There have been several times in my life when I’ve leaped into the unknown, only half sure of what I was doing but completely sure it was the right thing. The first time was in 1995 when I left my hometown for college at the University of Delaware. The second time was in 2004 when I got married. The third time was in 2006 when I found out I was pregnant. The fifth time is now amidst some pretty big decisions I’m mulling over and decisions I can’t quite mention yet.

The fourth time, though? That was in 2007 when my husband and I got serious about paying off our debt. I’ve discussed ad nauseam the reasons why we decided to pay down our sickening amount of debt and I’ve talked about what we’re thinking about doing next. However, what I don’t think I’ve discussed are the benefits we’re reaping from the fact that our debt (with the exception of his student loans and our mortgage; I don’t count his loans as my debt since a) he came into the relationship with that debt and b) my name isn’t on it) is gone. So perhaps it’s time to talk about that. So let’s do that.

Although it took 5 years, we did it. We paid off our jointly accumulated debt, including the extra $17K we incurred in 2010 when we had to buy my husband a new car. Overall, we paid off just under $70K in 5 years. Not too shabby. And when I made that final debt payment, I felt like Andre the Giant was lifted off my shoulders. I know that I walked a bit taller that day. However, along with the relief of no more debt, there are some other benefits including:

• The lack of stress over money. Although we don’t fight about money, when we were paying down debt, there was a tremendous amount of stress. We would stress about how much to put towards a specific debt and then stress that we weren’t doing enough for the others (we followed the DR snowball method, although not quite perfectly). We stressed that the date for the final payment seemed so far off and that we never felt like it would come. We stressed that something bad would happen, and that bad event (whatever it was) would derail us from our very well constructed debt repayment plan. The list of stressors on our money was extensive and exhausting. But now that we don’t have those payments, those stressors are lifted. It’s nice to get paid, make the necessary utility payments, withdraw cash for the other expensive and then just breathe.
• Having choices. Now that we don’t have money allocated to debt repayment, we’ve been able to readjust our budget to include more funds in areas that were sorely lacking. We can have a little more fun with our money (within reason, of course) as well as know that  if certain things happen, we’ll be okay (I’m sorry to be vague but I promise all will be revealed at some point). It’s a fabulous feeling to be able to control your money instead of having it control you. Which is what happens when all of your extra money is being spent on unnecessary debt.
• Being able to help and support others. A very dear friend of mine is just beginning her debt payoff journey. She and her husband are in exactly the same position that my husband and I were in 5 years, and I know how hard this is on them. It’s a huge lifestyle adjustment to go from frivolously spending on credit and worrying about making payments every month to carefully watching every nickel that flows through the checkbook. But the fact that we’ve been there means that we can support them and encourage them and mentor them in ways that we didn’t have. DR talks a lot about giving back financially; I think giving back in this capacity is even more important.
• Learning from the past. Five years of paying off debt isn’t something you quickly forget. It’s kind of like labor–it’s painful, it’s exhausting, it takes forever (if you’re me) and although time does lessen the severity, it’s not something you ever forget (anyone who says that she doesn’t remember the pain of labor is a damn liar). But you learn from it. You know what to do differently the next time. In the case of debt, you make sure to remember the causes of that pain and then you don’t do that. Although we’re stronger people because of it, my husband and I never care to relive the last 5 years, financially speaking.

It’s true that debt freedom is priceless. I can’t wait for the day my husband’s loans are gone and our house it paid off. But for now, I’ll settle with having no consumer debt. Like Cookie Monster singing the praises of the letter C, it’s good enough for me.

Readers, what have you gained from paying off your debt? 

A few weeks ago, my friend Travis guest posted for Money Tune Tuesday with Sick Puppies’s Riptide. In that post he talked about how important it is to know that the decisions you make are the right ones for you–even if those closest to you don’t agree. This is something that I struggle with in my own life, although it is getting easier for me to learn that what’s right for me may not conform to others’ opinions for my life but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Something else that I’m working on learning is that even though something like a new career is scary, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t try. For too long I’ve resided in the comfort of situations and jobs that don’t make me happy. The reason I’ve stayed put for so long due to fear and lack of confidence in myself and my abilities. After all, if I don’t think I’m better than mediocre or that I think I don’t deserve better than mediocre, that’s exactly what I’m going to get. And thus far, that’s exactly what I’ve gotten. But it’s getting to the point that I need to start facing my fears and believing the encouraging words of friends and family.

It’s getting to the point that, to quote today’s Money Tune, maybe it’s time to change.

Changing the course of my entire life is horrifically frightening. It keeps me up at night, makes it hard to concentrate on anything else and oftentimes, I think of anything I can do to avoid making some incredibly difficult choices. Given all of that, it’s no secret I’ve been turning to Sick Puppies’s Maybe as a source of comfort and inspiration. While it may just be a song and a video, to me, it’s much more than that.

See why:

I’m in the middle of reading Chuck Klosterman’s Fargo Rock City, his phenomenally written book about the importance of hair bands/glam metal. As someone who is a not so closeted fan of this music, I’m intrigued by this book. He wrote a chapter about the significance of MTV, including a commentary on how bad hair band videos were. I agree. But that doesn’t mean they’re not fun. And because “carnival” implies “fun”, I’d like to welcome you to the Yakezie Carnival, Power Ballad edition! Yakezie is a group of personal finance and lifestyle bloggers (if you would like to be included in a future edition, please submit your post here).

“Love Song” by Tesla. Released in 1989 as a single from their album The Great Radio Controversy. Reached #10 on the US charts. This is my favorite power ballad and Tesla is one of my favorite hair bands of all time. 

Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes Is It Time to Eliminate the Penny – A discussion of one of the issues that occasionally arises in the country, the discussion of whether we should eliminate the penny and only use nickels, dimes, and quarters as change.

JP @ My Family Finances writes How Much Does the Average Family Spend on Mother’s Day Gifts in 2012? – While, I count myself among the mass of average Mother’s Day shoppers, my goal is to stay away from the average family Mother’s Day spender.

