Tag: real talk

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: May Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


Thankfully this month, I paid off the Prosper loan, and now I’m focusing solely on the credit card balances. Remember that paying off your debts will give you a raise. Without debt, you will be able to experience your true take home pay (gross profit). Having a budget, will help you know how much your disposable income will be, and your disposable income is how you will build wealth. Mind your own personal investment portfolio. As you pay down debt, look for ways to increase income. I’ll plan on taking advantage of the loan balance transfer offers to reduce my personal line of credit to pay for emergency expenses and look for income producing opportunities. My wife is preparing to interview and will start working in the field that she loves starting next month. I believe you should do what you love and do it with excellence. If it’s possible to do what you love and generate income from it, then leverage the internet to reach as many people as possible. If it’s not possible to generate income from what you love, then let it be your motivator to do your profession with excellence. Our time is finite, but our impact can be eternal.

Over the next few months, my goal will be to reduce either credit card balance by $1000. By year end, my goal is to position myself to be able to make $1000 debt payments toward my debt via my job, and businesses. Some of the new habits I’ve adopted is listening to motivational videos, and relaxation videos through YouTube. However, for me, my core foundation remains the same, prayer, the Word, and worship. What’s your 1st response when things go right or wrong?

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: THROUGH HARD TIMES – Powerful Motivational Video 2017 | PART I from the Motversity YouTube channel.

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: March Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


This month I began creating and implementing a system in my new role. I’m enjoying this role, because it’s taking the existing skills that I have, improving on those skills, and learning new skills all for fulfilling the vision of my workplace in 2017. This new role is also enjoyable because I must be creative. I honestly don’t know if I could be able to handle this pace of life if it wasn’t for the help of the Lord and my darling wife. I’m very thankful that when I come home at night, I have a meal ready to eat. I’m going to work early and leaving late at night. I remember a time when it was a struggle for me to get to work on time, whereas now I really have no choice due to where I live and the commute I must take to get to work. It’s a longer commute time, which some would think of as uncomfortable, but I look at it as an opportunity to improve on a work habit. The extra time I have early in the morning allows me to prepare my mind mentally for the day, and staying late, allows me to finish what I need to finish or just relax my mind to close the day.

It’s important to take every storm as an opportunity to look for and seek the end of the storm. The truth is every storm has an end, and that there is a plan and a purpose in every storm. Next month, I’m going to use a balance transfer to assist in covering living expenses. My wife has decided to take her licensing test next month vs. this month, and I completely encouraged her to do it. I’d rather she be comfortable and pass the test the first time, rather than run the risk of failing it. We’re also pursuing in applying for a personal line of credit for her to assist in consolidating her debt. It’s important to get credit when you don’t need it, because if you try to get it when you do need it, then it may be too late. Use the lower interest rate payments to save money and payoff consumer debt faster. One of my associates in my organization sold one of his first combined policies, and I’m very excited at his level of enthusiasm, and look forward to helping him achieve his goals. My goal for the year is to become a better communicator and so far, I’ve been face with numerous opportunities to develop this skill.

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: Be Powerful –motivational speech video – T.D. Jakes from the Motiversity YouTube channel.

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: October Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


Honestly, I’m looking forward to this year being over with and starting my life with my soon to be wife. If you’re struggling with debt and you’re unable to have help emotionally, and financially, then depending on how big your debt level is I suggest three options. Those options are find a way to lower your expenses and increase income, close all open accounts and leave one card open and begin negotiating your debt with your creditors, and finally consider bankruptcy. The third option is an option of last resort, but bankruptcy is a way to start over. Don’t let your debt and finances take you to the place where you would harm yourself or others. If bankruptcy is the only option, then I suggest you contact multiple bankruptcy attorneys.

Fortunately, in my situation, I’ve openly discussed my finances with my fiancé and she’s openly discussed her finances too. We’re considering different debt consolidation options together, discussing a debt repayment strategy as well as how to grow our existing businesses. We openly discuss every topic with each other and being in our mid-thirties we’re comfortable enough to not need much. I encourage you to find someone to openly discuss your finances with. The first step to becoming debt free is in your thinking, and the next step is having a budget. My questions to you are how much do you make? Is that gross or net income? What is your bottom line number? Knowing your thoughts and knowing your numbers is critical to not just get out of debt but grabbing control of your financial future.

