Guest post by Angelita Williams

This year on Valentine’s Day, I did something for my fiancé that I’ve never done before, and won’t ever do again — nothing.  I learned a valuable lesson, which I want to share with anyone who is in a relationship, struggling with money.

I’m typically romantic to a fault, going overboard at every occasion, and I often spend too much trying to lavish my significant other with gifts.

However, this year, with the wedding just around the corner, we’ve both been stressing to the point of frenzy about money.  Every cent seems borrowed; even our tax refunds, which were considerable this year, were claimed by some bill or wedding detail.

So I decided to start looking for a second job.  We both work full-time, and before I started my search I talked with my fiancé to make sure we’d both be ok with seeing a little less of each other if and when I got another job.  Though neither of us were excited at the prospect, we both knew that, in the long run, it would be best.

Soon, however, the job search and the possibility of making even just a little more money consumed me.  All my time was devoted to parsing down and perfecting my resume, writing unimpeachable cover letters, and finding more job opportunities.

After work I would drive around stopping in at establishments unannounced to fill out applications and talk to managers.  By the time I decided to pause my obsession long enough to sleep, my fiancé had long since been in bed.

I hadn’t even found a job and we hadn’t seen each other in almost two weeks.  Finally, February the 14^th came along.  I walked in our front door after work, already heading straight for my computer to start looking for job openings, and I saw it: a vibrant display of gifts arranged neatly on the kitchen counter, waiting for me.

At that moment I realized I had completely neglected Valentine’s Day.  I guiltily opened my fiancé’s gifts, unable to make eye contact.  We went to bed without saying a word to each other, and the silence carried on for days.

Finally I broke down.  I apologized, even though I felt it was futile, and tried to explain myself.  My fiancé was understanding but, rightfully, concerned.  Was money that important?  Did we really need it that badly? Was a second job worth sacrificing our relationship over?

The situation was complicated because we did need the money, but obviously my focus and obsession was more detrimental than beneficial.

With the economy still weak, it isn’t uncommon for couples to be working two jobs each, and I was no exception.  Your relationship can and will suffer if you don’t manage your time well.  Luckily my fiancé and I were able to move past my blunders, but there was a time when I thought I had hammered the last nail in my own coffin.

As useful and necessary as money is for getting married and starting a family, it pales in comparison to the power of love.  If you are in a situation where getting a second job might have to be a reality, talk with your partner or spouse first (that was the only thing I did right).

After that, make sure to always leave an hour or two a day, or a whole day on the weekend — whatever it takes — to spend with your significant other.  Constantly tell him or her how much you love them and appreciate them.  Never let them feel that the job search is more important than they are.

Young couples are probably more prone to this than older couples, but even married couples who have been together for decades might fall prey to the money trap.  No matter what your situation in life or how long you’ve been together, remember that money may come and go, but a relationship will last as long as you put forth the effort.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Angelita Williams, who writes on the topics of online courses.  She welcomes your comments at her email: angelita.williams7 @gmail.com.

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Fresh off my last case study of knocking out $5000 in Debt, I took a bit of a hiatus on posting the progress and instead decided to work on knocking out the debt as an even higher priority.  Well, needless to say it’s paid off because I have now knocked out the original $5000 worth of debt!

I just really want to thank those that followed me on this journey of ridding myself of this debt and hope that I’ve been a good case study of what you can accomplish when you put your mind to  focus.

The thing that I now enjoy the most of getting out of that debt is the feeling of being debt free in that a burden has been lifted.  Not only that, but now I get to ‘put away’ what I originally was paying on the debt to building real wealth.  Don’t get me wrong, it does take a bit of self discipline, but the reward can be great.  It’s also really pays to reward yourself for the effort!  I know I am and I’ll let you know in another post how I decided to go with my reward.

How I Ended the Debt Once and For All

Ok, so just how did I go about it you ask?  Well, from my last post on knocking out debt – case study, part 3 – I actually had a running balance of  $2,256.77 left to pay off.  The first payment since then was around $600, leaving a balance of $1,656.77.  Notice, my normal payment would have called for about $400 plus to cover principal and interest, but I paid around $200 more to cut interest /principal.

Around 20 days later, I paid another $600 towards the debt, leaving a paltry sum of $1,056.77 left to pay off.  That’s two tires on some people’s vehicles, so not a big deal.

