Tag: debt reduction

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: January Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


At the end of January, I found the year starting off to be a year of great joy and transition. My wife and I are believing to have a baby and bringing a new life into this world requires the ability to make transitions. This year has already seen changes even in my workplace. We’ve hired on three new people within my area, and I think these additions will help in our long-term growth and sustainability. This month was filled with having to manage time and tasks and assist in training the new hires. If you haven’t had the opportunity to be in some type of mentor role then I suggest you try it. Personally, being a mentor seems to add something to my life. I believe we were born to be in relationship, to discover our purpose, and make a difference.

I didn’t expect to receive a bonus this year. Honestly, our year didn’t end as strong as I had hoped, so I was extremely thankful and surprised when I did receive one. It exceeded my expectations, and with the bonus I was able to achieve a level in savings that I have never had before. Last year I made decisions to consolidate my finances, debt repayment strategy, and focus solely on just paying down debt. I chose to simplify my process, communicate more with my wife, and truly began to steward my money better. The result is having more than I’ve ever had in savings, eliminating over $19 thousand dollars in debt, and in general a more controlled management of my finances. Despite these achievements, there were still financial challenges this month. We had to replace a fuel pump and had other expenditures. Unlike previous events, we know we have options on how to handle expenses as they come up. The truth is in life you will always have an unexpected event that will cost you. That’s life. Your best response is to take deep breath, have faith, consider your options, and choose the best path. At my current pace, my goal this year is to pay off all the remaining credit card debt, and next year focus on paying off the lines of credit. I still have one credit card that I use and pay off monthly. I use my credit card vs. my debit card because I have the discipline to pay it off monthly. I like to collect the rewards from the credit card and it protects my bank account from ever being compromised if the card’s information ever got compromised.

If you want to learn more about how I’m increasing my income while reducing debt, or if you want to have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, or if you need a financial check-up, contact me.

Also, learn more about how I use the self-lending principle through Mustard Seed in the mustard seed section.

This month’s video is MONK MENTALITY – Jay Shetty – One Of The Best Speeches EVER | MOST INSPIRING! from the Mulligan Brothers YouTube channel.

“The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.”
‭‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Deuteronomy‬ 28:12‬ NLT‬‬
‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

http://bible.com/116/deu.28.12.nlt‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I believe in your journey to….

A Debt Free Me

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: December Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


2018 is ending, and I’m glad this year is over with. This year has been a Year of Restoration. There’s been restoration in my finances and even more importantly restoration in my marriage. Restoration isn’t an easy process. When you think about a car being restored, there’s a lot of sweat, hard work, and physical reconstruction that can happen. Our Jack Russell Terrier, Sasha, had surgery to have two tumors removed and now she’s cancer free! There were quite a few challenges especially toward the end of the year, which increased the level of stress in our lives, but in those moments our faith increased too. When you find yourself in stressful and difficult moments, make sure to surround yourself with people who genuinely want to lift you up even if it’s emotionally. Throughout the year, and at the start of the blog, I haven’t fully disclosed all my consumer/credit card debt. I didn’t give full disclosure because I didn’t want to share how large the number was, and at the same time I didn’t want to discourage anyone from taking the steps to become debt free. Going forward I will disclose all my credit card and lines of credit debt for the purpose of being honest. I do have $25,067.91 in student loan debt, but my path to becoming debt free involves becoming debt free of credit card and lines of credit debt. My student loan is on a set income driven repayment plan and will be paid off by 2034 at a fixed rate of 3.125%. 2019 will be a year of great joy and you’ll see the remaining debt I have left to pay as I step closer to being debt free.

To encourage you, I started this year at $43,824.60 in credit card, revolving line of credit, and term debt combined. As of now, I’ve paid it down by $19,624.60 to $24,200.00. I was able to reduce my debt by this much by selling what I didn’t need to pay down portions of debt, consolidating multiple cash accounts, and using portions of my tax refund and bonus toward debt. I also completely focused on reducing a balance. Since the first blog post you’ll notice I don’t share the interest rate on the debt. The reason is because I want you to explore the two different debt reduction methods: the debt avalanche method and the debt snowball method. Personally, both methods work, and I’ve focused on debt based on how it makes me feel. I’ll also add that in addition to how I feel, I discuss with my wife my reason for switching to pay one debt with a lower interest versus a debt with a higher interest rate. In those scenarios, it’s because the balance is low enough that I can eliminate the debt within a shorter time frame. The second reason I don’t share the interest rate is because your debt reduction strategy is YOUR debt reduction strategy. You personally own it, must be responsible for it and most importantly be committed to following it day after day and month after month. My debt reduced when I finally committed to reducing it.

