John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Nov 4, 2009, 11:30 pm
In Step #2 we discussed the difference between good and bad debt. Back when I was in debt $60,000 I thought all debt was bad. I just didn't want to see another credit card bill ever again. But the...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Nov 4, 2009, 11:08 pm
Something we have anticipated for a while has happened as the House passed a bill Wednesday to move up the effective date for credit card reform from Feb 22, 2010 to December 1, 2009. Just as credit c...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Nov 4, 2009, 10:25 pm
After we just talked about the turmoil of deciding to file bankruptcy or not CNNMoney.com reports personal bankruptcies are up 9%. Number of Americans filing for bankruptcy continues to climb and the...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Nov 4, 2009, 12:08 am
I had kept my massive debt load a secret for years. I knew it was wrong and I was embarassed to let anyone know. It wasn't until I was getting divorced that I began share my secret. While confidin...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Nov 2, 2009, 10:51 pm
More and more people are beginning to use their debit cards more than their credit cards. With credit card companies socking it to consumers at the last minute before the new CARD Act goes into action...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Nov 1, 2009, 2:35 pm
Has being in debt caused an expansion of your waste line rather than your wallet? In writing the steps I used to pay off my $60,000 of debt it was interesting to a look back. In Step #5 I reflected on...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 31, 2009, 3:17 pm
When I began putting my financial life back in order part of that descision included buying a home. I had given up my house to my ex-wife in my divorce and having to rent an apartment just killed. For...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 31, 2009, 2:26 am
When I began my path of getting out of debt I decided to get my life in order. Not only getting my financial life together, but the physical, emotional, mental part of my life. People who stay in debt...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 30, 2009, 1:22 am
When I got into all of my debt I knew it was wrong and really I didn't like getting in debt at all. I acually wanted to stop the financial bleeding, but personal reasons with my ex-wife were a mai...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 29, 2009, 1:42 am
In Step #2 we have discerned between Good (Credit) and Bad (Debt). Why is debt bad? Well, it isn't always. Having a mortgage loan can be good. Normally, homes are an apreciating asset. Student loa...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 18, 2009, 9:11 pm
"How do I get credit card companies and debt collectors to stop harassing me?", is one of the most searched topics here at The Debt Free Advocate. The excessive calls are down rate embarrassing at wor...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 16, 2009, 3:28 pm
This is one of the most asked questions at The Debt Free Advocate. There are things you can do if creditors and collectors are harassing you at work or at home. Remember You Have Rights. You have ma...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 16, 2009, 3:01 pm
Most likely if you are having financial problems or you are having a credit meltdown you are experiencing a lot of stress. You are probably worrying on how you will get caught up or how you are able t...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 12, 2009, 8:22 pm
If you need to improve your credit score quickly, there is no time like the present to get started. Here are some great strategies you can start right away to give your FICO the boost it needs. Creat...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 11, 2009, 3:49 am
With credit card defaults on the rise more and more consumers need every tool they can get there hands to help pay off their debt. Equifax, one of the major credit bureaus, released Debt Wise a couple...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 9, 2009, 1:23 am
With the passing of the Card Act, the smackdown on credit card companies, I thought for sure banks would start socking it to consumers before the bill went into full effect in February 2010. But with ...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 4, 2009, 11:30 pm
I saw Michale Moore's new documentary Capitalism: A Love Story over the weekend and found it to be not only thought provoking, but educational. On topic I found not only intriguing, but also had ...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 3, 2009, 12:00 pm
Stories of people getting their interest rates jacked up by credit card companies are literally going viral. Tales of credit card holders, some with good credit and those who have fallen behind, are t...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Oct 1, 2009, 10:34 pm
Unlike Bank of America's shareholders, Ken Lewis is getting out of the economic downturn and laughing all the way to the bank, no pun intended. Ken Lewis doesn't have a golden parachute, but h...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Sep 30, 2009, 11:56 pm