Here’s where it gets interesting…

I was able to free up cash flow on a small investment that gave me an additional $3,500 injection into my bank account.  Most people would have went ahead and had a good ‘ol time with that money, but we’re not most people, right?  So, instead, I bit the bullet and took $1,000 of that money and some from savings to pay off the complete balance of the $1,056.77 of the original $5000 loan. Not only that, but I banked the rest of the money freed up into another investment that pays a decent dividend – annually.  Read my 70 / 30 rule post and follow it to grow rich.

What’s Next?

Glad you asked.  I’m actually going to be looking at my debt - head on for my mortgage on the house.  If you ask most financial ‘gooorooz’, you’ll know that the house and car usually make up the lion’s share of people’s debt.  Being debt-free, car wise, the natural next step is to tackle the mortgage.

If you want to retire early or someday become wealthy, I’m helping to give you the tools to succeed.  Why?  You see when I help others with their financial life, it also helps me immensely.  I see life from another angle, not only that, but I gain results even quicker.

I really hope you got a lot out of following my case study on knocking out $5000 worth of debt and that it can become a good resource in helping you with your own debt.

Pay it down Debt Balance

$3,549.11

$2,991.77

$2,256.77

• NEW Balance >> $ 0.00
•  Percentage of Debt written off >> 100% of Original $5000 Loan
• Total Principal payments towards loan >> $5000 (plus a puny bit of interest   )
• Feeling of knocking out $5000 in Debt – Priceless!

You may also want to read my earlier case study posts if you missed them:

• Watch Me Knock Out $5000 In Debt (Case Study)
• Part 2: Watch Me Knock Out $5000 In Debt (Case Study Series)
• Part 3:  Watch Me Knock Out $5000 In Debt (Case Study)

How do you handle debts?  Are you building a better financial future for you and your family?  I’d be interested in seeing your comments below.

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Guest Post by Susan Bekiroglu

The greatest hurdle to successful debt relief lies in personal attitudes. Financial Freedom means setting and accepting limits, not just on spending- but on behavior. People who live debt free and who build wealth for the future change their lifestyle. They don’t want to do something about their finances. They don’t wait to do something about their finances. They just do it.

Good financial planning begins with goals. Be realistic, but be optimistic. A well-crafted debt relief program relies on patience, effort, and planning. It should be tied to steady efforts to build wealth, but should also include things that are fun, like dream vacations or items on the “bucket list.”

With no debt in the picture, all earnings go toward paying the bills and building for the future, but they also go toward quality of life. People who live in that financial and mental state set goals and meet them. They look forward with anticipation and enjoy working for something they want. People who live with debt also live with the constant frustration of “if” and “when,” two elusive states that never actually seem to arrive.

Important Steps for Financial Freedom

The major mistake many people make as they’re starting out is deferring saving for their retirement. There’s tremendous potential in the power of compounded interest. Take it as a rule of thumb that any savings is better than none. No amount is too small. Get the money in the best interest-earning vehicle available, even if that’s a simple savings account, and keep looking for ways to cut expenses. This not only creates more freedom in the monthly budget, but also allows for the greater accumulation of wealth.

• If automatic savings plans are an option, for instance a pension fund, take advantage of the opportunity. Adjusting to slightly lower wages will actually be easier than trying to impose the discipline of saving routinely. Putting savings on auto pilot is a great method to grow a retirement fund quickly, and the momentum will increase over time thanks to the interest earned.

•  The most expensive mouth to feed in any house is the mortgage. Match physical space to actual lifestyle. Don’t pay for square footage that isn’t used. Downsizing a living space means upsizing the overall financial picture. People who live mortgage free accrue wealth more rapidly than those who make monthly payments. If possible, rent a portion of the home and use the proceeds to cancel out the mortgage payment.

• Disciplined day-to-day shopping habits slash monthly expenses. Buying items on sale, looking ahead and buying off season, and shopping at outlets result in deep discounts. There are excellent deals online, especially on sites like overstock.com and EBay, and a growing list of coupon and “deal” sites pioneered by programs like Groupon.com.

• Comparison shop to control impulse buying, and consider selling an unused item to pay for a new acquisition. According to statistics compiled by EBay, every household has enough unused “stuff” to generate approximately $10,000 in the online marketplace. Oddly enough, however, people think about buying, but rarely about selling.

Changed thinking patterns result in changed finances. Don’t work from a sense of deprivation. Instead, cultivate a sense of accomplishment and optimism. Every debt resolved and every bill paid creates future potential- a lifestyle in which anything is possible and everything is earned free and clear.

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I’d like to start off this post by challenging you to think about retirement outside of the normal, status quo.  Think about this, what have we all learned about retirement from our beginning working age till now for the most part?  We’ve been taught to work hard, put all of our money in a 401K and maximize the contributions that we make in general towards our retirement in later years.