Roshawn Watson @ Watson Inc writes Is it Better To Be Frugal or Earn More? – It is certainly not frugality alone that accounts for building wealth.Today, we explore the loaded question: is it better to be frugal or to be a high earner?

Kurt Fischer @ Money Counselor writes Cashing In on Facebook – Borne of venture capital, angel investing, innovation, and risk-taking, Facebook will make a few people very rich on May 18.

Dr. Dean @ The Millionaire Nurse Blog writes Your Co-worker Quits Breathing, What Do You Do? – A sudden cardiac arrest can occur at anytime to anybody. Are you prepared to help if your coworker or family member quits breathing or is choking?

Jeffrey @ Money Spruce writes Only 72: If You’re Serious About Building an Online Business – If you want to get right to the sale, click here to go to Only 72. I’m writing today about the Only 72 sale. It’s 90 percent off over $1,000 in ebooks and guides for the entrepreneur – but only for 72 hours. Why I’m writing a post about it Almost 2 years ago, I began searching for a different path in life.

Jon the Saver @ Free Money Wisdom writes Don’t Forget About Life Insurance! – Forgetting to purchase life insurance can be one of the worst mistakes you could make in your life. Don;t forget about life insurance.

Jen @ Master the Art of Saving writes How to Start Saving Money (Even if you’re always broke) – Yep, that’s right…broke people can save money too.

“Every Rose Has It’s Thorn” by Poison. Released October 1988 as a single from Poison’s second album Open Up and Say…Ahh!  Reached #1 on the US charts. I always wanted to learn to play this song on the guitar. Another failed dream, I suppose. 

Daisy @ Add Vodka writes Shopping Frugally – I don’t know about you, but if I’m about to buy an item that I’ve had my eye on for awhile, I do a lot of research.

Corey @ Steadfast Finances writes Travel for Pennies: How Rethinking International Travel Can Save You Money – Find out easy and practical steps to travel to great places without breaking the bank.

MR @ Money Reasons writes Beyond Frugal – Fixing My Son’s Broken Bike – Satisfaction from fixing my son’s broken brake levers and a video to demonstate how to do frugally it.

Ashley @ Money Talks Coaching writes How Much Life Insurance Do You Need? – Life insurance isn’t sexy or fun but it is something you need to think about every few decades.

KT @ Personal Finance Journey writes Easy Energy Saving Tips… – Energy costs seem to rise almost every day, and it can be hard to keep pace with them, especially if you find yourself on a tight budget. While it might be something that some people can just about cope with, for others, simply meeting the cost of their basic energy needs can be awfully difficult.

PITR @ Passive Income To Retire writes How to Generate Interest in a New Business – Find out how you can use a promotional offer to generate interest in your new business.

Debt Guru @ Debt Free Blog writes Does Over-Confidence Lead to Debt? – Find out why over-confidence can easily lead to debt. To live debt free, you have to stay humble and diligent. Learn how you can do it.

Maria @ The Money Principle writes A need or a want: this is the problem! – Our lives change most when there has been a seriously interruptive event in them – although we can change our lives because we want to do, we do this most efficiently and quickly when we need to.

“I Remember You” by Skid Row. Released in November 1989 as a single from their album Skid Row. Reached #6 on the US charts. I belt this car out in my song like I’m a rock star. It’s fun. 

Kevin @ Thousandaire writes Do’s and Don’ts with your Credit Card – The concept behind credit cards is a simple one: charge now, pay later.

PPlan @ Provident Plan writes How to Handle Medical Bills like a Pro – Ah, medical bills. We all hate them but they have been part of our life since birth. As the old, wise saying goes, there is no such thing as free lunch.

Shawanda Greene @ You Have More Than You Think writes Top 5 Tips for Getting the Most from Your Accountant – How your small business can derive the most value from accounting services.

a @ Aaron Hung.com writes What does it take to earn passive income? – Let’s face it; we all want that ultimate goal of one day living off of our passive income ventures, whether it’d be stocks, blogging, or any other online business that you’re working on. Just think about it, you’re lying on the beach in the Virgin Islands somewhere without a care in the world while you’re keep getting paid without even lifting a finger

TB @ Blue Collar Workman writes When the Snow Piles Up – To make money at your job, you need to be able to collect it. What happens if someone refuses to pay you for work done?

YFS @ Your Finances Simplified writes Roth vs. Traditional IRA (In Depth Review) – Since the conception of the Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA) in 1974 from the Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), it has helped thousands of individuals to save money for a comfortable retirement. Over the years, the types of IRAs …

Evan @ My Journey to Millions writes Do People Consider the Economy When Choosing a Major? A No Statistic Discussion of the Topic – Maybe the current economy is now the new economy. For example, is it possible the major you chose is in a changing or dying field? Take the aforementioned teachers for example. I don’t think the “heyday” of teaching is ever going to return. Governments have less and less money to spend on teachers (regardless of whether you think this is the right move) and the job security you think you had is gone…is that still the major for you? Would you still choose teaching if they take away t

Mr. Money @ Smart on Money writes How Scammers Use Personal Information to Fool You – The fact that personal information about you is available online means that scammers can use it to fool you into thinking that you are being contacted by someone you know, or someone you share an affinity with. Here are some of the ways that a scammer can trick you with the help of information that many people don’t think about as being too telling online.

“Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)” by Cinderella. Released in August 1988 from their album Long Cold Winter. Reached #12 on the US chart. Tied for my second favorite power ballad (with Steelheart’s “I’ll Never Let You Go”)

Sustainable PF @ Sustainable Personal Finance writes Why “No More Lattes” Rarely Works – Who would’ve known that all this time we have been pouring caffeine-laced devil’s brew down our throats every morning?! If you’re not aware that

MMD @ MyMoneyDesign writes Six Easy Steps to Figuring Out Your Retirement – When someone says you should save 10% for retirement, what does this actually mean? Will you hit your goals? How do you even know what your goals are? I’d like to offer you my advice for a simple and streamlined introductory approach to figuring out your retirement goals.

John @ Married (with Debt) writes Debt to Income Ratio: Not Just for Banks – What is a debt to income ratio? Is it only for banks? Find out how you can use it to determine how to get out of debt.

