This resulted in families taking on more credit card debt to alleviate the financial stresses of the time. The average American family currently has over $15,000 in credit card debt.

Because credit cards operate on revolving credit, their interest rates are often above 20%. This can create a trap that is hard to escape; some borrowers are only able to pay off the interest on their balance. For this reason, EC Lending has begun to help their customers refinance this debt at significantly lower rates.

The idea began in 2014 in Escondido, California. The company’s founders realized that credit card debt was becoming an excessive problem in the credit industry and that many borrowers were extremely serious about paying it off — they just couldn’t due to interest rates. EC Lending, which started as a loan broker in the automobile industry, then made a definitive decision to tap into the market.

Success has been rampant so far. EC Lending LLC of San Diego, California has reported that the amount of clients that have come to them in search of refinance has way overshot their initial profitability projections. In addition, by analyzing a consumer’s credit report, EC Lending is able to target low risk borrowers who have clear sources of income. This reduces risk on the lending side as many refinancers are often considered risky borrowers. In order to provide rates that are competitive with industry leaders, EC Lending has had to invest serious time into selecting their initial batch of clients.

Despite the economy’s recent recovery, experts believe that credit card debt is now part of America’s mentality, and that balances as a whole will continue to rise. The reason behind this is that to spur investment into the economy the government has increased the money supply which has resulted in bank’s reducing the requirements for obtaining all forms of credit.

This means that much of the country is now seeing there debt rise rather than fall, despite positive economic signs. For this reason, firms like EC Lending are likely to experience continual growth into the future as consumers continue to spend more than they can afford despite increases in wages.

EC Lending LLC Tapping into America’s Credit Problem is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

While we spent what I considered to be a reasonable amount of money, I was a little surprised to learn that men spend more on wedding gifts than women do, according to a survey by Ebates, a cash back and coupon website. I’m frugal, and I’m not fond of shopping. Am I more likely to spend more on wedding gifts than my wife? I don’t think so.

Men spending 2X on wedding gifts

The survey found that a majority of women said they spend $25 to $100 on wedding gifts, or about half as much as the $50 to $250 that men said they spend.

Women, however, shop smarter than men, with 32 percent of women using coupons and cash back to buy wedding gifts, the survey found.

Other ways survey respondents said they save money at weddings include restyling dresses and suits (21 percent), and teaming up with a friend to split the cost of an expensive gift (19 percent).

Most Americans (59 percent) said they will attend at least one — and as many as five — weddings this year.

Weddings full of stress

That’s a lot of gifts to buy, and a lot of stress to deal with. Finding the right outfit is the biggest stressor for women, while men are more concerned about running into people they dislike.

Here are the biggest causes of anxiety that the survey found:

Stressors for women

1. Finding the right outfit: 44%
2. Losing weight: 28%
3. Spending too much money: 28%
4. Seeing people I dislike: 27%
5. Finding the right gift: 24%

Stressors for men

1. Seeing people I dislike: 31%
2. Spending too much money: 29%
3. Finding the right outfit: 27%
4. Finding the right gift: 24%
5. Losing weight: 21%

Men are also three times as likely as women to feel stressed out about finding the right date to a wedding — 14 percent of men vs. 5 percent of women, the study found.

While the survey didn’t get into how men and women feel about going into debt to buy costly wedding gifts, we can only imagine the stress that’s added to attending a wedding when that gift is sitting on your credit card and waiting to be paid.

Who Spends More on Wedding Gifts? is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

I’ve been there! Just a few short years ago I confronted my debt balances and created a plan so I could get started paying off debt, but it wasn’t easy.

When you get started paying off debt, you have to make some tough decisions and sacrifices that you may not want to make.

If you are ready to get started paying off debt, here are my top 5 tips that can help.

Change Your Habits

We all have habits that we’d like to change. Some of them may be financial, and some may not. An example of a bad financial habit is “window” shopping whenever you have time to kill. Instead of window shopping while you kill time, choose a different activity instead. You can bring a book to read, or go for a walk in a nearby park or neighborhood as an alternative. These will keep you from being tempted to spend money. Don’t shop unless you absolutely need something.