The interesting thing about that philosophy is that things have changed tremendously.  Due to technology and other means, we now have a world where we can simply work across borders in one country as easily as we could from another. Gone are the days where a person could work for a company all their life through their own loyalty and be guaranteed a nice retirement plan to live off.

For one thing, it’s getting to be more of a world where people change jobs more often and those that have businesses are in a similar boat.

When it comes to planning for retirement, the baby boomers generation planned much better ahead for their future based on where they were at the time.  The newer generations can still retire and live well, but it will take better planning and going against outdated financial advice.  So how do we get there?

I’m glad you asked because the issue of working hard should not go away, but at the same time it makes alot more sense to work smarter at the same time.  First off, you want to revisit your goal planning.  I’ve said time and time again, that you should think of your goals as a proper treasure map.  Set your goals properly and revisit them so often.

Next off, if you’re a big spender, you’re going to want to cut back immensely and learn to save.  This is your retirement life remember!  Get into the act of automatically saving your income.  Too many people tend to get this simple formula wrong.  They  pay all their bills and do all their spending first and then try to save what’s left over, which is usually hardly anything.  Putting yourself first financially is the critical first step.

Next, you’re going to want to start diversifying your sources of income.  How can you accomplish this?  By finding ways of building passive income through other means.  This usually entails doing the work once and reaping the financial rewards after (although you may have to maintain these passive income sources).  A quick example could be purchasing a small apartment then renting out to a tenant to cover your loans and expenses on the apartment.  Meanwhile, you wait for the value of the asset to rise again.  This will usually allow you’re net worth to rise as well.  This is just one aspect of passive income, for a great classic book on building passive income, grab a copy of Robert Allen’s bestseller – ‘Multiple Sources of Income ‘.

This will put you in a better financial situation almost immediately.  In addition to passive income, I really endorse you to diversify your savings into financial vehicles that give you a good rate of return.  For example, your current bank may give you less than 1% rate of interest on your savings, yet moving a portion of your money into treasury bonds might yield you 5-10% on that money.  Starting to get the picture?

I also highly recommend that you build yourself a nest egg of an emergency fund.  I know this one’s been harped on quite a bit, but not enough people have one and are a paycheck away from disaster.  It’s generally a good idea to save between 3-6 months of living expenses in the case of a rainy day (car breaks down, job loss, roof repair e.t.c.).

Live Frugally, Put Your Savings on Steroids

After you’ve done the steps above, you should get used to the fact of living less outlandish and a little more frugal.  No i’m not talking about becoming an old miser that dies with 1 million dollars stashed in his Mattress.  Not at all, instead cut back your spending which just equals more expenses and less money in your pocket.  Do you really need that brand new car when a 5 year old one could do you just fine?  Just one example.

Next, really ramp up your savings as you’re gonna need it for your retirement plans.  Work a bit harder today to fully enjoy that tomorrow, got it? Ever heard cash is king?  Let it become your new motto and help others with their finances along the way.

Learn to Leverage and Look For Opportunity

Those that are financially well off just about all got there from using some sort of leverage.  It could have been a house they sold at the height of the housing market, it could be they are a highly sought joint venture broker.  No matter how they got there, they were usually smart about it.  These people have a knack for seeing opportunities and so should you.  Give M.J. DeMarco’s Millionaire Fastlane a read on debunking myths about how to become financially free.

It’s not an easy road, but if you hone in just on the financial steps listed above, you could very well retire rich and earlier than you would ever have imagined.

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I want to start off this blog post to explain the importance of Financial Freedom and what great changes it can bring in your own life.  I’m a big proponent and ally of Financial Freedom and also one of it’s best allies.  I’m not really the most qualified if you want to look at degrees in Finance and so on, but i’m one of your best fighters to help get you to that pivotal point of Financial Independence.

Fresh off my post of 25 Best Personal Finance Bloggers, you might be wondering why it’s one of my life goals to help those that are needing that Financial Freedom and peace in their life.  Well, for starters, when I help others, it definitely helps me as well.  By helping you finally achieve financial freedom, it keeps my goals of staying on track financially as well.

For one thing, I’m building wealth more and more and gaining leverage while eliminating my bad debt faster than ever.  This is important because I get to teach these powerful techniques to receptive readers like you.

You see, it wasn’t always this way, in fact, if i harnessed the money that has gone through my hands at an even 10% savings rate, I’d be possibly already set for life.  Maybe you’re in the same boat.  I’m here to tell you it really isn’t too late to align your life goals with things that actually matter and start improving your net worth from today onwards.