Suba @ Broke Professionals writes The Three Musketeers: My Dad’s Medical Team – Money is still my dad’s focus, even when facing quadruple bypass and vascular surgeries within three months.

Luke @ Learn Bonds writes Revenue Bonds – Revenue Bonds definition and comparison of Revenue Bonds to General Obligation Municipal Bonds.

Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Walkable Neighborhoods Can Be Easier on Your Pocketbook – Selecting a more walkable or bikeable neighborhood can reduce the cost of driving, owning a car, and future health care expenses as well.

Jason @ Live Real, Now writes Fixing Your Credit Report – There are no quick fixes for bad credit, just good new habits and time.

101 Centavos @ 101 Centavos writes Travel Notes: Just Say Ahn-Nyeong Hah-Seh-Yo and Kon’nichi Wa – Just a couple words is all you need to know when traveling abroad. Hello and thank you and a big smile will open a lot of doors in the East, especially in a business setting, and most especially coming from Americans, renowned foreign-language ignoramuses.

“To Be With You” by Mr. Big. Released in 1991(?) from their album Lean Into It. Reached #1 on the US charts. I saw Mr. Big when they opened for Rush at Jones Beach Amphitheater on Long Island. I can’t figure out that pairing either. 

Jason @ Work Save Live writes Broke, Desperate, and Being an Idiot – I wanted to relive the past a bit more and talk about how my ‘financial peace & debt free’ journey originally got started.

Kanwal @ Simply Investing writes Do You Think Investing is Too Difficult? – There is a common misconception that people have regarding investing, especially investing in stocks and that is, “investing is difficult”. Most people believe that investing by themselves is too complicated therefore most folks leave it to the so called professionals.

Theresa Torres @ Credit Donkey writes How to Break the Paycheck-to-Paycheck Cycle – Start taking these action steps today to break the vicious cycle that has you missing payments and lying awake at night worrying. It may be hard at first but the peace this will bring to your life will be worth it.

Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes Woman Finds Meteorite Worth $20,000 While Walking the Dog – This is one of those stories that makes me want to get off my butt and take the dog for a walk! So get this…

TRL @ The Retired Landlord writes The Number One Reason People Don’t Invest in Real Estate – Find out why people don’t invest in real estate. It’s not just a simple matter of weighing the risks and benefits.

krantcents @ KrantCents writes The 3 P’s of Success – The 3 P’s of Success is the sixteenth in a series of articles to help you reach your goal.

Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes Summer Temptations – Find out how I resist the many temptations that the summer months bring. Are vacations and ice-cream worth throwing out yoru budget?

Eddie @ Finance Fox writes Car Buying Guide – Part 1 – I Bought a New Used Car – My goal with this car buying guide is to offer you something to take out from my car buying experience. Buying a used car is NOT the only way to go. There are other options.

“More Than Words” by Extreme. Released in 1990 as a single from their album Extreme II: Pornograffiti. Reached #1 on the US charts. Immensely popular and you know the words. Admit it. Nothing to be ashamed of. 

Jeremy Waller @ Personal Finance Whiz writes Oh Noes! The Facebook IPO! – Today is the big day. The day that Facebook goes public and makes Mark Zukerberg the 29th richest person in the world. It’s unreal how much hype is surrounding this IPO. I don’t know if it’s because it’s one of the biggest IPOs in history or if its simply because it’s Facebook.

Marie at FamilyMoneyValues @ Family Money Values writes Land for Sale – Ways to make money from raw land investments

Sean @ One Smart Dollar writes Money Saving Workout Routines for a Fit Recession-ista – Spending money for a gym membership can be expensive. Here are some great tips to keep yourself in shape and not break the budget.

Daniel @ Sweating the Big Stuff writes Our Decision To Join Our Finances – When Lauren and I got engaged last year, we had an important decision to make: did we want to combine finances or keep them separate?

Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes Money Rules When Spending Money – I was recently in Chicago for a charity event. The events were held at the hotel I was staying at so I ended up eating a handful of meals in the hotel.

Hank @ Money Q&A writes Why I Bought Shares Of Facebook On Its IPO Opening Day – I bought shares of Facebook yesterday on its opening day on the market after its initial public offering (IPO). Should you buy shares of Facebook IPO? Here are some reasons.

Jeremy @ Modest Money writes Are Finance Bloggers Perfect Identity Theft Targets – One of the threats of the online world that we often forget about is identity theft. It’s easy to forget about those kinds of dangers as we are going about our business online. It’s one of those kinds of things that you don’t truly appreciate until it actually happens to you.

Amanda L Grossman @ Frugal Confessions writes Is Your Frugality Invoked to Stretch Dollars or to Stockpile the Savings? – There are two possible outcomes of frugality. One is to stretch your dollar so that you get a lot more in purchases.

“I’ll Be There For You” by Bon Jovi. Released in 1989 from their album New Jersey. Reached #1 on the US charts. Not my favorite power ballad, but one of the most popular (in my professional opinion).

Ted Jenkin @ Your Smart Money Moves writes Did You Learn Anything From DotCom 1.0? – There is an old saying that history has a way of repeating itself. For those of you who can remember the glorious run of the stock market in the late 1990’s filled with internet companies who went public faster than you can say ding ding of the opening bell on Wall Street, are we now watching the launch of DotCom 2.0 in the stock market. With Facebook going public last week with over a 100 billion dollar valuation, have we as investors and consumers learned anything about risk and investi

Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes Hilarious Hypocrisy – Do you even think the wine lady understands how hilarious her life decisions are? How many of us are completely overlooking our own giant blind spots?

Beating Broke @ Beating Broke writes Have You Become Complacent with Your Gazelle Intensity? – Sometimes when you are tired and are immersed in your debt repayment, getting out of debt can feel hopeless. You can feel like the debt will never go away, and you can start to doubt yourself and the sacrifices you are making. In times of doubt, read stories like Mihalic’s to see that gazelle intensity does work. He made it through to the other side. You can, too.

