Each of us lives only now, in this brief instant. The rest has been lived already. So make the most thoughtful choices you can today that will lead to a better future.
Steve's Thought of the Day
Stop drifting and hoping a magic solution will appear. Instead, you can participate in rescuing yourself. Find peace by pursuing facts through trusted advisers and research rather than the blind trust of salespeople trying to sell you something by almost any means necessary.
Steve's Thought of the Day
Make decisions to deal with your debt with logic and facts, not assumptions, and worry about what other people will think. People who judge you will soon be forgotten. Nobody thinks about anyone that much.
Steve's Thought of the Day
The world is nothing but constant change. Your life is only a perception. Choose a way out of debt based on facts, not assumptions. Do what is best for your future because those that judge you will not feed you.
Steve's Thought of the Day
Do you have a greater responsibility to repair your financial past or your financial present and future? Make good choices that allow you to tackle your debt and immediately start building your emergency fund and saving for retirement. Tomorrow will be here before you know it. Lost time is a sin.
Steve's Thought of the Day
There is no sense in wasting a perfectly good financial mistake. Instead, learn from it and do better moving forward. The past is gone. Turn and face the future now.
Steve's Thought of the Day
Those who judge you for past financial mistakes are not your friends. So don't make choices about your future out of fear of what they may think. Instead, make choices based on truth, fact, and what is best for you moving forward from today.
Steve's Thought of the Day
Don't believe everything you think. Challenge your assumptions about getting out of debt. Do what is best for you, not others.
Steve's Thought of the Day
Is it less moral to file bankruptcy or to not take action that leaves you old, broke, hungry, and dependent on others?
Steve's Thought of the Day
If bankruptcy is so bad, why did our Founding Fathers specifically include it in the U.S. Constitution as protection for financial difficulties?
Stop listening to people that say bankruptcy is a last resort. It is neither first nor last. It is a tool like credit counseling, debt settlement, and others. For the best result, you need to use the right tool for the job.
Steve's Thought of the Day
People that tell you to avoid bankruptcy want to sell you something else are repeating something they heard or do not know what they are talking about. Get the facts and then make your own decision. Don't let an unskilled script-reading commissioned salesperson make life decisions for you.
Steve's Thought of the Day
Debt problems are like fingerprints. No two are alike. A one-size-fits-all solution will give you a one-size-fits-all result. You deserve better.
Steve's Thought of the Day
You are not your debt. Your value, self-esteem, and existence should not be defined by the money troubles you may be facing right now. Debt problems are solved with proper action, not guilt, self-hatred, and disgust.
Steve's Thought of the Day
Debt is nothing more than math wrapped in emotion. The math is easy, the emotional part leads us to do impulsive things. Not the right thing.
Steve's Thought of the Day
What type of money personality do you have? It is important to know. Take my online test now and discover how you unconsciously deal with money, credit, and debt.
Steve's Thought of the Day
How much retirement savings are you willing to throw away by dealing with your old debt instead of preparing for your financial future? Find how much you will lose by making the wrong choice. Use my online debt repayment calculator now.
Steve's Thought of the Day
Does it make more sense to ask for life-altering debt advice from an unskilled and untrained commissioned salesperson in a call center or an experienced debt coach like Damon Day that provides a customized solution for money troubles?
For many years I’ve written about the tactic some debt relief companies use to trick consumers into signing up for some form of debt relief. Consumers receive offers in the mail for a personal or debt consolidation loan and are told they don’t qualify, but “we have a better program.” Damon Day and I discuss … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I had debt discharged back in 2017 in bankruptcya for TERI loan. This year they tried to garnish me after the fact. I won my motion for sanctions and now they are appealing the decision. Any recourse? Aren’t they private-educational loans? Any advice? Tiffanie Answer: Dear Tiffanie, The issue you describe is … Read more
Mardis Gras parades are an ancient tradition in New Orleans, going back to the eighteenth century. Social clubs called krewes sponsor these parades, and krewe members throw trinkets called throws at parade-goers. Typically, a throw is a necklace of plastic beads, but krew members also throw toys, small stuffed animals, and plastic souvenir cups. Every year, Louisianians … Read more
The Federal Trade Commission today took action against online home buying firm Opendoor Labs Inc., for cheating potential home sellers by tricking them into thinking that they could make more money selling their home to Opendoor than on the open market using the traditional sales process. The FTC alleged that Opendoor pitched potential sellers using … Read more
Flying is part of my DNA. Ever since I can remember, I’ve looked up at the sky and dreamt of airplanes. Flying has represented who I am. It has given me great joy and opportunities as a dog rescue pilot, Civil Air Patrol pilot, and public safety pilot helping to save lives. I am proud … Read more
The Federal Trade Commission today took action against payment processing company First American Payment Systems and two of its sales affiliates for trapping small businesses with hidden terms, surprise exit fees, and zombie charges. The FTC alleges that the defendants made false claims about fees and cost savings to lure merchants, many of whom had … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I’ve been in the Whitestone Legal Group program for three years, and I paid them automatically till now, but my three major creditors haven’t been resolved. I turned down the last offer because the debt to pay was higher than I originally owed. Can I get out of the program? J Answer: … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, A while back, I contacted you regarding my living on disability and being unable to pay the increased interest rates on my cards. You recommended HELPS Nonprofit Legal Services. These people are fantastic. They contacted each creditor and let them know they represent me. The services are free for certain income levels. … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I went to college and was offered PSLF loan forgiveness for ten years of public service, which I started in 2011 and still work for the Commonwealth. I have filled out paperwork since they have these new programs that I shouldn’t have to split for. I have already full filled 120 payments … Read more
A paper published in the Harvard Journal on Legislation presents some interesting data that will test your beliefs and assumptions regarding fraud and scams. James Toomey wrote The Age of Fraud, in which the data is educational and surprising. Toomey presents a common belief that people over 65 are more targeted for fraud and scams … Read more