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

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: September Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


This month, I was able to reduce the credit card debt, and I continue to make the scheduled payments to the term loans on time without issue. If you’ve consolidated your debt into a loan that is set to pay off, continue to make your payments on time. It’s important in general to make your payments on time, because missing payments will affect your credit score. If your payment due date isn’t in line with your cash flow for the month, it’s important to contact your credit card company or lender as soon as possible to see if they can change the payment due date. Changing the payment due date may require signing new loan documents or verbally agreeing to the change, but it’s important to contact your creditors as soon as possible if you are faced with a life event that can affect payments to them. I don’t recommend ignoring or avoiding the situation. The worst-case scenario is you can have liens and or judgements placed against you. If you find that your fixed expenses are more than 50% of your take home pay you are at risk to losing your assets. To clarify fixed expenses are rent/mortgage payments, utilities, insurance, subscriptions, phone payments, and any other monthly reoccurring transactions. These payments should not be greater than 50%, because it gives you no room to save money and reduce your debt. For example, if you make a $1,000 a month and your fixed expenses is $600 per month then you are at risk, simply because if you have any type of emergency you may have to borrow to cover the emergency. If your fixed expenses are greater than 50% you are more likely to stay in debt. Personally, I continue to do my plan of reducing debt and increasing income. I may use a balance transfer option to take advantage of the promotional balance transfer rate to continue to accelerate my debt reduction. Next month, I’ll discuss three strategies you can use to reduce debt.

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

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: August Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


This month, I did a balance transfer to reduce the balance on the regular Barclay’s card. It’s important to not fully use your credit limit, because that can weaken your credit score. It’s good to have monthly usage, but it shows poor debt management if you have high balances with only minimum payments and no principal reduction. Even if you must sell something, I recommend reducing your balances on your cards. I was recently approached about an income earning opportunity, and after discussing it with my fiancé, I decided to take a chance. If you’re interested in learning about how to make spare time income at your own pace and being one of the few who were a part of the next big opportunity, then click on contact me at the bottom. I’ve set a goal to create income generating assets while I’m getting out of debt, and so far, to date I have two. Continue to take one step at a time no matter how rough the road ahead will be.

If you want to learn more about my opportunity, 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

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: April Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk


Every journey has its own setbacks and detours, however despite those moments, you must remain consistent about where you want to be. Will you run into unforeseen expenses and liabilities? Absolutely! I encourage you with this idea: I’m in no way perfect, but I serve a perfect God. He knows an exit strategy into every situation I’m placed into whether it’s good or bad. Repent quick, Forgive quick, and Move on quick. This previous month, I had to adjust my strategy and take advantage of the zero percent balance transfer offered on the Capital One card. As the wedding date draws closer, Jill and I have had to discuss the costs involved in the wedding. I’ve found this discussion very important, because in discussing finances, we’ve come into agreement on how to handle our finances together. I love her more and more each day, because she fills in and covers the weaknesses I never knew I had.

Specifically, I’ve re-focused my debt reduction on paying down the Barclay’s card while slowly reducing the other debts and applying principal reduction payments where I can. Always seek wise counsel where you can and use their counsel to take advantage of the best situations that present themselves. Their counsel will help you discern if the choice you make is the best one for you. When I got out of debt before, all I did was focus on making extra money to pay off debt. This time I’m paying down debt, saving, investing in assets, and growing my assets that produce income. Why? Time is fixed. We only have 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 24 hours in a day, 7 days in a week, and 52 weeks in a year. Time will run out. Use and manage your energy efficiently and effectively so that you can get as much out of each moment as you can. If you consistently focus on saving and buying assets, then when you finally are out of debt, you will have a larger amount in savings and more income producing assets vs. getting out of debt and then having to build savings and assets. Also, by saving and investing while you are getting out of debt, will create a discipline inside of you. How am I able to do it this way vs. the last time? I have a budget. A budget will put order into your life. Order proceeds increase and increase proceeds multiplication. Knowing your net income number is the key to being able to get out of debt, save, and invest. There is a process that I follow that I will share in future posts. Remain consistent and diligent on your journey.

Have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, and if you need a financial check-up contact me. More details about a financial check-up is in the contact me section.