Nunzio Bruno @ Financially Digital writes Are you a Captain America Type? – Everyone thinks that they are a leader. You see heroes on the big screen and you try to identify with their strengths. How much of an impact do you really have though? This post lists the 5 biggest components of being a good leader – a Captain America kind of leader. Whether you manage a team for work or don’t consider yourself a leader at all – this post can help you navigate tough social and professional situations. It’s your time to shine!

Invest It Wisely @ Invest It Wisely writes Living to 100 and Beyond: How Will It Affect Your Retirement Plans? – This is the first in a series of articles on living to 100 and beyond. This post was originally published on May 17, 2010.

Everything Finance @ Everything Finance Blog writes How to Find Online Coupons for Your Favorite Restaurant – Like any fat category in your budget, the dining out category can be curbed without sacrificing quality. Finding online coupons for your favorite restaurant is surprisingly easy. Try these strategies

A Blinkin @ Funancials writes Stop Saying You’re Too Young…Or Too Old – I used to spend all of my free time reading books about personal finance and investing – boy, was that boring. About 2 months ago I started focusing more on topics such as finding your purpose and chasing your dreams. I stumbled upon a book titled The Dream Manager, which I recommend to everybody.

JP @ My Family Finances writes Starting to Exercise? Should Your Family Spend Money to Work Out? – Starting to exercise? While I’d love to just say, go frugal, you don’t need to spend money to be active, it’s really not that simple. There are many good reasons to spend money working out.

“Surrender” by Trixter. Released in 1991ish as a single from their album Trixter. This song did not chart at all in the US and if you’ve heard this song before today, you’re my new BFF.

SFB @ Simple Finance Blog writes How to Be a Debt Collector’s Worst Nightmare – What are you rights when debt collectors call? How to navigate the unethical collection practices of debt collection agencies?

Aloysa @ My Broken Coin writes The Financial Dangers of Being a Mail-Order Bride – In this article I talk about the dangers of being a mail-order bride!

Corey @ 20s Finances writes When It’s Difficult to Save Money – Do you have a difficult time saving money? Saving money should be a priority for all young adults, but we all know that it’s not that easy – is it? While I already gave you easy ways to save money, it doesn’t mean that life doesn’t get in the way. In the past few weeks, I have been reminded of how difficult it is to save money in certain times of lives.

Tushar @ Start Investing Money writes What Should You Do When an Investment Dives in Value? – This Post was Originally published at What Should You Do When an Investment Dives in Value? on Start Investing Money

Robert @ My Multiple Incomes writes Are Two Wage Earners Better Than One? – You may naturally think that two wage earners in a household is always better than one, but in reality, it may not be depending on your household expenses. Here are some quick things to consider.

Earth and Money @ Earth and Money writes Are We an Impatient Society? – Yesterday, I was delayed several minutes by a chatty customer in line at the grocery store. Should I have been more patient?

Tim @ Brilliant Finances Personal Finance How To writes Some Tips on Buying a New Car Without Breaking the Bank – Summer is almost here and a lot of people buy cars at this time. If you’ve been thinking aobut buying a new car be sure to read this article for money saving tips.

Robert @ The College Investor writes How Safe Are Your Finances from Your Kids? – The USDA has calculated the costs of raising a child for both single parent households and dual parent households, and it can cost anywhere from $118,590 to $250,262 to raise a child to 18 years of age. And then you get to college! So, how safe will your finances be when you have kids?

“Love of a Lifetime” by FireHouse. Released in 1991 as a single from their album FireHouse. Reached #5 on the US charts. A popular wedding song from that time (or so I’ve been told). 

Cash Flow Mantra @ Cash Flow Mantra writes Calculating ROI When Selling Covered Calls – There has been a lot of option activity in my retirement accounts recently so I wanted to take some time and explain how to calculate the return on investment (ROI) using a real example of a trade that I did yesterday.

Andi @ Making The Life You Want writes New Life Step 1: Visualization – One of the greatest “tricks” I was ever able to learn was the ability to visualize what I wanted so that I could start the process of getting there. This post instructs you on a visualization exercise so that you can start making the life you want.

Jeff Rose @ Good Financial Cents writes Why I Purchased a 2.5 Million Term Life Insurance Policy – Because far too many people still don’t have any life insurance at all, and if they do, they don’t nearly have enough.

harry campbell @ Your Personal Finance Pro writes Should Young Professionals Invest in Dividend Stocks? – With fixed income investments like bonds and CD’s returning decade lows, some investors have turned to dividend stocks as a way to receive predictable income at regular intervals. Dividend stocks usually refer to companies that have a history of paying out dividends to shareholders. In fact, each year, the S&P 500 publishes a list of it’s dividend aristocrats. A company must increase it’s annual dividend payout every single year for 25 consecutive years to get onto that list. Many begi

Jon Rhodes @ Affiliate Tips writes Should I Submit To Directories? – This article discusses whether it is advantageous to submit your blog or web site to directories. It also looks at how google views paid directories.

Jacob @ My Personal Finance Journey @ My Personal Finance Journey writes 7 Business Startup Lessons – This post illustrates 7 mistakes and 7 lessons learned the hard way by the author while starting his own business. By making and learning from these mistakes, the author was a big financial success and was able to retire early. By reading about his experiences, hopefully you won’t suffer the same mistakes when starting your own business. This is by no means everything needed to start a successful business, but it is essential knowledge that will give you an edge in the early stages.

Steve Zussino @ Canadian Personal Finance writes My Ultimate Travel Tip to Save Money – House Swap! – My best travel tip to save money is to avoid hotels and try house swaps. I have done 3 house swaps to save money on hotels and eating out while traveling and they were all amazing experiences.

Steve Zussino @ Grocery Alerts writes 10 ways Canadians can save money at the movies – Before making your picks as to what you are planning to watch, you should consider how to spend your movie budget. In anticipation, I wanted to share 10 ways Canadians can save money at the movies.

“Only Time Will Tell” by Nelson. Released in 1991 as a single from their album After the Rain. It charted in the US but I could not find its peak position. I know that Nelson got a bad rap but I like them. Yes, I said like. Not liked. 