Everywhere we look these days, they are big businesses as well as inflation looking to take away a large amount of your wealth in the form of spending more.  In fact, as I write this there are legion of people that are looking to get rid of their Apple IPAD 2 for the just released IPAD 3!  That’s just one little example.

Here’s the kicker, most of these people want to separate you from your money without giving you a whole lot of anything in return.  Now, what about something even more disturbing is the fact that depending who you you speak to or what documentation you read – the savings rate in the 1970’s just in the U.S. was around 6-8% of income.  Today, inflation is higher, salaries almost the same, yet the savings rate in the U.S. is a mere 1% or less.

Disturbing facts indeed. That’s why like me, I would like you to be rich.  I want you to start shooting for those goals that matter.  For me, that’s a million dollars net worth.  In today’s dollars, a million dollars really isn’t a whole lot of moolah.  In fact, you could easily spend that on a house these days.  Maybe a $500,000 net worth would be more suited for you?  Here’s where my brain makes the adjustment, once I reach that financial goal, I’ll set a higher, yet attainable goal.

Why?

I’ll tell you why, because Financial Freedom = Life Freedom and having more wealth allows you to do more with your life.  If you want to go jump on a plane and go down to machu pichu in Peru, you probably could with the right level of wealth and life freedom.

Here’s another secret.  Debt = Financial slavery and Drudgery.  Look at it this way, let’s say a guy has a massive amount of debt.  Let’s call him Dan.  Dan works like crazy to live like the Joneses and look the part.  He has a good paying job, but hates the job because it doesn’t align with his life’s goals.  However, he’s got to keep working at it due to being a couple hundred thousand dollars in debt.  Dan works 60-70 hours a week just to take care of his family, buy all his toys and make minimum payments on his various loans.

Dan really isn’t happy with life in general due to being in debt up to his eyeballs, yet has to keep pushing on with things he doesn’t like doing.  Dan doesn’t have the life freedom that he wants, although he fools himself that he does with his golf club membership and man toys like a boat he barely afford.  Dan’s life in a nutshell is part of a financial trapping – albeit the rat race.

Wait there’s hope though.

Let’s take as another example, a lady named Christina.  Christina has no debt and is financially free.  When she became financially independent, she quit the job that she no longer liked and owns a small bakery that was her life’s dream.  She started her business with capital she saved up to own such a business.  Due to her business being systemized, Christina leaves a majority of the drudge work to her two employees while she concentrates on marketing and sales.  Her business is thriving and profitable, allowing Christina to live unlike most people.  She plans to sell her business down in a while as she’d like to start another business.

Christina has the life freedom to take two to three vacations per year due to spending within her budget.  While most of her friends are doing the 9-5 workday, she is out test driving that fairly used Nissan sports car she plans to pay cash for down the road.  She attends networking events and hangs out with positive peers daily and has a great time socializing and building relationships.  Having the amount of life freedom that she does allows her to give back.  She volunteers monthly at a shelter for women where she makes a difference.  She and her fiancé are planning a quaint wedding that they will pay with cash.  She is living her dreams.

Now, doesn’t the above scenario open a world of possibilities for you.  Are you living financially like a Dan or Christina above?  It’s my whole hearted belief that we were put on earth to enjoy life fully not make man made financial trappings for ourselves.  The media knows that most people are consumers and are willing to spend on wants.  It’s been said the average person can be bombarded with 5000 to 10,000 daily marketing messages!

One of my life’s goals is to come up with a financial blueprint in addition to this blog to help others finally gain financial independence.  How much more could you live life when it’s on your own terms?   I’m certain that it would be worth it and you should  practice living abundantly from now.

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Guest Post by Andreas.

If life is a journey, for many a great stop along the way is to reach the point of financial freedom. With the mortgage paid off, the children having moved on and the prospect of even more satisfying years ahead, that perfect move to a new place seems well deserved.

Below, TravelSupermarket.com looks at five destinations that can allow those retirement dreams to come true:

Westport, County Mayo, Ireland

 The first destination to make the list is on the west coast of Ireland in one of its most beautiful towns, Westport in County Mayo.

Set on the shores of the majestic Clew Bay, the town was designed in 1780 in the classic Georgian architectural style and its beauty is further enhanced by the Carrowbeg River that runs gracefully through its centre.

If the town is lovely in itself, then the surrounding countryside is breathtaking. Ireland’s holy mountain, Croagh Patrick, lies just six miles to the west and with Achill Island to the north and the wild landscape of Connemara to the south, a more pleasant spot could hardly be found.