Completely Stop Buying on Credit

If you want to get started paying off debt, you have to stop creating it first. This is essential if you want to change your habits and improve your financial situation. Make a pact to stop using your credit cards for anything except emergencies, but even then if you have an emergency fund you shouldn’t need your credit cards for that either. In fact, you might consider getting rid of all but a couple of them by shredding them or even just freezing them in a block of ice.

Develop a Strategy

There are a few different tactics you can choose from to help you pay off you debt quicker. First decide on a method for paying down your debt.

There’s the snowflake method in which you make payments toward your bills throughout the month anytime you have a little extra money. Just like snowflakes, they all add up.

Or, you could use the snowball method and pay off the smallest debt first while making minimum payments only on all other debts. Once the smallest is paid you apply that amount to the next largest bill along with the minimum amount you were already paying and so on. The payments get larger each time a debt is paid off.

Lastly you could choose the avalanche method and pay the debt with the highest interest rate first, saving you the most money in the long run.

Each of these plans has advantages and disadvantages, so check them out thoroughly before deciding. Also, don’t be afraid to combine them if you think it would work the best for you. That’s what I’ve done as my debt balances and needs have changed over time.

For instance, pay off the lowest balance bill first and then move to the debt with the largest interest rate. Meanwhile, when you have extra money during the month, apply it toward the lowest balance bill.

Add a Side Hustle

Increasing your disposable income is another way to pay debt off faster. If you add a second job, a side hustle, or start a business of some kind on the side, you can apply more money toward your debts and reduce them at a faster rate.

Make Room to Breathe

Don’t forget to check your progress and even give yourself a small reward as you meet a goal by paying off a debt completely. Make sure the reward is not something that will wreck what you’ve accomplished. Also, allow for the occasional hiccup and emergency because these things happen. The key is to get back on track as soon as possible afterward.

Now you know my top 5 tips to help you get started paying off debt. I hope it motivates you to pay down your own debt so you can live with less stress and enjoy life to the fullest.

What other plans have you adapted to help you get started paying off debt?

My Top 5 Tips to Help You Get Started Paying Off Debt is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

I also know firsthand that it’s even possible to be overwhelmed by your debt because you don’t know how much you have or how to get started paying it off. I’ve been there!

When you start to feel overwhelmed by your debt, here are 6 steps and things to consider to start making a dent in your debt.

Make a List

Gather all of your invoices and bills to see just how much you owe and to whom. Make a list as you go so you can get a grand total of all of your debt and bills.

Create a Budget

Based on the list you made, create a monthly budget of what you owe. Is your income enough to cover the monthly expenses you have? If the answer is yes, you should be in pretty good shape. However, if the answer is no, you have two choices: Increase your income, or decrease your expenses. it sounds simple, and to a point it is. But decreasing your expenses when you’ve grown accustomed to your lifestyle can be a hard pill to swallow.

Reduce Your Spending

If your monthly budget is greater than your income, take a hard look at where you are spending your money. Do you really need to have extra channels on your cable television bill? Maybe you could cancel your gym membership and exercise on your own instead. It’s time to make the tough decisions and get your expenses down to a manageable level.

Contact Your Creditors

Let’s face it. If your expenses are greater than your income, it’s time to take some drastic action. Give each creditor on your list a call and ask if they are willing to take lower payments. Or, if you have the means, maybe you could reach a settlement to pay the entire bill at a discount. It can’t hurt to ask, and you would be surprised at how many are willing to work with you to get a portion of the amount they are owed rather than nothing if you end up filing for bankruptcy.

Consider a Debt Consolidation Loan

A debt consolidation loan could be an option to help you if you are overwhelmed by your debt. A consolidation loan will combine several monthly payments into a single, lower payment. If you are thinking about using a debt consolidation company to accomplish this, ask about the fees they charge so you are not hit with unexpected expenses that only add to the problem. Find out how long they have been in business. You want to work with a company that has been around for a while rather than a new one you know nothing about. You also need to make sure the company you choose is reputable. You can do a search with the Better Business Bureau.

You could also try to take out a personal loan at a bank to refinance your credit card debt into one monthly payment with a lower interest rate. But if you’ve missed payments or have a low credit score, it could be difficult to qualify for a loan.

