book

The Debt-Free Spending Plan

by Joanneh Nagler

October 2012

Beginner to intermediate

288 pages

5h 53m

English

AMACOM

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The Debt-Free Spending Plan Is Not a BudgetWhat This Book Will Do for YouHow Did I Get into This Mess?So, What Have I Been Spending, Anyway?Stop Debting, One Day at a TimePick Your Poison: What Going to Stop You?
First Things First: Determine Your IncomeIntroducing the Debt-Free Spending PlanStep One: Your Monthly BillsStep Two: Your Daily NeedsStep Three: Add It UpThe One, Hard-and-Fast Rule
A Typical Debt-Free Spending PlanA Quick Emotional Read on the NumbersDo Your Plan Once a Month, Every MonthThe Magic Little NotebookYour Personal Tracking RecordYour Bill-Paying PlanWhat to Do if You’re BehindHow to Catch UpWhat to Do if You’re Ahead“Payday Debting”: Consultants, Home Office Professionals, Entrepreneurs, and ArtistsDebit Cards versus CashPutting It All TogetherBegin Today
Why Have a “Healthy Reserve” Account?You Also Need Short-Term SavingsFun Money and Special Projects AccountsWeddings, Vacations, and Special-Event DebtingSimple, But Not Always EasyLearn to Live Well First

Cutting Means Financial FreedomMaking Cuts in Your Daily Needs CategoriesMaking Cuts in Your Monthly Bills CategoriesStart Simply and Incrementally
The Value of a Debt-Repayment PlanEasy-Does-It Payback PlansCredit Ratings and Less Than Minimum Monthly PaymentsHow to Talk to CreditorsA Note About “Forgotten” DebtsMaking Your Peace with the Payback Timeline
Lay the Unresolved Issue on the TableA Debt-Free Spending Plan for TwoVictoria and Mark’s Spending PlansNobody Wants to Be Told What to DoThe Aphrodisiac Quality of a Debt-Free Spending PlanLawyers, Guns, and MoneyHope, Backed by Action
How Much Do You Owe?You Pay What You CanHow to Make Money AmendsLoans, Gifts, and Debt ForgivenessThe One-Third Windfall Money Rule
Downsizing Means Things Are Looking UpFive Real-World ExamplesAlanna’s Debt-Free Spending PlanPete’s Debt-Free Spending PlanMichaela’s Debt-Free Spending PlanJake and Anna’s Debt-Free Spending PlanDavid and Ellie’s Debt-Free Spending Plan
Tech ToolsBottom-Line ToolsCoaching and Other Support ToolsNo Excuses
Do I File for Bankruptcy?Attorneys and AgenciesEthical IssuesBe HonestThe Fallout of FilingThe Devil in Disguise
Success Is Going to Look Different NowThe Real JackpotThe Happy LifeThis Book Is for You

Overview

Anyone suffering under the crushing weight of debt knows how impossible it can seem to find a way out. It’s overwhelming—and the more complicated the proposed solution, the harder it is to stick with it.

That’s why The Debt-Free Spending Plan is SIMPLE. It doesn’t require sifting through chapters of high-minded financial advice or digging up your past spend ing history. It assumes you need help RIGHT NOW, and gives it to you. You will learn to:

• Downsize expenses without feeling deprived
• Allocate money as it comes in and put together an easy-to-manage bill-paying plan
• Adjust for inevitable overspend ing
• Pay off debt without gouging expenses and (believe it or not) start saving

The plan is clear, easy, and takes just five minutes a day—and it doesn’t matter if you make $14,000 or $14 million. With straightforward daily spending strategies and effortless expense tracking tools, you will soon find yourself on the road to financial freedom—all before the next billing cycle.