Lanzarote

Lanzarote in the Canary Islands lies just 75 miles off the coast of Africa and has a climate to match. It has a dramatic landscape, with mountains to the north and south of the island as well as extravagant rock formations that were formed by volcanic eruptions and solidified lava.

Approximately 10% of the population of 139,000 are residents from other European countries enjoying the quality of life in later years this island can offer. Its coastline mixes glorious beaches and gentle sunlit coves with the spectacular rocky terrain. As it is a popular tourist destination, there is plenty to do and see on the island.

Peak District, Derbyshire, England

Derbyshire’s Peak District still retains a natural charm and has kept alive many of its old customs. This beautiful part of England, with its picturesque towns of Ashbourne, Matlock and Bakewell, nestles comfortably near the major cities of Manchester and Sheffield and as such is easily accessible.

It’s also close to Derby and Nottingham and not far from Birmingham. Tourists and day-trippers tend to blend in with the location rather than dominate it and they generally show the same respect to the area as the local residents.

The ancient custom of Well Dressing features in nearly every Peak District town or village with a history tracing back to the time of the Black Death. Thanks and praise were given when any well provided pure water that would sustain the people in those difficult times. It’s a community activity as well, with all residents invited to take part.

Florida, USA

Known as the Sunshine State, Florida could well prove to be an ideal place for retirees. It’s bordered by the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean and boasts a coastline of over 1300 miles.

There’s a subtropical climate in the north of the state which becomes more tropical in the south. Florida is not only one of the most popular holiday destinations in America, it’s also home to many purpose-built, highly developed retirement communities with all the facilities tailored to the needs of its residents.

The influences of the Native American, the European and latterly the Hispanic and the African American have combined to produce a unique cultural mix, most notably manifested through architecture and cuisine but also in the positive yet relaxed way of life.

Dubai, UAE

Dubai, one of the seven Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates, can lay claim to the title of the ‘Pearl of the Middle East’. Oil and the resultant trade have transformed this anonymous fishing centre into a modern desert city with tremendous facilities.

It has the luxury hotels the entertainment complexes and the bright lights that bring in the tourists, yet it also shows great respect and tolerance to people of other cultures and beliefs. It still upholds its Muslim values but welcomes people from around the world.

With no taxes or import duties, it is a shopper’s haven and even features the Dubai Shopping Festival every January. For those who have worked hard all their lives, such a project could be called a necessary indulgence!

The prime of life should not be wasted, so maybe one of these five destinations can offer an exciting challenge or thoughtful retreat – or both – for the unfolding years ahead.

Written by Andreas who works as a writer for MoneySupermarket.com

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Guest Post by Allan Jones

Some people make investments early on in their careers. There on in, they do not chop or change much and the returns keep coming. As a person gets older, priorities change and this is why changing investment strategies is important as well. When you are reaching old age, retirement is just around the corner. It could be there before you even realize it. This is why you need to be practical and plan. The best time to change your investment strategy is when you turn 50. Here are four reasons why you should change your investment strategy when you turn 50.

Low Future Income

When you cross 50, the future income is not going to be as much as it was before. There will come a time when the inflow of cash is going to stop as you retire. The prospect of no future income can be scary for a person and this is why you have to keep this scenario in mind. If you want to plan effectively, make sure that you are going to have enough money to live comfortably after retirement.

Higher Returns on Investment

You need to start exploring options that provide you higher returns on investment. Since it is probable that you will not be able to manage the investments for too many years in the future, earning a higher return is important. This way, you can save the money you want for your retirement in lesser time than you would if you stick to your current investment strategy. A person turning 50 has lived the best part of his life. To ensure that the rest of years are comfortable, you have to find an investment opportunity that provides a higher return.

Short-Term Investments

With retirement near and old age beckoning, making short-term investments is sensible. They are going to pay off sooner and you do not have to keep your money tied up. Some investments require you to keep your money invested for a certain number of years. Instead, look for an investment avenue where you can withdraw your money in a few years.

Health Problems

People over 50 can develop health problems. The standards of health care have improved but the general health level among people has decreased. As you get older, the chances of illness and disease are higher. There is a chance that your health could deteriorate even if you are fit and agile. Hence, your investment strategy should be such that you do not have to put in too much effort to deal with it. Moreover, you should have the option of withdrawing money whenever you want.

These are four reasons why you should change your investment strategy when you turn 50.

 Allan has been writing about personal finance, smsf and retirement savings strategy for the last 3 years. He has published numerous posts in leading personal finance blogs.

