Over the years, I’ve written many books to help people with money issues and worries.
How to Get Out of Debt Without Getting Scammed and What to Do if You Have Been
It’s tough enough to have to face financial problems, but how do you make sure you can trust someone to help you? This book gives you clear instructions about what to look for when turning to someone for help with money troubles, financial problems, and getting out of debt.
Many people entrust the first person or company they find trustworthy, but will they really help or take your money? When you are down and in trouble with debt, isn’t the time to learn a hard practical lesson about what not to do. Be smart and get the information to be a wise consumer so you don’t get scammed.
Readers will be able to feel much more confident they are making good choices and smart decisions about how to deal with their debt by following the steps clearly laid out in this book.
If someone has already been burned or scammed, this book gives a step-by-step guide on how to try to get a refund and what to do if the debt relief company does not want to be reasonable about letting you out or giving you a refund.
Eliminate Your Debt Like a Pro
This book provides step-by-step instructions on how to deal with getting out of debt. Ever wanted to know how the pros really eliminate consumer debt. Well now is your chance to find out. With proven techniques and tips, debt expert Steve Rhode shows you how to dig your way out of debt.
The book references a spreadsheet to use in chapter 4. To download an Excel copy of that spreadsheet, click here.
The book is available in the following formats: Kindle (.mobi), Epub (iPad and others), RTF, LRF (Sony Reader), PDB (Palm Doc), PDF.
Chapters
- It is What It Is
- The Finer Points of Getting Out of Debt and the Dictionary of What You Need to Know
- Real People, Real Problems
- How to Start Doing What You Need to do to Get Out of Debt
- Putting it All Into Action With Plan A
- You Don’t Have to Go It Alone — Seek Assistance
The Path to Happiness and Wealth
I was awarded the Washington Post personal finance book of the month award for this book. It is a holistic look at the secrets to overcoming debt and finding a balance with money in your life. It’s a good book for people to read that might be having issues with shopping issues, compulsive spending, overspending, hidden debt, etc.
The book is available in the following formats: Kindle (.mobi), Epub (iPad and others), RTF, LRF (Sony Reader), PDB (Palm Doc), and PDF.
Here is what Michelle Singletary at the Washington Post said about this book.
For January, I’ve selected “The Path to Happiness and Wealth: How to Enjoy Money and Life at the Same Time” by Steve Rhode.
I chose “The Path to Happiness and Wealth” to start the new year because Rhode makes the case that many of us need an attitude adjustment if we are ever to become rich — in spirit.
“Financial success is measured more by your state of mind and internal prosperity than money in the bank,” Rhode writes. “Unless you can find peace with the money you have right now, more trailing zeros in the bank will not help.”
“When your money takes control of your life, your wants become needs, and your needs become wants,” Rhode says in the book. “Spending money you can’t afford to spend only compromises your future.”
I like this book because it’s not so much a nuts-and-bolts blueprint on how to pay off your debts but a conversation — sometimes stern, other times warm — about the need to understand how the mismanagement of money can be demoralizing. Rhode reveals in the book that in 1990 he and his wife filed for bankruptcy.
But, he says: “From that pain and financial devastation, I was able to go on to help others. God gave me a doctorate in financial defeat. And as strange as it may sound today, I’m grateful for the blessing.”
Even now, Rhode writes, “after a period of prolonged economic prosperity, our country is packed with people who lack confidence, feel lonely and unhappy, and are trying to have more and more ‘stuff’ because they think the stuff will make them confident, secure and loved.”
“But at some point, you have to achieve some peace and satisfaction with what you have,” Rhode said in an interview.
Ultimately, Rhode said, the path to happiness and wealth begins by striking a balance. “If you could get some balance in your money life, then you’d stop squirreling money away out of fear, and you’d stop spending more than you can afford because you are bored, unhappy, or deceiving yourself,” he writes.
And here’s how you achieve financial balance, according to Rhode: “Take the money you make, meet your obligations, save some and have fun with the rest. If you focus on saving for tomorrow, you won’t live the rich and fulfilling life you want to live today. If you spend everything today, you won’t have anything for tomorrow.”
Listen to Chapter 1
The Beach Misses You
This book came to me out of the blue on a slow cruise to Mexico. I sat on the deck and wrote it out longhand while watching miles and miles of ocean roll by. Some of it was actually written while sitting on San Francisco Beach in Cozumel, and the picture in the book was taken as we rolled down the road in our rented car. This book talks about the balance and purpose of life and money and tries to put it all into balance.
The book is available in the following formats: Kindle (.mobi), Epub (iPad and others), RTF, LRF (Sony Reader), PDB (Palm Doc), PDF.