PK @ Don’t Quit Your Day Job… writes Predicting the S&P 500 – May 2012 Edition – My attempts to divine the direction and magnitude of the S&P 500

Philip @ PT Money Personal Finance writes The Best Approach to Long-Term Savings (Non-Retirement): Building Your Nest Egg – Discusses creating a savings plan for money to be used on a yet-to-be-determined long-term expense. Analyzes it by looking at a few of the major factors: liquidity, return, and risk tolerance.

Glen Craig @ Free From Broke writes Tradeking and Zecco to Merge – More Capabilities, Same Great Pricing – Online brokers TradeKing and Zecco have announced that they will be merging. See more about the merger.

Eric J. Nisall @ DollarVersity writes Don’t Be An Ass: Rules For Using Bank Drive-Up Services – The drive-up lanes at your bank have rules to keep traffic flowing smoothly and quickly. Don’t be the one who screws it all up by not following these rules!

J.P. @ Novel Investor writes The Complete Shareholder Proxy Vote Guide – As a shareholder, understanding your rights, the proxy voting process and knowing the SEC proxy rules is the best way to stay involved. How you vote could have a direct impact on the company and your money going forward.

Lance @ Money Life & More writes Business Mileage Reimbursement – Do You Really Make Money? – Whenever I’ve talked to anyone who receives mileage checks they all tell me how much money they “make” by driving for business miles. The mileage rate more than covers the cost of the gas they use! I want to challenge this assumption. The IRS doesn’t aim for people to make money.

Miss T. @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes 5 Reasons Why You Should Meditate – What I like the most is that anyone can meditate, anywhere. It’s free and all ages of people can do it.

Lina Zussino @ Baby Alerts writes Top 5 kids clothing stores & some savings tips – There are quite a lot of choices when it comes to buying your kid’s clothing. Here are my top 5 choices for kids clothing stores, and some tips on how to get deals and discounts there.

Bonus video: “I Still Think About You” by Danger Danger. Danger Danger was my most favorite hair band and I was absolutely obsessed with them. My walls were covered with pictures of them, and meeting singer Ted Poley and guitarist Andy Timmons remains some of the most memorable days of my teenage life (interesting footnote: I met Ted Poley outside a parking garage after a Nelson concert. Yeah, I can’t process it that well either). 

When I finished reading Alan Akina’s “The Super Duper Simple Book On Money” (which only took about a half an hour to read), the first thought I had was “wow, that is an aptly name book”. When Alan says it is a simple book, he tells the truth. The thing about it is, it’s not just that it’s an easy book to read; the concepts that he presents are very simple. And when you’re trying to understand money, sometime simple is best.

Alan begins the book by divulging some elements of his childhood. He grew up poor, had divorced parents, often moving from home to home. He gives a very touching story about his grandmother and her influence on his life (what I enjoyed about this is how is really highlights the profound impact just one person can have). He talks about his struggles with money and how he overcame them, and how those struggles inspired him to teach others what he learned. For someone like me, who prefers the advice of real people who have been there to the advice of experts who never have, it was nice to have a context in which to set his ideas.

On to Alan’s principles. The book focuses on 5 basic concepts revolving around money:

1. Money in (income)
2. Money out (bills)
3. Money we owe (debt)
4. Money we grow (investments)
5. Money we share (charitable giving)

It really doesn’t get easier than that. What I appreciate about these concepts is that it breaks down money management into easy to explain ideas. As a parent trying to teach my child about money, these 5 principles are simple to explain, even to a 5 year old. They make sense, are logical, and are presented in a progression that makes you have that “aha” moment about your finances. You finish the book not confused about how to manage your money; rather you finish the book thinking “I can do this”. It’s a nice feeling.

But I think my favorite part of the book was how interactive it is. I read the e-book version of the book, and to break it up, there are links to downloadable worksheets, YouTube videos of Alan presenting his ideas on a Hawaiian affiliate of Fox News (where he has been presenting financial news for years), and sidebar stories of people he’s helped with his advice (I’m a sucker for success stories). Now that I have the book saved on my iPad, I can go back and reread it or download the worksheets, especially when I need to get back to the basics with my finances.

This, like Wealth Watchers, is a book I had when I first started learning about money. And like Wealth Watchers, it’s not so much a plan to get out of debt as it is a book that gives a broad overview of financial management. That financial management includes emphasizing the importance of avoiding or getting out of debt.

A word of caution about this book. For those who already have a fairly strong understanding of managing their day to day finances, this book will be too simple. In fact, it may seem oversimplified and it’s probably not the best choice to add to the personal finance section of your library.  But if you know someone who did not receive a proper financial education or is struggling with understanding the basics of financial management, this is a great place to start.

Although I received a free copy of this book, the opinions are entirely mine and I was not compensated in any other way. 

One of the issues I’m working on in therapy is learning to manage my anxiety. My anxiety attacks are moderate to severe, especially when it pertains to work, and can be quite crippling. What a normal person would be able to manage with a few calming breaths turns into a full blown freak out session,  where I cry, yell, panic, and become so frustrated with myself and the situation that I actually can’t do anything. It takes a substantial amount of time for me to knock that anxiety down to a manageable level and by the time I’ve calmed down, I’m just depressed and angry at myself and the fact that I can manage stress like a rational person.

It’s a horrible, vicious cycle.

Managing these episodes is a challenge. Especially since I really don’t want to use medication. But I’ve learned that I can manage my anxiety attacks a lot better if I make a behavioral change. For instance, a few days ago I was trying to figure out why I cannot get blog posts to show up on Daily Money Shot’s FaceBook page (and I still can’t). The more I tried, the more I couldn’t do it. Which led to an anxiety attack ending with me throwing a pen and screaming a bunch of expletives to no one in particular and quitting blogging forever (note: pretty much anything can trigger one of these delightful episodes). It was definitely a party at my house that day.

In the midst of my shaking and hyperventilating and screaming and being completely ready to set my computer on fire, it occurred to me that maybe it was a good idea to walk away from my office for a little while. So I did that. I walked away. I made myself lunch and took the dogs for a walk. By the time that was done, I was able to think like a rational person and focus on the problem at hand instead of flipping out about everything under the sun and threatening to quit blogging (though there probably are some people who wish that would happen).