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First off, by now you’ve probably found that I’m a fan of Personal Finance and Financial Freedom, so it should come to no surprise that I decided to come up with a list of Personal Finance Bloggers that you should be aware of.  I’ve also got to be clear that coming up with this list wasn’t easy as they are literally hundreds or even thousands of PF bloggers out there.

The formula and process of selecting these bloggers was not an easy one at all, in fact, it was based on my own custom criteria of picking these bloggers and each one of these can help make a profound difference in your own lives. I want to see this list have a good effect on readers of the blog, so please comment if you would have liked to have seen anyone else on the list.

The list of bloggers below aren’t your normal run of the mill personal finance bloggers, they are what I consider the real deal.  Respected and entertaining, these authors have really made their mark on the online space.   Without further adieu, let’s get on with the list of top 25 Personal Finance bloggers to keep an eye out for.  Enjoy the list. 

#1 PF Blogger. Will Chen of WiseBread.com

Blog: http://wisebread.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  Founded by financial superstar, William Chen, WiseBread made the list as it’s one of the most famous personal finance blogs on the net.  Written by a community of like minded bloggers, it shares a wealth of money saving and wealth building tips that helps their readers make the best decisions in their financial decisions.

#2 PF Blogger. Pat Flynn

Blog: http://smartpassiveincome.com     Reason They’re Worth Following  -  Pat Flynn made the list due to showing how to increase your passive income strategies and is a very successful blogger in his own right.  With his own podcast, detailed and pillar blog posts and a transparency of how he makes a killing with passive income. Pat is a go to resource for helping others increase their financial net worth.

#3 PF Blogger. Adam Baker

Blog:http://manvsdebt.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  An epic blogger and persuasive one at that.  Baker blogs on getting out of debt with many rich lessons for readers.  He’s recently been featured at the blogworld expo and even had a very informative video on TED talks chapter in Asheville.  Baker has been helping many devoted readers out of debt with his latest You vs. Debt course

#4 PF Blogger. J.D. Roth

Blog:http://www.getrichslowly.org  Reason They’re Worth Following -  J.D. Roth is one of the most respected authors in the personal finance genre.  His site getrichslowly.com attract thousands of readers clamoring to take home real nuggets of gems on how to really make it to rich status by running the race to financial freedom and setting focus on those goals.

#5 PF Blogger. Andrew Schrage & Gyutae Park

Blog:http://www.moneycrashers.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  Listening to the financial wisdom given by two financial freedom advocates.  Andrew Schrage and Gyutae Park do not disappoint.  Mentioned on such high profile shows such as NBC and MSNBC and other news outlets, these guys really know what they’re talking about and give no nonsense advice about keeping more green in your wallet.

#6 PF Blogger. Ginger of GirlsJustWannaHaveFunds.com

Blog:http://girlsjustwannahavefunds.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  A very sprightly and light hearted blog more geared towards female readers but men could take away a lot of golden nuggetts set aside in this resource.

#7 PF Blogger. Sam Dogen

Blog:http://financialsamurai.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  Known as the author of the popular yazekie network for personal finance bloggers, Sam certainly is known as the financial samuarai.  He lives the walk and cuts through the clutter of debt while keeping loyal readers entertained.

#8 PF Blogger. Jeremy Vohwinkle

Blog:http://genxfinance.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  Jeremy is a well established player in the financial industry that helps all types of readers with their financial and retirement planning.   Well worth the read for his various financial categories – you can find most of what you need.

#9 PF Blogger. Paula Pant

Blog:http://afford-anything.com  Reason They’re Worth Following -  Paul Pant was once a successful journalist and just one day quit and sold all her worldly possessions to fund an adventure around the world.  Her writing is entertaining as it is informative in helping readers make the right choices through frugal yet disciplined living.

#10 PF Blogger. Ramit Sethi

Blog:http://iwillteachyoutoberich.com  Reason They’re Worth Following -  A New York best selling author, Ramit is a great author that spews out loads of information in increasing your net worth and using leverage to get you there.  A very captivating speaker and writer, he commands your attention from the time you enter his site and start reading his collage of good financial advice.

#11 PF Blogger. Trent Hamm

Image Source - The Simple Dollar   Blog:http://thesimpledollar.com  Reason They’re Worth Following -  From diverse posts such as making your own caramel apple jams to automating your savings, Trent has a lot of entertaining posts and you can’t help but listen.  A simple blog that really helps you to define how to live frugally so that you can in turn build wealth on your own terms.