Thank you for sending me a copy of The Beach Misses You. It’s not just a financial fable. This book is also a simple blueprint and guide for recognizing what’s truly important in your life. I was especially impressed with how well you captured the internal struggles and feelings people experience when they’re healing their relationships with money — and how easily you provided a model for people to follow so they can work through their financial struggles together with lovingkindness. Thank you for all you do to help people move past their attachment to credit and move into a life of true financial freedom. Keep up the awesome work, and please let me know how I can provide a link to people who want to download their own copy of The Beach Misses You! – Paula Langguth Ryan
Chapters
- The Fight
- Cozumel
- Life After the Fight
- Playa San Francisco and The Stranger
- A House Isn’t a Home
- The Lifeguard
- As One Journey Ends, Another Begins
- Bob Leaves for Good
- The Next Day
- Friends Forever
Cheap Meals Cookbook
Back in 2001 at the non-profit organization Myvesta.org we held a contest and solicited the best cheap meals from people all cross the country. The resulting entries were combined into the Cheapmeals.com Cookbook.
You can download a free copy of this cookbook below.
The Cheap Meals Cookbook is divided into:
- Appetizers
- Soups & Salads
- Entrees
- Desserts
- Kitchen Tips & Tricks
Orig: 20101031
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Hi Mr Steve,
I would like to ask if we send the copy of our passport to a scammer and some basic information like phone number, bday and address, what will happen??
You could be an excellent candidate for identity theft. Don’t do that.
I was trying to get out of debit in 2013 and I went with a company called consumer protective services and the they charged me 169 for 2 and a half years then it drop down to 50 dollars for maintenance fee and I got a call that the company had been sold to omini and they didn’t have all of my records from the last company and was trying to send the companies a letter and they never responded to it and I ask when will it be finished I have been on this program for almost 5 years and I’m about to do srew it then I found out that they are no longer available what do I do now. And I want to know who to get out money back too
I think you got caught in a scam that was recently shut down by the FTC and State of Florida. See https://getoutofdebt.org/101680/receiver-report-shutdown-debt-relief-scam-reads-like-movie-script and https://getoutofdebt.org/101446/jeremy-marcus-debt-relief-players-meet-match-ftc-fl
Few years ago found your website, got some books. Found them to be helpful, kept me focused on reducing my financial issues. Found this other site.Thanks
I did what ya said for the cookbook and it just took me back to the link with your debt free books (which I already d/l). 🙁
Just a note, I found where you can get it if anyone else has troubles! Here: https://getoutofdebt.org/34797/free-cheap-meals-recipes-cookbook
Here is the link. http://cdn3.live-get-out-of-debt.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/CheapMealsCookbook.pdf
This seems like a geat website set-up to give the banks what they want. The Property without a fight and my good credit in the mud!!! The Banks started the failing of the housing market by discounting the houses!! They hold all the cards. they know if anything is going to happen with home and are doing a great job of beating the homeowner who doen’t do what they tell them to do! they got the money from congress and now to finish they are now taking the houses reworking the mortages and selling the house, at which time they are bail-out again by government and covered for the loss of the house.
Then the former home owner EATS IT!!!! His credit is mess up and will be for another 7yrs plus.
In the riverside area,California the houses are never going to come up in anybody who is alive now’s livetime. they have let the scammers run wild, completely unchecked for over three years and now it is just catch-up ball!! The Crooks have left the building by the time the atty-gen. gets moving after them and all the money is spent or disappeared!!! Hell, Jerry Brown New the United law group were crooks, he just did not want to get into it before making a come-back as the destroyer of Calif….Part II.
All of us that had homes and paid good money are now homeless stuck holding the empty bag, while those who could not have afforded a home are now being helped out! While the rest of us that had money are told you”make to much” and are now out of luck!!!
Again it is hard to tell the crooks from the attourney’s, and state governing boards that were suppose to help!! good luck Calif, the state is lost to the non-workers!!!
thanks for sharing with us u can earn money from this website also http://www.onlinemoneynet.clanteam.com
Steve, thank you for taking the time to write and share your wonderful words of wisdom. Absolutely fabulous reading regardless of where you are in life.
You are very welcome.
where are my comments? I do not understand …
Thanks for putting these resources on the net free. I will write an article on this soon with the address to download your books. Thanks again:)
Thanks for putting these resources on the net free. I will write an article on this soon with the address to download your books. Thanks again:)
I wish I had some wonderful and fabulous news for you. As a cosigner you are liable for the loans. The two choices are for your daughter to start paying the loans or talk to the private loan servicer and see what solutions they will offer you.
If they were government backed loans you’d have a number of options but because they are private loans you are pretty much boxed into a corner.