Remember, combining your bills to create one lower payment probably sounds like a good idea. However, it could also increase the amount of time and overall amount you will pay on what you owe, so consider this choice very carefully before signing anything.

Debt Relief

There are debt relief companies out there to help you if a debt consolidation loan is not the answer for you. Once again, you need to check each company carefully before choosing one. Find out how long they have been in business. Be wary of promises that sound so good they are nearly unbelievable. In addition, if you are not comfortable with them, move on. You could be working with them for some time, so you want to build a relationship with a company that you can trust. Always find out what fees they charge, if any.

Being overwhelmed by your debt isn’t a good feeling. Taking the steps above and making some difficult choices when it comes to your spending can help you get back on track with your finances.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your debt? If so, what steps did you take to overcome that?

6 Things to do if You’re Overwhelmed by Your Debt is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

Before you can consider the best way forward, you might want to start by making a list of what you owe. Gather your invoices, write out who you owe and how much. This should help you make the best decision on how to proceed.

This is also a good way to see just where your money goes. Create a budget. Look for areas where you can make cuts, and then stick to that budget so you don’t make the problem grow any worse.

Debt Consolidation

This option consists of combing your debts so you have one lower monthly payment you can handle instead of many payments each month that are unaffordable. If you choose to go through a debt consolidation company, ask if they charge for their services and how much. You don’t want any additional unanticipated bills to add to the problem.

It is also advisable to weight the advantages and disadvantages of debt consolidation carefully before making a decision to go down this path. It could take considerably longer to pay your debt off by making this choice.

Debt Settlement

Another way to shrink your debt would be through debt settlement. By working with your creditors, you might be able to get them to agree to lower the interest rate on what you owe, diminishing the burden somewhat.

Do build a relationship with each of your creditors. Establish one person to talk to, if possible, and take notes. You will find if you can keep emotion out of it and stay professional, they are willing to work with you.

Debt Relief Programs

If you are thinking about using a debt relief program, check out each company you are considering and make sure they are reputable. Find out how long they have been in business – you don’t want to choose a brand new company with no track record. If anything they are telling you sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you have doubts, ask for it in writing. If they aren’t willing to put it in writing, move on to a different company.

Be cautious about using a credit counseling agency. Some do charge fees.  Also, if they advise you to stop paying your bills until they have negotiated on your behalf, consider your credit score may be affected by this decision. Remember, your creditors are under no obligation to agree to reduce your debts.

Only you can decide if any of these three options is the one for you. But whatever you decide, stick to the plan you make and you will get through it.

3 Ways to Get Help with Your Debt is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

Many credit card holders mistakenly think they’ll be OK making minimum monthly payments, only to one day realize they’re on the hook for thousands of dollars in interest. Instead of remaining stuck in the revolving door of credit debt, consider taking out an alternative loan to pay off those debts and get back on firm financial footing.

Here are the three most compelling reasons we know to drop your credit card debt as soon as possible.

1. Large balances hurt your credit

Using credit cards for small purchases each month and paying them off right away can boost your credit score because it proves you can manage debt, but large balances do the opposite.

Lenders use your debt-to-income ratio to determine whether you are financially stable enough to take on new loans or credit lines. If you’re using more than 30 percent of your available credit and paying only the minimum payments, you appear as a risky borrower and chances of approval drop significantly.

Taking a loan to pay off high credit card balances is one way to regain financial control and improve your score. By paying off your high interest debt with a low interest monthly payment loan, you will be back to building positive credit and saving hundreds of dollars in interest, which leads us to number 2…

2. You will likely save money

Interest rates on credit cards can vary greatly, ranging from anywhere around 11% and skyrocketing up to 79.9% APR. While interest rates don’t affect those who pay off the card balance in full each statement period, they matter to many of us who unfortunately keep an unwanted balance on our credit cards.

Interest will accrue on top of your remaining balance at the end of the month and your outstanding debt will increase. This may be a small amount for those with minimal balances, but could add on hundreds of dollars each month for larger sums.

3. Credit card debt spirals quickly

Having one or two high-interest cards may seem manageable at first. But all it takes is one financial setback to become dependent on those cards and rack up serious debt.