#12 PF Blogger. Todd Tressider

Blog:http://financialmentor.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  A financial coach in his own right, Tressider has loads of info. for a reader to digest along with a lot of useful and free financial calculators on his site.  Along with good, solid financial articles, you can even sign up for some real coaching from the man himself.

#13 PF Blogger. Jon The Saver

Blog:http:// freemoneywisdom.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  A fairly young, but experienced personal finance blogger well beyond his years.  Jon belts out money wisdom and then some.  His seven series email subscription on becoming a millionaire is worth it in itself.  Give Free Money Wisdom a read and grab some sound advice.

#14 PF Blogger. James Clear

Blog:http://www.passivepanda.com  Reason They’re Worth Following -  Advocating his three pillars of making money – freelancing, employment and becoming an entrepreneur – James is the go to guy on making saavy financial decisions and integrating them into your life.  Read his $30,000 in 30 days post to get insight into what makes passive panda so popular.

#15 PF Blogger. Andrew Hallam

Blog:http://andrewhallam.com     Reason They’re Worth Following -  Boasting such accolades as the 3M investment club and Millionaire teacher, Bob is a credible author that pumps a reader up and makes them perk up and at attention for all the great tidbits of wisdom found throughout his site.

#16 PF Blogger. Bob Lotich

Blog:http://christianpf.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  Solid and time steady finance articles written with a biblical perspective of why it pays to be good stewards of money.  Bob doesn’t disappoint with timeless, yet thoughtful personal finance blog posts and the importance of giving back.  All the while helping readers to absorb and practice what he preaches.

#17 PF Blogger. David Ning

Blog:http://moneyning.com/    Reason They’re Worth Following -  A former IT Manager, Ning now focuses his efforts on helping others achieve the financial independence they deserve.   A power packed powerhouse of fundamental and advanced finance articles, I can see why David enjoys readership of over 500,000 per month.

#18 PF Blogger. Gail Vaz-Oxlade

Grab The Book (click picture above for Amazon)!   Blog:http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/    Reason They’re Worth Following -  With a few good tv shows like ‘Till Debt do us Part’ and ‘Princess’, Gail dishes out a whole lot of must listen to ways of sticking to budgets, saving and all around working to increase your financial position.  A multi-book author, this lady knows what she’s talking about.

#19 PF Blogger. Kevin McKee

Blog:http://thousandaire.com Reason They’re Worth Following -  A hilarious, yet well done blog about one man’s take on getting out and staying out of debt.  Just view his video such as ‘Budgets Gets the Girl’ and you’ll get the picture.  #20 PF Blogger. Brad Chafee

Blog:http://enemyofdebt.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  Zeroing on bad debt, Brad helps take readers on a ride to finally get rid of the debt for good and teaches how to stay out of debt through your own personal finance responsibility.  An inspiring blog, all you have to do is read the about section of the blog to get fired up on the why to boost finances.  #21 PF Blogger. Joe @ RetirebyForty.org

Blog:http://retirebyforty.org    Reason They’re Worth Following -  Joe’s a good guy that blogs on the importance of retiring young.  An inspiring blog, yet packed full of down to earth retirement advice through financial prowess.   #22 PF Blogger. Lynnae McCoy

Blog:http://beingfrugal.net Reason They’re Worth Following -  A blog where it’s name says it all.  Everything in this blog is minimalistic and chimes in on why frugal living frees up life enjoyment in other areas of life.  Where would you be if you didn’t have to worry about money?  #23 PF Blogger. Ninja of PunchDebtInTheFace.com

Blog:http://punchdebtintheface.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  A very entertaining and hilarious blog yet filled with getting out of debt advice. You’ll laugh until ‘ninja’ kicks you in the gut with some real life truths about how you got into debt in the first place.  4.6 out of 5 stars  #24 PF Blogger. Jackie Beck

Blog:http://moneycrush.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  Jackie Beck loves her financial advice journey and you can tell she loves to write on all things finance.  A good blog that gives some extra kick in the pants when you need it.  Debt free with everything except for the house, Jackie is worth following   #25 PF Blogger. JT McGee

Blog:http://moneymamba.com    Reason They’re Worth Following -  JT is a numbers guy and you can tell it in a majority of his posts. In any case, his diverse and deep reaching articles are a rich resource and adds value to readers that frequent the blog.

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Part 3 of Case Study Series

It’s been a little while since I’ve updated this case study of me knocking out $5000 of Debt.  That’s the bad news, the good news is that I’ve been pushing on and wiping the debt out and have made two additional lump sum payments since the last update.

