Debt is so ingrained into our culture that most Americans can't even envision a car without a payment ... a house without a mortgage ... a student without a loan ... and credit without a card. We've been sold debt with such repetition and with such fervor that most folks can't conceive of what it would be like to have NO payments.

The thing I have discovered about working with personal finance is that the good news is that it is not rocket science. Personal finance is about 80 percent behavior. It is only about 20 percent head knowledge.

Debt collectors like to play on your emotions because they think you'll give in and do something you can't really afford to do. Most of them don't care about you or your situation as long as they get some money.

Hitting bottom and hitting it hard was the worst thing that ever happened to me and the best thing that ever happened to me.

Your priorities, passions, goals, and fears are shown clearly in the flow of your money.

You have to teach children about money intentionally - create teachable moments.