I’m 70 yrs. old, cosigner for daughter’s student loan ( she did not finish) Sallie Mae and American Educational Services are calling every day or sending notices. I cannot afford this. I’m on fixed income. any suggestions? What would Jesus do? he wouldn’t be in debt, thats for sure.
I’m 70 yrs. old, cosigner for daughter’s student loan ( she did not finish) Sallie Mae and American Educational Services are calling every day or sending notices. I cannot afford this. I’m on fixed income. any suggestions? What would Jesus do? he wouldn’t be in debt, thats for sure.
I wish I had some wonderful and fabulous news for you. As a cosigner you are liable for the loans. The two choices are for your daughter to start paying the loans or talk to the private loan servicer and see what solutions they will offer you.
If they were government backed loans you’d have a number of options but because they are private loans you are pretty much boxed into a corner.
I’ve seen the results of suicide–the people who have had to live after a family member or friend has died. Please seek help. I’ve been there and made a phone call which saved my life. I am only a few years older than you and believe me–you have a lot to live for. I don’t know if you live in a city or not but find the local library and when you go in — no matter how hard it is SMILE. Pick a book and sit down and read. Look at the people and say hi. If there are children give them the biggest smile you can. Or go to a store not a fancy one–low cost or budget–smile at everyone. That’s how I defeated suicide. I live in a small town and smile a lot. I have chronic clincal depression and have been on medication for over 20 years. depression is an illness get help. My worst moments are when I spend days in my bedroom watching old movies and researching or studying on my computer. I also have compulsive disorders which are hard to control. REMEMBER I AM SMILING AT YOU!
Debra,
I’m sorry you felt that way.
You can easily download my books for free here and you are more than welcome to post any question you might have in the forum for free. In fact the only money that is asked for is if people want to ask me a question for me to answer on the site. All of the money collected in that was I donate to the nonprofit group AmeriCares and I receive no benefit from it.
The nominal payment amount of $5 is simply to control volume, otherwise I would be overwhelmed as I once was and unable to answer all the questions.
I can sense your situation has overwhelmed you at the moment but there is help available. You may want to look at these past posts in which i answered questions for people that were feeling suicidal over their debt.
Steve
From what I’ve observed on this website, I wish I had anyone else’s problem but my own. Here I am alone, don’t know a soul in this town & contemplating suicide & come to this website with a a shred of hope, hope in finding some help, but the site is so confusing, I cannot manuever around, anywhere on it! It’s a confusing mess! I’m a 58 yr old widow who knows nothing about tweets, facebook, forums, posts, nothing! Oh wait, the least confusing way to contact Steve, involved $$$$$. Thanks for nothing. Desperate in TX.
Best Regards,
Ms. Griffiths
dagriffiths251@aol.com
Debra,
I’m sorry you felt that way.
You can easily download my books for free here and you are more than welcome to post any question you might have in the forum for free. In fact the only money that is asked for is if people want to ask me a question for me to answer on the site. All of the money collected in that was I donate to the nonprofit group AmeriCares and I receive no benefit from it.
The nominal payment amount of $5 is simply to control volume, otherwise I would be overwhelmed as I once was and unable to answer all the questions.
I can sense your situation has overwhelmed you at the moment but there is help available. You may want to look at these past posts in which i answered questions for people that were feeling suicidal over their debt.
Steve
I’ve seen the results of suicide–the people who have had to live after a family member or friend has died. Please seek help. I’ve been there and made a phone call which saved my life. I am only a few years older than you and believe me–you have a lot to live for. I don’t know if you live in a city or not but find the local library and when you go in — no matter how hard it is SMILE. Pick a book and sit down and read. Look at the people and say hi. If there are children give them the biggest smile you can. Or go to a store not a fancy one–low cost or budget–smile at everyone. That’s how I defeated suicide. I live in a small town and smile a lot. I have chronic clincal depression and have been on medication for over 20 years. depression is an illness get help. My worst moments are when I spend days in my bedroom watching old movies and researching or studying on my computer. I also have compulsive disorders which are hard to control. REMEMBER I AM SMILING AT YOU!
From what I’ve observed on this website, I wish I had anyone else’s problem but my own. Here I am alone, don’t know a soul in this town & contemplating suicide & come to this website with a a shred of hope, hope in finding some help, but the site is so confusing, I cannot manuever around, anywhere on it! It’s a confusing mess! I’m a 58 yr old widow who knows nothing about tweets, facebook, forums, posts, nothing! Oh wait, the least confusing way to contact Steve, involved $$$$$. Thanks for nothing. Desperate in TX.
Best Regards,
Ms. Griffiths
dagriffiths251@aol.com
Nice article , thank you for the free books mate ! Keep it up ..