I’m way ahead of the Debt

If I stayed on the course that my original lending institution wanted, I would be in debt for around another 8 – 9 months out before wiping it out.  At the level I’m going at a few more months or less should clear it out.  That’s the lesson here, don’t make financial institutions dictate when you should be done with a loan or how to pay it down.  You can save yourself a lot of interest and time on the loan by just following my way of paying down debt.

You might be asking just how far ahead of the debt am I?

Well, let’s put it this way, I talked to a teller on my last payment made and asked him if it mattered that I showed up 15 days later than scheduled to make the payment.  His answer was that it didn’t matter as the bulk payments I’ve been making on the loan were such that it really doesn’t matter if I made late payments based on how I was paying.

I could skip a month here or there if I wanted, but I’ll keep paying to wipe out the debt instead.  That provides less financial stress which is an important component of wiping out debts.

 So, since the last updated case study of knocking out $5000 worth of debt, I have made two additional principal busting payments and the balance is looking good. 

How I feel about the progress

Well, let me just say that it really feels great to know that I’m ahead of schedule and know that the lending institution will make almost no interest on the debt based on the payback attack. I’ve started rewarding myself every time I make a payment which is important as it allows me to feel better about the debt and also gives me peace of mind that the debt will be gone soon.

In any case, another lesson here is the quicker you can get rid of debt, the faster you build real wealth – which is important to your bottom line. Living within means is and should be balanced with a lifestyle that you enjoy, but still doesn’t allow you to go overboard with your Finances. 

So, just how does my debt busting on the loan look now?   Here’s a snapshot below:

$2,256.77 Balance after last payment of $735

Pay it down Debt Balance

 $3,549.11

$2,991.77

NEW Balance >> $ 2,256.77

Percentage of Debt written off    >> 55% of Original $5000 Loan

Total Principal payments towards loan   >> $2,743.23

Feeling of knocking out Debt – Priceless!

Hopefully, you enjoyed this third case study of me vs. $5000 in Debt.   Will I make the goal of knocking off this debt in the time I want and save massive interest?  Stay tuned and never miss another blog post by joining the RSS Feed by email.  

If you haven’t already,  pickup your FREE copy of my original Financial Blueprint to Wealth:  ‘Golden Nuggets – 25 Absolute Steps You Need for Financial Freedom’ that can help put you on the road to becoming Financially Independent. 

 One more thing before I go, know someone or others that this post could help?

Share with others on Facebook!

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Guest Post by Mariana

Issues with money or personal finance are some of the most challenging and stressful ones out there. Dealing with money problems can be particularly difficult if you little experience with financial management on your own.

 Money is a daunting thing. While it is important to understand the specifics of interest, investment, and savings, it is also essential that you know your own personal lifestyle enough to manage your personal finance habits. These three steps in your own personal development are essential steps to take in your financial development as well. Use these personal development stages to better manage and solve your money matters. 

Try Some Honesty

Honesty is paramount in most situations in life. And, while that sounds like a worthless notion, it’s true. Part of growing up and becoming a responsible adult means realizing when you are being dishonest with yourself and remedying it.

Money makes it easy to be dishonest with ourselves. There are many tricks that we will play on ourselves when it comes to personal finances and spending. However, once you are able to recognize when you are being dishonest with yourself and your needs, you will be able to better manage your money. If you really want to solve money issues, you have to be realistic with yourself about your situation. The truth is the first step in dealing with money matters.

Taking Responsibility and Making Sacrifices

For most of us, taking control of our finances means making a sacrifice or two. There are some aspects of our financial lives that we took for granted at a younger age, that we just have to own up to and change. Of course, this goes hand in hand with being honest with yourself.

If your money issues involve budgeting, then you need to accept that some things are luxuries you just shouldn’t spend your money on. If you can’t afford these luxuries, than you need to find a way to sacrifice them. Learn how to be more economical. Eat out less, use public transportation, or make your own coffee at home. Each of these little sacrifices can make a significant impact on your financial situation.

Lose the Pride, Ask for Help

For most of us, money is a very personal issue. For this reason, many people keep their financial questions and concerns to themselves. However, talking to someone about your issues or concerns can be extremely useful. Don’t be afraid to ask for help with something concerning your money situation.

Discuss things with a professional or a trusted and knowledgeable family member. If you have someone you trust in your life who has knowledge with money and numbers, solicit their help. Of course, you should be wary about who you share your financial information with. Be sure that you find someone trustworthy and capable of giving solid advice. Asking for help is one of the first signs to really maturity. Seek it, if you need it.

Author Bio:

Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about
online colleges.  She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to
mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.

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