After relaying this story to my therapist, she suggested that I make a distractability list. It’s something she had learned about from another patient, and she thought it would be a good idea for me since behavioral changes have the most significant and immediate impact on my anxiety. Essentially, what I needed to do was write down 10 activities I can engage in when my anxiety starts ratcheting up. Doing one of these is supposed to help refocus my brain by removing me from the bad situation, which in turn is intended to calm me down. Or something like that. I’ll tell you though–it works. By refocusing my energy and attention to something enjoyable like playing a game on my iPad or reading a chapter in a book, my anxiety lessons and I’m able to come back to the problem with renewed energy. I may hate the task but at least I can accomplish it without freaking out.

So that’s nice.

I’ve been trying to think of other areas of my life where I can apply this principle. I narrowed it down to 2: eating and shopping. Particularly shopping. While I’m not an avid shopper, I have a tendency to do some online shopping that perhaps maybe I shouldn’t do. For instance, if a dog eats one of my daughter’s toys, my first instinct is to look online to see if it can be replaced. It’s as if this incident gives me a license to go shopping (which of course turns into me also buying her additional toys or scheduling a day to take her to the toy store). This is probably not the wisest choice and I’m sure there are some activities I can engage in to encourage myself not to shop. A few:

1. Move the money into savings. A lot of bloggers are doing this with Impulse Save and I think it’s a great idea. I can take the money I would spend on the replacement and put it in savings instead. In her account. Not mine.
2. Take her “shopping” in her toys she doesn’t play with. Or had forgotten about. She has so many toys that they’re spread out in 2 different parts of the house. I can take her to the toys she doesn’t play with and have her pick out one or three of those.
3. Go play outside. My daughter gets really upset when the dog does this. Just like her mommy, it helps to remove her entirely from the environment and get a change of scenery. By taking her to the playground or to ride her bike or to draw with sidewalk chalk, it’ll get her out of the situation and focused on something new.
4. Dance. Music both relaxes and distracts me. A whole lot. And although I am a terrible dancer, sometimes it’s a good way to let the tension go. I can put in a few of my favorite songs that I listen to at the gym and we can dance in our living room. Or I can find a good dance music Pandora station. Or we can do some yoga. Anything to exercise and get moving and not shop.
5. Do any of the other dozens of activities in our house. Bake cookies. Have a “spa” afternoon. Play with the dogs. Color. Read a book. Write a book. Go to the Y for a swim (okay, so that’s not technically in our house). Take a walk around the block. Give her my phone and let her take pictures. I could go on. But I’ll spare you.

Yesterday, while spelunking in my tupperware cabinet for a pitcher to make iced tea, I cut my elbow on the latch that makes the door babyproof. Let me tell you, it freaking hurt! A lot. And, in true Jana fashion, I cut myself on the part of my elbow that I can’t see except when using a mirror. Do you know how hard it is to stop the bleeding when you don’t even know where the blood is coming from?

Way more dangerous than it looks

At first I wasn’t concerned with the blood (mainly because I didn’t know I was bleeding). I was only concerned with how much it hurt. My elbow was throbbing, I was screaming at the latch for being a fucking asshole, I was yelling at husband for putting the pitcher all the way in the back of the tupperware cabinet (he wasn’t home to hear my tirade, however), and I was berating myself for being so dumb for cutting my elbow on a latch! That’s been there since we bought the house! But mainly, I just wanted it to stop throbbing. That’s when I decided it was probably a good idea to go look at the wound.

I knew I had cut my elbow, so I started inspecting it like a detective inspects evidence at a murder scene. But I couldn’t find the cut. I knew it was there; I had the pain to prove it. Since I couldn’t see it without looking like a dog chasing her tail, I went to the bathroom to use the mirror. And sure as I’m short, there was a bleeding gash on the one part of my elbow that I can’t see myself. I grabbed some tissues to prevent any more blood from seeping out of my arm and cleaned the cut. But it still hurt a lot. Because of the location of the cut, I had to just deal with the pain. Putting on a band-aid was impossible without some Cirque du Soleil contortionist shit so I just tried to stop bleeding and went about my day.

Then, like the flux capacitor came to Doc after he hit his head on the toilet, it hit me. The cut on my arm was just like my spending.

Earlier this month, I embarked on a no spend challenge. I did it for a few reasons. One, I needed to regain some control over my life and I thought that with my money was a good place to start. Two, I like challenges. And three, I knew I was bleeding money out of my budget and my bank account balance was screaming in pain; I just couldn’t find where the wound was coming from. I had to find a mirror to hold up to the injury in order to find the best way to solve the problem. However, unlike the cut on my elbow, I could actually reach this injury and put a band-aid on it.

I’m fairly certain that I’m not the only one who bleeds money without knowing the source. And without knowing the source, it’s hard to fix the problem. So what steps can people like me take to locate the source of the leaks in their budget? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Go through your bank or credit card statements. Doing this allows you to see where you’re spending the most money. Then compare that to your budget (you do have a budget, right?). If the spending in a particular category like pets or restaurants or clothes greatly exceeds the budget limit you’ve set on paper, then that’s a leak right there. This is also a great way to get a feel for how much money you’re actually spending in each area each month, which may in turn lead you to adjust your budget accordingly.
2. Put a fixed amount of cash in your wallet. And test to see how long it stays there. When you do make a purchase, save the receipt (if the purchase is from a vending machine, write down how much you spent on a piece of paper and treat it like a receipt). Once the cash is gone, take inventory of the receipts. Ask yourself: Were the purchases on necessary things? Could you have found a way to keep that cash longer? What places led you to spend the most? How long did the cash stay in your wallet? What temptations did you give into? Answering these questions should give you perspective on your spending triggers and your spur of the moment purchases.
3. Look at what you have. Go through your closet. Do you have 86 pairs of jeans or 104 t-shirts? Examine your make-up. How many bottles of nail polish or palettes of eye shadow do you have? Books, DVDs/Blu-Ray, children’s toys…thoroughly catalog everything. When you look at the amount of crap you have, that should give some insight into where you’re money is going (this is how I learned I have a huge weakness for apps and nail polish). Once you know this, you can do what I did and try a no spend challenge or just commit to use what you have for a fixed amount of time before you buy anything new. Doing this gives you a whole new appreciation for what you have (trust me on this one).