I just saw a commercial for Disney's Give A Day. Get A Disney Day give away. Paying off debt is only part of building wealth. The other part is giving back and Disney is doing just that. Visit Dis...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Sep 26, 2009, 11:51 am
As we've discussed previously more and more people are choosing to live a debt free lifestyle. We saw the Hildebrandt's dig their way out of $106,000 of credit card debt and begin their debt f...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Sep 20, 2009, 8:22 pm
When watching the Dave Ramsey Show for the first time yesterday I was impressed at all the people calling in and telling Dave they were now debt free or how much debt they had actually paid off. I onc...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Sep 19, 2009, 7:26 pm
Although, I have heard of Dave Ramsey before I haven't really followed any of his financial teachings. I have always been a Suze Orman kind of guy. While reading a recent post on one of the person...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Sep 13, 2009, 6:46 pm
I received an email from a couple who are $190,323.79 in debt. There is actually more than that, but this is strictly their credit card and auto debt, not including their mortgages. The couple has ask...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Sep 13, 2009, 4:32 am
Have you started your emergency fund yet? Would a free thousand dollars help you get started? Getting out of debt guru David Ramsey is giving away $999 a day until September 17. Fill out this form to...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Sep 8, 2009, 10:44 pm
I have a family member willing to just have the repro man come pick up their car. I have tried to dissuade them from doing this to no avail. So here's the questions I received regarding giving you...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Sep 8, 2009, 10:56 am
Top 10 Indicators You Are Under The Proposed New Health Care Plan 10. Your annual breast exam is done at Hooters 9. Directions to your doctor's office include "Take a left when you enter the tra...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Sep 6, 2009, 1:38 am
What if I have a preexisting condition when I am laid off? Should I still get private health insurance? In that case stick with your company plan through COBRA, but get private health insurance if yo...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Sep 3, 2009, 10:52 am
Well, we have said that it would get worse before it gets better. The Labor Department's report on unemployment claims shows that the jobless rate rose to 9.7 percent, up from 9.4 percent in July....
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Sep 1, 2009, 12:51 am
Unemployment has been hanging around in the 9% range lately and is likely to get worse. But when your laid off and no longer have insurance benefits, what do you do? To have insurance or not to have i...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Aug 29, 2009, 8:02 pm
In part 1 of "What Should I Do If I Lose My Job?", we discussed the ugly truth with unemployment being at a high of 9.4% and climbing and you still face a chance of losing your job. We also looked at...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Aug 28, 2009, 11:49 pm
... Ball: 31 (thirty-one). I would love to say I was the winner, but unfortunately I am not. If I did win I would be looking forward to choosing either a lump-sum cash payment or ... shares of Goog...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Aug 24, 2009, 1:55 am
Is there a chance I can still get laid off this year? There is a chance you can get laid off any year, but you still have a chance you'll get laid off this year especially. With July's unempl...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Aug 22, 2009, 7:22 pm
Questions regarding credit card debt are the most popular here at Financial Elite. So instead having to search all over the blog for the most popular questions and answers we're going to wrap them...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Aug 20, 2009, 12:36 am
The first installment of Obama's credit card company smackdown is about to start. Soon consumers will be receiving more notice when terms are changed and a chance to reject interest rate increases...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Aug 16, 2009, 2:39 pm
I am sure with the current economic state we're in panhandling is on the rise. I firmly believe that helping others is part of wealth building. Whether it's giving back to God at church, donat...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Aug 9, 2009, 7:45 pm
With bankruptcy looming, a pending divorce, and thoughts of suicide dancing in my head salvation was calling me. Although, I attended church regularly and was familiar with the book of Job as a book i...
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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Aug 8, 2009, 4:55 pm

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John S. posted an article on Financial Elite - Aug 5, 2009, 1:14 am
Some 20 million homeowners currently own homes worth less than their mortgages. The first stage of Obama's "Making Home Affordable Plan" allowed borrowers to get a loan for up to 105% of their hom...
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