It’s natural during significant moments in our lives to incur some amount of debt (emergencies, moving, pregnancy, etc.) But just as important as those moments are, it is equally important during those times not to spend frivolously.

“Paying off large credit card balances can really be a challenge, especially if you have multiple cards, payments, and interest rates with no end date in sight,” says Lisa Nestor, research manager at Payoff, an alternative lender that specializes in credit card debt.

Nestor recommends an “organize and optimize” approach to paying down cards, whether that’s using the snowball strategy to manage small debts and work up to the the larger ones, or the laddering method of tackling your highest interest accounts first.

Don’t be controlled by credit cards

Let’s face it, credit cards are a necessity in our lives but they don’t need to control us. Removing high interest debt will not only alleviate a major stressor in your life but can also save you money. It also increases your chances of being able to finance more important milestones — like starting a family, traveling , or buying your first house.

Alternative finance is a great option for those who have looming high interest credit card debt. By consolidating your cards into a potentially lower interest rate could save you money, help you save for the future, and build positive credit. However, this method may not be for everyone, it is important before taking out a loan to research the right course of action for your situation.   

If you’re interested in seeing what rates you would qualify for from these alternative lenders, check out this tool below and see your options:

3 Reasons to Pay Off Your Credit Cards Now is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

Was holiday gift giving a disaster last year? Did your Christmas giving go way over what you initially budgeted?  Maybe it was as simple as looking in the eyes of your adorable kids and your loving spouse and you just couldn’t say “no.”

Months later you’re still dealing with the aftermath of your Christmas giving and by the time you finished paying off Christmas 2014, Christmas 2015 is just around the corner. 

Avoid Christmas debt

Every time you look at your credit card statement you see that you’re still paying off your daughter’s Tickle Me Elmo. The question now becomes how do you manage your 2015 gift giving so that it doesn’t linger into 2016?

You have to actively manage your family’s holiday expectations. There are a number of ways to do this without killing the holiday spirit. How to do this? Here are three pain-free ways to manage your family’s holiday expectations:

• Schedule a family meeting and discuss what you would like the holiday to be like.  Talk to your loved ones about what is important to you in terms of what you would like to experience during the holiday. Would you like lots of little gifts, one big gift, a dinner party, or a trip.

• Talk about gift giving price limits, events you would like to attend, should everyone give one gift or three, white elephant gifts, or homemade? Having a half an hour conversation will create clear expectations and eliminate any negative surprises.

• Talk to your friends about your expectations for the holidays. They will most likely embrace anything that allows them to save money — but still have a lot of fun. Suggest alternatives to what you normally do. If you exchange purchased gifts suggest a gift-giving alternative or host a themed pot-luck.

• Set family goals and be clear about the role your holiday related savings plays in the bigger picture. If it’s not clear why you’re making these changes then it will be difficult for your family to buy into the idea.

Communicate Christmas expectations

The key to managing your family and friends’ gift giving expectations is to communicate. People aren’t mind readers and need a certain amount of guidance and reassurance about a change from the normal status quo.

Remember that it’s an ongoing process. Some of your family members will be resistant to the changes if at least the majority of your family is onboard it’s still a positive situation.

Remember that practice makes perfect. After Christmas talk to your family and friends to see what they like and disliked about how you celebrated the holidays. What would they change and how? Were they surprised by the outcome?

Finally, spend some time looking at your budget. Did you save money? Where were your highest levels of savings experienced? Was it food and alcohol because you had a budget? Or, was it in the gift category? How would you adjust your budget so that next year you can experience an even higher level of savings?

Taking time to ask these questions and examine your results will help you have a fun and relatively stress free holiday season.

This post on Christmas gift expectations was written by Michelle Jackson, a personal finance and lifestyle blogger sharing her story at The Shop My Closet Project. Her goal is to help people cultivate their best life. When she’s not blogging or podcasting for Girl Gone Frugal you can find her riding her bike, going for coffee, or hiking in the mountains.