I have done all of these. By doing so, I’ve been able to formulate a specific budget that right now needs to be adjusted (badly), I’ve learned where my spending weaknesses originate, and I’ve developed a plan to stop the bleeding. I’m not perfect. Occasionally, the wound reopens. And sometimes, I need a tourniquet rather than a band-aid to dam the flow but I know the source of the injury. That’s a huge first step. In fact, it’s probably the most important step. When you know what’s broken, you can determine the best method to fix it.

And as for my elbow? It did stop hurting. But I’m still pissed at the latch.

Yesterday I read a post by my friend Jessica (aka The Debt Princess) about learning to graciously accept gifts. Jessica discussed, in depth, how difficult it is to accept gifts from people but sometimes, we have to swallow our pride and accept that others do nice things for us (and our kids). I related to that post a lot because I massively struggle with accepting favors and gifts. I always feel that there’s an expectation attached to the nice gesture because I can’t believe that people want to do nice things for me. I mean, why? What do they want from me in return? And what if I can’t do what they need? Questions like this pepper my mind for days before I say yes or no. Then the anxiety shame spiral begins and I go to the dark place.

There’s a line in today’s Money Tune “I’ll accept with poise, with grace. When they draw my name from the lottery”. Although I’m not really sure how it relates to money, I think this is good advice. It’s definitely something I need to practice (graciously accepting gifts. And compliments. It’s not that I’m rude about it per se. It’s just that I don’t think I deserve them). Because even though I may not believe I deserve something, someone else might. And it’s kind of rude to throw it in their face.

While I know this song isn’t necessarily about money, I really like it. I’m including it because sometimes we need to take a break from all this money talk and focus on something else, even if it’s  only for a few minutes. So sit back and enjoy “Big Casino” by Jimmy Eat World (fun fact: I love this song so much it used to be my ringtone. Then I got a new phone. Now my ringtone is “Audience of One” by Rise Against. So I guess that’s two fun facts for you. Or one fact plus a bonus fact. Which still equals two. Okay. To the music!)

You might have noticed some layout changes. That’s totally on purpose. And there’s more coming. I know you’re excited.

I spent this past Saturday at The SITS Girls Bloggy Boot Camp. It was, hands down, some of the best money I’ve spent on this site (and my wanna be writing career). I was able to hear presentations from some incredible bloggers outside the personal finance niche (which is great to get a different perspective) and got some wonderful tips for streamlining not only my site but my whole approach to blogging. So look for those changes. Because of being totally and completely consumed by that, I totally forgot to write a post for today. So I offer a post previously written for my other site, The Jealousy Files (currently in hibernation until I get the rest of my shit together):

This shit was free y'all!

I recently had this conversation with my husband:

Him: Hello?

Me: You called? (after 8 years of marriage, pleasantries no longer exist. Plus, I don’t have time.)

Him: (silence)

Me: Again, you called?

Him: Yes.

Me: What do you want?

Him: I wanted to let you know I scored free rocks.

Me: What the fuck are you talking about?

Him: I scored free rocks.

Me: I understand what you said. I’m just wondering how the conversation transpired that led you to getting us free rocks.

Him: Well, rock house (note: that’s what we call the house that has their front lawn covered entirely in rocks) was getting rid of some. I was walking the dogs by their house and I saw him loading the rocks into the back of his truck. I asked him what he was doing with them and he said taking them to the landfill. I said that I’d take some off of his hands.

Me: Okay…

Him: So he put some in a wheelbarrow and wheeled the rocks to our backyard. Now we have all kinds of rocks.

Me: Okay…

Him: I saved us like $10 or $15!!!

At that point, I didn’t know what else to say. He was so proud of himself for scoring shit we could have found on the ground (also for free) that I didn’t want to burst his bubble. But at the same time, I was astonished that my husband actually convinced someone not only to give us free rocks but to wheel them to our house.

I’m a little jealous of his mad negotiating skillz.

P.S. For those who read this post originally on The Jealousy Files and inquired about what we were using the rocks for, I can tell you that my husband artfully spread the rocks around our sad little garden and what was left, he lined against our house because…well, I’m not quite sure because I didn’t care to listen to his rambling explanation. But they are no longer in a random pile. Which is good. Mainly because the cat was getting tired of them.

One emotion I am excellent at showing is guilt. I feel guilty all the time. If I’m watching TV, I feel guilty that I’m not cleaning my house. If I’m cleaning my house, I feel guilty that I’m not working on my book. If I’m working on my book, I feel guilty that I’m not working on the blog. If I’m spending time with my daughter, I feel guilty that I’m ignoring the dogs. If I suggest doing something that I want to do, I feel guilty that I’m not taking anyone else’s feelings into consideration.  And on and on and on. It’s kind of disgusting, actually.

But the more I think about it, the more I realize guilt is kind of a wasted emotion. It’s paralyzing, it’s not productive, it’s not helpful and quite frankly, it causes a lot of my anxiety. There is nothing about guilt that makes me feel good (except maybe the guilt caused by eating a cupcake that makes me go to the gym. Then again, should I really feel guilty that I ate a cupcake?). As such, I’m working on eliminating this extreme guilt from my life. The first thing to go? Financial guilt.

