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Debt

Debt

Debt keeps you shackled to decisions you made in the past. Escape by building awareness around the true cost of borrowing money.

Debt keeps you shackled to decisions you made in the past. Escape by building awareness around the true cost of borrowing money.

Everything you need to know about debt

Are You Riding the Credit Card Float?

Are you riding the credit card float? Here's a quick test: can you pay off your current bill AND meet your current obligations?

4 Lessons From My Zero Percent Nightmare

I thought I was entirely in control of my credit card spending, but it is a serious head game and no one is immune.

Should I Pay Off My Credit Cards or Max Out My 401k?

In the unending “pay off debt first or start investing” debate, I’ve learned about a small wrinkle: If your employer matches your 401k contributions, you earn an instant 100% bonus on every one of those dollars. In the worst of scenarios, your credit card company is charging you interest in the high 20s.

Aloha, Debt. And, aloha, Debt!

Shannon Marie
|
January 11, 2019

Chelsea and her husband were newly wed and $215,000 in debt. Find out how they teamed up to fix their finances ...

Automate Your Snowball with Undebt.it + YNAB

Shannon Marie
|
October 29, 2018

With YNAB and Undebt.it+, there's no need to enter transactions twice. Record your activity in YNAB, and let this integration do the rest.

Debt Is Not the Only Option

Shannon Marie
|
September 17, 2018

Imagine what life would be like if you never had to lean on your credit card and could avoid debt. That's the power of planning.

From Hopeless to Zero Credit Card Debt

Shannon Marie
|
August 17, 2018

I was ashamed, sad, and I felt like an idiot. YNAB helped me carefully assign my money to the right categories and set me free.

From a Net Worth of -$40k to Homeownership

Shannon Marie
|
August 10, 2018

Jennifer, a 20-something IT analyst, used to buy every gadget that crossed her path. Now, her cousin calls her “The Queen of Cheap.”

Sydney’s Family Paid off $15k of Debt in Six Months

Shannon Marie
|
August 3, 2018

When Sydney and her husband faced a year and a half without income, they did what they had to do to support their family -- and succeeded!

My Crazy Ride on the Credit Card Float

Janelle Whitaker
|
August 1, 2018

If you’re on the credit card float, you’re effectively living on next month’s income! And, chances are, you're stressed. Learn how to stop.

Dealing with $263k in Debt, Job Loss & the Unknown

Shannon Marie
|
July 27, 2018

Brittany and Keith live in Marietta, Georgia, and they’d racked up $263,000 of debt—a number that used to keep Brittany awake at night.

How to Snowball Your Debt & Reclaim Your Paycheck

Shannon Marie
|
July 26, 2018

Have you tried a debt snowball? It can change your plan can change your outlook, no matter how deep your debt.

They Paid off $30,000 in 3 Years on a $60k Salary

Shannon Marie
|
July 20, 2018

It's not about finding 1 place to save $100. You try to find a 100 places to save $1. If you cut back, you can move yourself ahead in life…”

How One Couple Paid off $30k in Just 15 Months

Shannon Marie
|
July 13, 2018

Andy is a pastor. His wife, Melissa, is a stay-at-home mom. When their debt reached $30,000, again, they knew they needed a new plan.

From $500 in the Bank to Retiring Early

Shannon Marie
|
July 6, 2018

Find out how Tom, an IT business analyst from Kenton, Michigan, realized that it was cheaper to quit his job than to continue working.

This Couple Paid off $70,478 in Student Loans in 18 Months

Shannon Marie
|
June 23, 2018

Katie and Mark, of Salt Lake City, were married after their sophomore year in college. Back then, they were both sure that, one day, they’d be lawyers (and well-paid ones, at that). But just a semester into law school, Katie realized that it wasn’t the right fit.

Listen to Angela’s Debt Story

Shannon Marie
|
June 14, 2018

In our first episode of Debt Stories, you'll meet Angela. Her story begins with a new house, new car and lots of coffee.

Melissa Goes Minimal to Crush $40k

YNAB
|
June 11, 2018

We live in an insanely consumer-driven culture—go buy, and go big! And I’d fallen into the trap. Here's how I went minimalist to pay it off.

Beware of the Debt Magnet

Shannon Marie
|
April 30, 2018

Make a rule that will save you an enormous amount of stress and money: you can buy anything you want, as long as you budget for it first.

Should I Consolidate My Student Loans? No, and Here’s Why

Jesse Mecham
|
February 5, 2018

Wondering if you should consolidate your student loans? I don't think you should, and my reasons why aren't what you might expect.

How One Couple Crushed $33k in Debt in 14 Months

Shannon Marie
|
January 19, 2018

A year after they were engaged, Brendan and Alisha faced a very disappointing possibility: postponing their wedding. Something had to change.

Escaping the Slippery Slope of Debt

Jesse Mecham
|
July 26, 2017

Buried under a pile of credit card debt? This Whiteboard Wednesday is for you. Learn how to escape the slippery slope of debt.

Debt-Free at Twenty-Three

Shannon Marie
|
July 8, 2017

Emma Vonder Haar is 23 and debt-free: “I sound like a walking commercial for YNAB but, really, this program has straight-up changed my life.”

Ways To Avoid Holiday Credit Card Debt/Regret

Lindsey Burgess
|
November 28, 2016

You can minimize—even eliminate—holiday-induced credit card debt. Here are a few ideas, I’ve been mulling over this year...

Stop! Read This Before You Consolidate Your Debt!

Todd Curtis
|
September 16, 2016

If you are in debt, and it’s stressing you out and holding you back, decide right here and now that getting out of debt is your top priority.

$300k+ In Student Loans: One Couple's Approach

Lindsey Burgess
|
June 27, 2016

We hear many woeful tales of student loan debt, but not very many of them are $350k worth of misery.

Payday Loans for Small Business: Watch Out

Jesse Mecham
|
June 17, 2016

Of course, the ads don’t call them payday loans. They mask these loans as something fancy: Factoring, invoice financing, receivables financing, asset-based lending, etc. It’s all the same thing. It’s just like you, as a small business owner, walking down to the nearest payday lender and getting some cash.

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