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

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: March Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk

Over this past month, I’ve had the opportunity to pay off the Wells Fargo Line of Credit and utilize a zero-balance transfer option on my Barclay’s card to reduce the payment amount of my overall debt. My next target will be the Barclay’s card as I chip away at the Capital One card. It’s important to be flexible with your debt re-payment strategy. Set your sight on a balance and target it but be open to opportunities to reduce the debt faster, even if you utilize a promotional balance transfer option. A word of caution, when you do use a promotional balance transfer remember two points: 1) the offer is for a 12-month period on average (check your terms) and 2) you are charged a balance transfer fee (weigh the cost vs. benefit). In the end, a balance transfer can eliminate the high interest debt which can not only eliminate the payment but also create a lower payment overall which increases cash flow.

An increase in cash flow, creates more money to reduce debt, or to be used towards living expenses. In your journey, you’ll experience a lot of emotional forces at play which may encourage you to spend. The best process to fight these forces is to seek help from others, set up small reward systems to curb the spending, and grow your asset column. As I said in one of my earlier posts, I’ve gotten out of debt before, but when I did, I had no control over my spending and got right back in the hole again. Why? Because I didn’t take time to address my spending issue in the first place, and I didn’t grow my asset column. While you’re getting out of debt, see if you can create something which will produce money for you. The one thing we have which is absolutely fixed is time. At some point the clock will reach zero. Value your time and maximize your use of it.

This new year has been challenging, because of the wedding planning and the financial obstacles that present itself. Every obstacle creates an opportunity to trust God and those closest to you. You’re not in this process alone. There’s a four-step process that I do whenever I receive income, which I will share with you in a later post. This process has blessed me in my journey to debt freedom. I’ve included a short video clip from Joe McGee to help you turn an obstacle into an opportunity. Enjoy:

Turning an obstacle into an opportunity is about changing your vision and your thinking. Have someone to discuss your debt reduction strategy with, and 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

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: December Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk

Here’s December’s snapshot:

At year end, I look back on the year and I thank God for opening my eyes and providing a way to get closer to a debt free me. The most important first step is for you to take the time to look at the debt you do have and decide if you want to continue being a slave to the debt you pay.  In life you will always have expenses, but you won’t always have liabilities. Liabilities in the form of credit cards are not necessary. Instead of paying interest to a lender; why not pay interest to yourself?  Pay yourself with interest. In my next few posts, I’ll show you how to become the bank.

Next year, my focus is going to be paying down one specific debt. I’m specifically focusing on the Wells Fargo line of credit.

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

Posted in Debt Free Me

Month End: November Snapshot

Posted on by jamesmachawk

Below is a progress report of where I am at the end of November:

Talking with my fiancé, we agreed that I could balance transfer over $200.00 to the Capital One debt, which is why the Capital One debt increased. I made a $670.00 payment to the Barclay’s card to pay my debt off before year end. Remember if you’re going through a debt reduction plan to always communicate with your partner, and to keep a laser focus on reducing the debt.  I’m able to pay down my debt at such a fast rate because of two reasons: 1) I know my numbers because I have a budget 2) I’m willing to sacrifice, sell what I don’t need and work for extra cash.

Next year, my focus is going to be paying down one specific debt, because I need to save money for our wedding, but I will keep my heart and mind open to any opportunities that come available.

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

Posted in Debt Free Me

Keep moving forward…

Posted on by jamesmachawk

Here are the balances and the total amount that’ s been paid up to this point as of 9/15/2015.

Wells Fargo Line of Credit

$5,300.00

Capital One Card

$6,300.00

Barclay’s

$2,196.00

TD Ameritrade

$0.00

Total Credit Card debt: $8,496.00 and Total Credit Card/Line of Credit Debt: $13,796.00. With prayer and discussion with my fiance, we agreed to do a zero percent balance transfer to pay off the TD Ameritrade. We agreed that the best option is to pay off the smaller balances first. I’m re-directing my focus to pay off the smaller balances so I can then pay off the Capital One card. When you’re paying off debt, it’s important to have someone you can talk openly with about your decisions and your process of debt reduction. The other person can give you insight and ideas that you may have not considered. Remember you’re never alone,we’re better together and I believe that the Lord will guide you to the best steps to accomplish a debt free me.

“The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.”

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭22:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I believe in your journey to….

A Debt Free Me