Managing Christmas Gift Giving Expectations is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

Where has the year gone? Christmas is approaching faster than you think, and have you begun your holiday planning yet?  Are you freaking out? Don’t, there is still enough time to plan a debt free and joyous holiday season.

Here are five steps to for the last minute holiday planner who doesn’t want to go broke and be in debt.

Create a plan

Take time to create a plan for the holiday season to avoid debt. Do you want to have a big blow out party?  Or a cozy gathering of friends? Would you like to give gifts to a large number of people or a small group of friends?

Taking time to plan helps to create clarity and a framework for upcoming holiday gift giving and festivities.

Set a budget

Spend time thinking about what you can afford, set your budget and stick to it. Setting a budget makes it clear to you what you can and cannot afford.

Once you set your initial budget cut it by 25 percent just because you can and maybe should.

Use cash

If you set a budget and spend using a credit card that defeats the purpose (unless you pay it off immediately and get mileage points). Once your budgeted cash is spent — you’re done.

For example if you have a $1,000 budget for gift giving and dinners, take time to figure out who is getting what, how much you think your dinner party will cost and be honest about what you will actually spend so that you won’t go into debt.

Don’t buy new clothes for holiday parties

Do you find yourself invited to a number of holiday parties every year? Look in your closet and see what suits/cocktail dresses/etc. that you already have and repurpose those items. People typically don’t remember what you wear.

Use what you have

Double check your holiday decorating stash-Don’t spend money on items you already have. If you enjoy Thanksgiving decorations, Christmas sparkle, and New Year bling around your home look at what you already have to avoid duplicate purchases.

Spend time double checking your sparkling lights, your ornaments, and left over wrapping paper that you will be able to use that season.

Make staying out of debt a goal

Spending a couple of hours going through your closets, setting a budget, and creating a plan will take out a lot of the anxiety that many people experience when planning and preparing for the holiday season. Ultimately, the holidays are about spending time with family and friends, potentially eating too much food, and giving to those who are less fortunate than you. It’s not about going into debt.

Finally, embrace your creativity to craft a beautiful and memorable holiday season. There are so many ways to spend time with family and friends without spending money.

Go for a walk in the park, ride bikes together, host a game night, throw a potluck, have a holiday sweater night, set up a homemade photo booth, and the list goes on.

If you’re not the most creative person in the room, go to Pinterest for inspiration. You will find information ranging from how to decorate creatively, tips to save money, and more.

There is no reason to go broke or into debt this holiday season — even if you started late. Good luck!

This post was written by Michelle Jackson, a personal finance and lifestyle blogger sharing her story at The Shop My Closet Project. Her goal is to help people cultivate their best life. When she’s not blogging or podcasting for Girl Gone Frugal you can find her riding her bike, going for coffee, or hiking in the mountains.

Preparing for a Debt-Free Holiday Season is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

According to an October survey by CompareCards, most people aren’t using their credit cards responsibly.

That may not come as a shock to anyone who has used a credit card and considers themselves responsible with it. And definitions of “responsible use” of credit cards vary.

But if you think that not paying off your credit card balance in full each month is responsible, think again. You’ll be paying interest on purchases you couldn’t afford in the first place.

+50% think OK to carry credit card balance

The survey found that although many consumers have multiple credit cards and carry balances, the majority assert that they use their credit cards responsibly.

“Even though more than half of respondents don’t fully pay off their credit cards on a monthly basis, they believe they are using them responsibly,” said Chris Mettler, founder of CompareCards, in a statement. “This is concerning, as it reveals that many consumers may not be aware of just how much their spending habits impact their credit and long-term debt.”

Other survey findings include:

• Almost a third (31%) of those surveyed have four or more credit cards, and an equal amount also use their credit cards very often for purchases.
• A quarter of participants have less than a total debt of $100 across all of their credit cards, while on the opposite side of the spectrum, 21% have $5,000 or more in total debt.
• Consumers vary in how often they fully pay their monthly credit card bill. 35% always pay in full, 19% sometimes pay in full, and 17% never pay in full.
  
• Despite the varying behaviors of the participating consumers, a majority (71%) believe they use their credit card(s) responsibly.
• Cash back rewards and low interest rates were the top two reasons consumers open a new credit card.