For way too many years, I’ve felt guilty about so many aspects of my financial life. I don’t give myself permission to be proud of what I’ve done; instead, I feel guilty and berate myself for things I didn’t do. I don’t allow myself to feel okay with spending money on myself; instead, I tell myself that I’m taking money away from my family for frivolous things. But no more! From now on, I absolve myself from feeling guilt for the following things:

• Pedicures. I hate disgusting feet. This is a problem I’ve had since I was a kid. It’s kind of ironic that I hate disgusting feet since I also abhor shoes. Perhaps this is why I’m so obsessive about pedicures. Not only do I want to walk around with feet that deserve shoes, there is nothing that makes me feel better about myself than getting a good pedicure. Since I’m a) terrible at doing them myself and b) I only get them once a month, I now give myself permission to feel fine with spending money every month on a professional pedicure. I deserve it and I am allowed to feel good. 
• Buying books. Although I love my library, my library system just doesn’t carry all the books I want to read. For too long, I have not read books I’ve wanted to read simply because they’re not at the library. I couldn’t rationalize spending money on a book I’ll read once, maybe twice (not having any disposable income for years will do that to a person). I’ve even held onto gift certificates (okay, fine. I’m still holding onto a gift certificate) because if I see a book I want to read, I think “let me see if the library has it first”. While I still maintain that the library is a better option, I now absolve myself of all guilt when I buy a book. 
• Where I live. I never in 18 million years thought that I would have settled in Delaware. I figured I’d come here for college, graduate, and move back to New York. But almost 17(!) years after I first set foot in my freshman dorm room, I’m still here. It’s okay, though. There’s no sales tax, we have a really affordable cost of living (even if our public schools are not that fantastic), and I’m the same distance from two major cities and the beach. It’s not ideal but I suppose I could live in worse places. And the most important part is that it works for us, financially. So, I allow myself to no longer feel guilty that where I live is not what I had planned (or what some people wanted me to do). 
• Going out to eat, buying unnecessary stuff for my daughter and spoiling my dogs. Back in the day when we could barely afford anything, everything I’ve listed was a complete luxury and we had to let it go. But now that we’re a little more comfortable, we’ve introduced these back into the budget. Yes, sometimes we go out to eat when there’s plenty of food in the house. Yes, sometimes I buy my daughter a toy when she has a virtual toy store in her toy chest. Yes, sometimes I buy a gourmet treat for my dogs when they’re just as happy eating whatever drops on the floor. And I’m fine with all of that. I permit myself to realize it’s acceptable to sometimes be a little loose with the budget. 
• Being a working mom. While I’m doing everything in my power to become a freelance writer and book author, I’ve spent my daughter’s entire life working in an office. I release myself of all guilt because I did it. And I refuse to allow anyone else to make me fee guilty for it. At that time, it was the best thing for my family. We needed the income (and yes, my salary far exceeded what we paid in daycare. It would have been a HUGE financial hit for me to quit) if we wanted to keep our house (because in my opinion, losing our house would have made me a much worse parent than going to work) and eat. Also, I think on some level, it made me (now, this is just me. This does not apply, nor is it intended to apply, to all moms) a better mom. When I was with my daughter, I was more focused on her than I would have been had I been home with her all the time. I learned to appreciate my time with her and didn’t take any minute for granted (well, maybe a few minutes). Working mommy guilt–I release you!

This is a guest post from my friend, Suzanne Cramer, a social media specialist and blogger for Care One Credit. Make sure to check out her blog, A Straight Talk On Debt, which features not only posts from Suzanne but posts from some of my other blogging friends. 

I know Jana wants another furry friend and she knows that the “all around” expenses associated with a third dog will be tough. Sometimes you just can’t say no (and Jana, this may happen to you in your quest for a third dog). Rest assured I know from first hand experience that pets can be like our children and no expense is too much to make sure they are healthy and safe.

Owning and caring for a pet doesn’t have to be a budget-buster whether you have one, two or three, but preparing for your pet’s expenses by budgeting for them is a must!

Here are a few tips to keep expenses for your furry friends under control.

Feed one, feed them all

There are lots of ways you can keep your furry friends well nourished and happy.

• Buy in bulk.  Try to buy in bulk, checking unit prices to ensure you’re saving money, and preserve your pet food in airtight containers. Always comparison-shop, checking websites, supermarkets, big box stores, and pet shops, as well as utilizing manufacturers’ coupons and loyalty programs. This is especially important if you have several pets.
• Make your own.  You can find many healthy recipes online. Your veterinarian can also recommend essential ingredients to ensure you safely meet all of your pet’s nutritional needs.
• Try generic or less-expensive.  Less expensive doesn’t have to mean less nutritious. Check pet-food labels carefully, and look for the words “complete and balanced,” which indicate the contents can satisfy your pet’s sole nourishment. Also, look for a statement that the food’s nutritional value meets standards set by the American Association of Feed Control Officials. Armed with this information, you can be confident about swapping expensive brand name labels for less expensive generic versions.

Health care is important for Fido too

Just as humans do, pets benefit from preventive and proactive health care.

• Get all their shots.  Remain current on recommended vaccinations, which can keep your pet from contracting common diseases.
• Use your resources. You can often find low-cost options for common procedures and vaccines though local humane societies and shelters, such as American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). You can also visit www.Pets911.com and enter your zip code to find a list of animal shelters, animal control agencies, and other animal organizations in your community.
• Healthy diet and exercise. Our pets can suffer the same complications from obesity as humans, such as arthritis, high blood pressure, and diabetes, so don’t overfeed them. Increase their activity by taking them on walks and trips to the park.

Keep vet bills under control

No matter what you do, there might be times when your pet needs veterinary care.

• Check for discounts.  Many veterinarians offer discounts, including senior discounts and multi-pet discounts. Also, ask about military and law enforcement discounts.
• A new puppy or kitten. Your veterinarian may offer discount packages that cover all vaccinations, spaying or neutering, microchip identification, and other procedures. Likewise, shelters often include these services in their adoption fee.
• Go generic.  Ask if your veterinarian can prescribe generic equivalents of name brand medications. Moreover, ask if there is a human equivalent, such as baby aspirin. Not all pet prescriptions are more expensive, but it’s worth checking out.
• Get pet insurance.  The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends coverage for catastrophic expenses. Policies typically run between $10 and $20 a month. Petinsurance.com is a popular online resource for obtaining pet insurance information. If you’re without pet insurance, ask your veterinarian to submit an assistance request to the AAHA’s “Helping Pets Fund”.

Your pets deserve care and attention, but not at the expense of destroying your finances. If your pets are causing you to seek debt help its time to start implementing some of these money-saving tips.

What is your best tip for keeping your pet’s expenses down?