposed to hear it, but I did. He was right, and it stung because I knew it was true. I could manage […]
How to Set Goals to Be Debt-Free for Your Family
Created with Dall-E Introduction to Debt Freedom It’s a sunny Saturday morning, and instead of worrying about credit card bills or the next loan payment, you’re enjoying [insert your favorite Saturday morning activity] because you set goals to be debt-free. And then you wake up. It doesn’t have to be a dream! Becoming debt-free isn’t easy, but what […]
Top Debt Consolidation and Refinancing Options for Families
Frustrated. That’s exactly how you feel when you’re staring at those bills spread across your kitchen table, right? Trust me, I’ve been there too. As families, we juggle so many payments it can make your head spin––credit cards, car loans, maybe that personal loan from when your washing machine suddenly died. Ugh. Let’s talk about […]
How to Create a Family Budget That Eliminates Debt for Good
Introduction to Family Budgeting for Debt Elimination We all want our family’s financial future to be secure! In over six decades, I’ve tried many approaches to accomplishing this for my family. Based on what I’ve learned over the years, if you want to eliminate debt, family budgeting is vital. I felt overwhelmed for years! Why? […]
How Parents Can Thrive in Their Career and Family Life Without Constant Stress
The Push and Pull Between Family and Work We’ve all been there—trying to do it all perfectly. Family, career, it can feel like you’re on one of those ancient torture devices you see in a movie! No matter how hard you try, something always seems to give. I can’t remember how often I missed stuff […]
Book Review: Getting Good with Money: Pay Off Your Debt and Find a Life of Freedom—Without Losing Your Mind
A Practical Guide to Financial Wholeness for Busy Families Getting Good with Money book review: If managing your family’s finances makes you feel like you can’t breathe and gives you anxiety, you’re not alone! Getting Good with Money: Pay Off Debt and Find a Life of Freedom––Without Losing Your Mind by Jessi Fearon could be […]
Empower Budgeting App 2024: A Game-Changer for Your Finances
Understanding the Empower Personal Dashboard Empower offers a free tool called the Personal Dashboard, which is designed to help you manage your budget, monitor your finances, and prepare for the future—all in one place. While Empower is known for its robo-advisor services catering to wealthier clients, it introduced this dashboard after acquiring Personal Capital in […]
Thrive in Your Career & Family Life Without Constant Stress
The Push and Pull Between Family and Work We’ve all been there—trying to do it all perfectly. Family, career, it can feel like you’re on one of those ancient torture devices you see in a movie! No matter how hard you try, something always seems to give. I can’t even remember how many times I […]
Budgeting with Children in Mind
Having kids is one of life’s most beautiful and rewarding experiences—but let’s be honest, it’s also expensive! When you’re busy changing diapers, running to soccer practice, or trying to manage daycare, it’s easy to lose track of how much money is actually flowing out. The financial picture changes drastically once you have children, and that’s […]
Consolidating Debt: Pros & Cons
Introduction Many people consider debt consolidation when they find themselves juggling multiple debts with different due dates and interest rates. It involves combining various debts—like credit cards, personal loans, or medical bills—into a single monthly payment. For some, this approach brings a sense of relief, with fewer payments to manage and potentially lower interest rates. […]
How To Pay Off Debt on a Low-Income
You’ve Heard this Before… I’m going to give you advice you’ve probably heard before. Cut expenses. Increase income. Make a plan. Stick to it. Everyone is always looking for a hack or a secret to paying off debt on a limited income. Some magic strategy that makes it easy or painless. But few people discuss […]
Showdown Between the Snowball and Avalanche Methods
Understanding Debt Repayment Strategies Do you want to pay off your debt? I actually think I heard you! Great! Then you’ve got to have a plan! I know—everybody and their brother is bombarding you with so much information that it’s difficult to know what to do, which leaves you overwhelmed and stressed! I’ve personally used […]
How to Pay Off Credit Card Debt Quickly
Access Your Current Situation To begin tackling your credit card debt, and start fixing your personal finances you first need to get a clear sense of the numbers. Start by gathering all your credit card information—list each card, its balance, interest rate, and the minimum monthly payment. By laying out this data, you’ll have a […]