Pay in full or don’t buy

We’ll repeat a mantra we often consider when pulling out a credit card: If you can’t afford to pay for the item in full when the bill arrives, walk away.

You’re only setting yourself up for more debt and delaying payment on something you can’t afford. It can be a financial mistake you’ll regret.

Eat your financial veggies by paying your credit card balance in full each month.

You’re Not Really Responsible With Your Credit Card is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.

I did have student loans and some credit card bills that took me a few years to get rid of — but that was right after graduating from college, and admittedly they weren’t for vast sums and weren’t extremely difficult to pay off.

Other than a home mortgage and a credit card bill that my wife and I pay off each month as we earn credit card reward points for hotel stays, we live a debt free life.

There are some life choices I made early on, along with some debts that made me rethink how I think of money. Here are some of them:

Borrowing little for student loans

Paying for college gave me an early view of potential debt in many ways. I purposely picked an in-state university to go to because it was cheaper than going to college out of state, and I worked as much as I could in the few years before starting college so I could afford it and wouldn’t have to work during college.

My parents paid half of my college costs, so that gave me a big start in trying to graduate debt free. I worked on campus during the end of my sophomore year and my entire junior year to help pay for expenses, but the pay was so lousy that I had to take out a student loan to make it through the last year or so.

I didn’t borrow much — I don’t remember the exact amount but I’m sure it was less than $5,000 — and unfortunately I graduated with debt.

Like most grads, I didn’t have a high paying job and it was difficult to pay off my student loans. I couldn’t afford to go out to bars or nightclubs with friends when I wanted to, doing everything I could to pay off my debts. Within two years, I had paid off my student loans and was debt free — for awhile.

A low income

This may sound like a simple reason to avoid debt, but it often leads to debt: Not earning much money.

While many people may use their credit cards more to pay for a lifestyle they can’t afford, I made a conscious choice not to use credit cards too much because I knew I didn’t have the income to pay the bills when they came due.

This isn’t to say that I didn’t use credit cards unwisely — I’ll get to that in a minute — but as a journalist who recently graduated from college and wasn’t making much money, I knew I already had to be frugal on my low salary. I guess if I had an income double of what it was at the time, I may have had more room in my budget to play around and go into debt because I was sure my monthly bills would be paid.

But when you’re unsure if you can pay for groceries, rent, car payment, student loans and other household bills, it somehow makes throwing money down on non-necessities a lot more frivolous. Being debt free, I discovered, was a little easier if I didn’t have money to begin with.

Too many bar charges

A monthly credit card statement can be sobering. I don’t mean this as a pun, but seeing line after line of bar charges on my credit card bill in the first few years after college was a sobering reminder that I was wasting my money.

I was using my credit card to keep up with friends who were better off than I was financially, and I had to put an end to that for a year or so while I got my credit card balance back in check and vowed to live debt free.

A major car repair bill

One of the biggest things that got me thinking about how much nicer it would be to live debt free was when I had to take my car in for repairs and I didn’t have enough money to pay the final bill.

The bill was so high that I had to call the credit card company to ask for my spending limit to be raised. It was and after spending about a year paying that expense, I vowed to live debt free. I never again wanted to be forced to have to pay interest for something that I could have saved for and paid off entirely at once.

The road to debt free

After that expense, I slowly started funding an emergency fund to pay for car repairs and other emergencies that come up in life as a way of meeting my goal to be debt free.

I’ve sometimes had to use a credit card anyway to pay for a necessary expense — but that’s the main point, that even the credit card has been used for emergencies only and only when they’re necessary. No more bar tabs to throw on a card.

Using a credit card to pay for a car repair is a rarity, and one I’ll usually only do so I can earn reward points and already have the money in an emergency account to pay the credit card bill in full when it arrives.

That emergency fund has led to creating other funds for other purposes, including our daughter’s college education, vacations, taxes and home repairs. It’s all part of a plan to live a debt free life, which is a lot easier when you aren’t using credit cards to pay for everything you see.

How I Chose to be Debt Free for Life is a post from: When Life Gives You Lemons. Did you like the post? Follow me on Twitter, like me on Facebook, or hop on over to my blog and leave me your feedback.