Your journey is different than mine, but we can take one step at a time together.

If you want to learn more about how I’m increasing my income while reducing debt, or if you want to have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, or if you need a financial check-up, contact me.

Also, learn more about how I use the self-lending principle through Mustard Seed in the mustard seed section.

This month’s video is When You Are About To Give Up WATCH THIS! – Motivational Video Speeches 2019 from the Mulligan Brothers YouTube channel.

“The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.”
‭‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Deuteronomy‬
‭28:12‬ NLT‬‬
‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

http://bible.com/116/deu.28.12.nlt‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I believe in your journey to….

A Debt Free Me

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: September Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


I turned 38 this year…Looking back I never expected to be so far behind in my life as compared to others. A lot of the people I went to high school with are married with children, and some are very successful in their careers. I look at my parents and remember where they were at my age, and honestly it discourages me. Comparison can do more harm than good. Even when comparing yourself against others who are attempting to achieve common goals like being debt free. All you can do is stay on your path and stick to your strategy. Everyone’s life, circumstances, and finances are different. That’s why it’s important to have a budget, or some form of knowing how much is coming in, and how much is going out. What is your bottom line number?

I’m focusing through the end of the year on paying down my other credit card debt. I’m continuing to pay just the about the minimum payment to at least reduce my principal balance on the debt above. Remember to look at your credit card statements to not just see your interest rate but also, to see how long it would take you to pay off your balance if you pay just the minimum payment. Also, your interest rate could change if the Federal Reserve raises interest rates. Don’t compare yourself with others and continue step by step toward being debt free.

If you want to learn more about how I’m increasing my income while reducing debt, or if you want to have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, or if you need a financial check-up, contact me.

Also, learn more about how I use the self-lending principle through Mustard Seed in the mustard seed section.

This month’s video is Dana White – From $0 To $7 Billion | One Of Most Compelling Speeches! from the Mulligan Brothers YouTube channel.

“The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.”
‭‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Deuteronomy‬ 28:12‬ NLT‬‬
‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

http://bible.com/116/deu.28.12.nlt‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I believe in your journey to….

A Debt Free Me

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: June Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


At the end of June, I faced something I hadn’t faced in a long time. My wife and I traveled to Delaware to visit her grandfather, and the trip was meant to be relaxing for me, but instead I felt heavy, and tired. Unfortunately, there were moments in our trip that didn’t make it a vacation, but marriage is for better and for worse. Even if the worse is yourself. In the end, I was glad to be spend time with her and her grandfather, and I was glad to be able to get away from home and work. This month I focused more toward the Capital One card. After discussion with my wife, I’ve decided to focus on paying off one of my other debts. When you’re seeking to be debt free, make sure that you surround yourself with people that can give you sound and good advice.

If you want to learn more about how I’m increasing my income while reducing debt, or if you want to have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, or if you need a financial check-up, contact me.

Also, learn more about how I use the self-lending principle through Mustard Seed in the mustard seed section.

This month’s video is UNBROKEN – Motivational Video 2018 from the Mulligan Brothers YouTube channel.

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: April Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


Honestly this month has been a month of miracles. I honestly believe because my wife and I honored God at the beginning of the year that He has put favor on our year so far. My wife did get approved for her personal line of credit, so she was able to consolidate down some of her debt. I could do a balance transfer, which is why you see my balances go up for the month of April. Fortunately, I could pay off the Wells Fargo term loan, and my goal is to pay off the Prosper loan by the end of May. If everything goes as intended, then I will have an additional $650 per month in income. This additional income I can use to focus on reducing my debt at a faster rate, meeting any living expense needs, saving to invest, or saving in case of emergency. When you’re creating an emergency savings, save at least one month’s worth of income no more than three months’ worth of income.

Paying off your debts will give you a raise. You’ll begin to be able to realize how blessed you are as you break off the bondage of debt. You also won’t know how much you are losing to compound interest until you really look at the numbers. We didn’t make any sales in our organization; however, I sincerely believe in my team. I believe that once they slowly build momentum, it will change their lives for the better both financially and emotionally. Ask yourself. Are you trading dollars for time? I’m continuing to look for ways to be generous not with my finances but with my time, energy, efforts, and connections. I encourage you to look at the win-win scenario and looking at life through the lens of eternity and legacy. A win-win scenario is helping a friend of mine who was looking to sell a car, and another friend who was desperately needing a car. They were able to strike an agreement that worked for the both of them. Finally, my wife passed her test and is now licensed. This journey was four long years of blood, sweat, and tears. Honestly it was a miracle that she passed. There is a powerful momentum building this year.

If you want to learn more about how I’m increasing my income, while reducing debt or if you want to have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, or if you need a financial check-up, contact me.

