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?
Question: Dear Steve, I have credit card debt but yet need a new car. I am in debt of about $15,000. I also need a new car very badly. Should I get a loan to pay off my credit card debt and have one payment? But then I would have to get yet another one … Read more
I’m shocked. Apparently, I’ve never written an article on the advantages and disadvantages of debt settlement and what to look for or watch for when you go to settle your debt. If you want to talk to someone about your specific situation, I strongly recommend talking to my debt coach friend Damon Day. He is … Read more
Q: What happens if you don’t file bankruptcy but still have credit card debt or loans at the bank? A: You owe them. Q: A collection agency sent my debt to a lawyer with a court date do I have to acknowledge it? A: No, but you will then lose by default. Q: Do I … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I am a 40-year old single mother of one. Currently, I have $22K in credit card debt among 3 creditors: American Express $16K (9.99%), Home Depot $3K (12%), and Furniture Express $3K (zero interest and payment until March 2010). I have $35K in student loans (6.2%) with Wachovia, who is also the … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, Is it wise to pay off smaller balances first or work hard on the higher ones with the out of control interest? Lainey Answer: Dear Lainey, This is one of those great questions that seem so simple to begin with. At first glance, the obvious answer would be to reduce the amount … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, We have over $100k in credit card debt that has accrued over time due to various unfortunate life situations. We are current on all of our debt, however, we only make the minimum payments and cannot make a dent in the debt. We were on the verge of a bankruptcy filing, but … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I have a question about credit history. I held a credit card account with Dressbarn for 13 years. The company was bought by Capital One Bank. Then the company shut down last year. On my credit report, I noticed a 40 point drop because the card account was closed by the company. … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, Does anyone know why Vantage Acceptance is not accepting new clients? Maybe there is some law enforcement action that isn’t public yet? https://vantageacceptance.com/ Ella Answer: Dear Ella, As you stated, the Vantage Acceptance website does say, “We are not accepting new applications.” They continue to list their business address as 5950 Canoga … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, I owe a lot of cc debt but have never missed or been late. I’m probably their most profitable client! I’ve asked for reduced rates, but been declined, leaving me few alternatives. Why would an issuer rather force me into bankruptcy rather than offering this relief? Karen Answer: Dear Karen, Yes. Logic … Read more
Question: Dear Steve, make about 90000 a year budget is 200 a month underwater my wife and I have about 43000 in credit card debt and an unsecured loan for 12 000 credit score is about 620 home value is about 340000 balance is 288000 wife income low due to some health problems Thinking about … Read more