Also, learn more about how I use the self-lending principle through Mustard Seed in the mustard seed section.

“The LORD will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.”


‭‭Deuteronomy‬ 28:12‬ NLT‬‬


http://bible.com/116/deu.28.12.nlt‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I believe in your journey to….

A Debt Free Me

Here’s this month’s video: THE TRUE GRIND – 30 Minute Motivational Speech Compilation from the Motivation Archive YouTube channel.

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: January Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


This month, I said I do and till death do us part to my best friend and my love. I’ll be honest! The wedding process is stressful. If you plan on doing an actual wedding that involves a venue and family, then you will spend money and you will at some point get frustrated. My wife and I are very low maintenance and low-key people, but even we found ourselves exhausted both emotionally and mentally when all was said and done. I’ve moved out of my parents’ home and into an apartment. I’ve had plenty of guy roommates, but now is the first time I’ve ever lived with a female. We’re growing used to living together, and as she gets accustomed to my quirks, and tendencies, every day I’m more and more thankful to God that she is in my life. She said yes to this mess.

At month end, she’s currently not working, and we’re living primarily off her medical retirement and a portion of my income, but thankfully we are both open about our finances and operate our business together. I’ve helped her sign on a new associate for her business, and I’m truly looking forward to what this new year will bring. Due to our honeymoon, I paid a little less than normal on my debt, but the important thing to remember is: if you are in debt, do not miss your payments, and do not let them go 30 days past due. Find a way to make money to pay your debt obligations. If you got yourself in this mess in the first place, it’s your responsibility to get out of it.

If you want to learn more about how I’m increasing my income, while reducing debt or if you want to have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, or if you need a financial check-up, contact me.

The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.
https://bible.com/1/pro.22.7.kjv

I believe in your journey to….

A Debt Free Me

Here’s this month’s video

Posted in Pursuit of Excellence

January 11, 2017

Posted on by jamesmachawk

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/123113/why-emergency-funds-are-bad-idea.asp

Along with changing your oil every 3,000 miles and checking your child’s trick-or-treat bag for weaponized apples, the common advice to create an emergency fund is overly prudent. All you need is an objective understanding of risk to realize that there are far better places to put your money than an inert account that can’t enrich you. The most recognizable personal finance mavens are almost unanimous in their advocacy of the emergency fund as a vital part of any common-sense financial plan. (See Why You Absolutely Need an Emergency Fund.) Their recommendations differ only on size – three months’, six months’, perhaps eight months’ worth of living expenses are enough to accommodate whatever misfortune might befall you. But to what end? And do people really listen, or are these just empty dicta written to take up space? The conservative recommendation would be set aside eight months’ worth of living expenses, and assuming an effective tax rate of 20%, and this amount is roughly $30,000. Even at three months’ worth of living expenses the total is $11,000. The author advocates clearing debt away before you begin focusing heavily on creating an emergency fund, because the interest you currently play on your debts could quickly fill your emergency fund. Well, what if you do? There’s this thing called unemployment insurance. Your employers pay into it and it’s for your benefit. We also have a workforce in which (overall, if not in every individual case) 95% of those who want jobs have them. Chronic unemployment, or underemployment, is not the province of that class of people who have the wherewithal to defer spending long enough to save up several months’ of living expenses. An emergency fund is meant to help you handle life, so it’s important to take the time to build it. If you’re interested in my process, then I will be glad to share it with you.

http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/4-investments-that-helped-warren-buffett-earn-12-billion-in-2016-and-might-work.html

Warren Buffett has always done pretty well as an investor. But even for him, 2016 was an exceptional year. Shares of Berkshire Hathaway went up about 20 percent in value, increasing Buffett’s personal fortune by about $12 billion, according to personal finance site GOBankingRates. He earned more last year than any other American, easily beating out fracking king Harold Hamm, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Buffett’s net worth is now just over $75 billion. Most of Buffet’s gains came right after the presidential election. Buffet earned most of his gains in four areas: Banking/Financial Services, Airlines, Cable, and Food. Buffet is a long-time investor in American Express and the financial sector itself. Buffet invested heavily in Delta, United Continental, American, and Southwest Airlines. Back in 2014, Buffet invested heavily in Charter Communications. Buffett finally invests in food. Even though Buffet saw a loss in Coca-Cola, he also is a big investor in Kraft Heinz, and that stock is up 21 percent.

If you need are interested in creating a budget, then contact me for a financial checkup in the contact me section.

For this week, I’ve included THOUGHTS – Motivational Video from Be Inspired YouTube channel.

“If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.” Proverbs‬
‭28:26‬ MSG‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