http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/tonydyer.html A Journey of an Ordinary Man. www.destroydebt.com Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:37:18 GMT webmaster@destroydebt.com webmaster@destroydebt.com http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/tonydyer/275-is-there-more-to-this-debt-thing-than-money.html http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/tonydyer/275-is-there-more-to-this-debt-thing-than-money.html Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:37:18 GMT Is debt just about money owed to others or are there other hidden debts that are part of the problem?What about debt that we allow others to transfer to us in subtle ways and we allow them to let us pay for that debt.Convenience packaging is one such debt I believe. We pay for the production costs ... With the soaring costs of energy particularly diesel and petrol (gas) which in the UK is costing us about $8.50 a US gallon why do we continue to pay those costs while having local farmers and producers being forced out of business and laying off their workers and leaving little or no competition to the supermarkets who are now hiking up their prices.
And you need a car to get there and back.In the UK most supermarkets do not accept cheques (checks) any more, taking away the option of have 4 days free credit which could be very useful at the end of the month. Now it's cash, debit card or credit cards only and it's the cash and debit card payers who are paying up to 4% more to the supermarkets than credit card companies pay for the same purchases.In the UK we are seeing the introduction of do it yourself checkouts and staffing policies that force you to use them. Not only do you pay the same for the privilege but the supermarket can reduce its staffing levels taking more profit and making a necessary and unpleasant experience just that bit more unsatisfactory.The system seems to be conspiring against the poorest and those in debt are being squeezed to make ends meet.You've got to say to yourself that there must be a more transparent way to make a profit and pay fair wages without all this waste.
I'm not against capitalism as such but when you see lives being ruined and hopes dashed you begin to ponder.
We have followed our leaders' mantra of consume, buy, throw away, live like there is no tomorrow and finally there looks as if there might be no tomorrow. Or not a tomorrow that we look forward to.
Our politicians hunger for power but who among them will make any of our lives better. War, posturing, making a place for themselves in history. But what of you and me?
Who was the leader of Egypt when Moses led the Hebrews to the Promised land?
Who was the Caesar on Capitol Hill in Rome when Jesus Christ was crucified?
What memorable royal sat on a throne when Mohamed brought his message?
What great leader was in the world when the Buddha taught his practical advice?
It's ultimately the great teachers who give us a way of living and are not self serving or hungry for power who we remember. Perhaps there is sound advice in these teachings that would help us to remove the blight of debt from the world.]]> http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/tonydyer/274-some-books-i-have-found-useful-in-helping-me-solve-my-debt-issues.html http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/tonydyer/274-some-books-i-have-found-useful-in-helping-me-solve-my-debt-issues.html Tue, 12 Aug 2008 08:22:59 GMT What books would you recommend as a basic resource to manage your money? I've got a few that have helped me. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Classon I Can Make You Rich by Paul McKenna Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin (US) Your Money or Your Life by Alvin H... I've got a few that have helped me.
The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Classon
I Can Make You Rich by Paul McKenna
Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin (US)
Your Money or Your Life by Alvin Hall (UK)
Transforming Debt into Wealth Your plan for Achieving REAL Financial Independence by John M. Cummuta
As A Man Thinkest by James Allen.
Each has helped in a different way.
The Richest Man in Babylon explains the causes and cure that leads to money abundance in simple language in former and simpler times that allow the pulling away of irrelevant stuff like technology or money markets etc. So that you can understand the points being made. For me the read me idea is that you should pay yourself first a tenth of your income before anyone else. It is a key motivator to feel rewarded for your efforts.
I Can Make You Rich comes with an hypnosis CD which is a great motivation tool and I have found his advice on tackling emotional spending to be worth the cost of the book many hundreds of times over.
Both of the Your Money or Your Life books address overall attitudes and options for ensuring a financially secure future by looking at all aspects of your life. They are both good but I find the US book more homely.
The Transforming Debt into Wealth Your plan for Achieving REAL Financial Independence is a workbook that takes you through a process that will enable you to explore your current situation and take the necessary steps to solve your debt issues and come out the other end of the process a better and wealthier person.
The last choice,As A Man Thinkest, is not directly related to money but it is about how and what we think about is what tends to happen, If we dwell on debt then debt we shall have but if we think on wealth then our minds, being the clever things they are, will work away on the means to achieve wealth and it will begin to see opportunities that were always there but because of our negative thoughts we were blind to. It's not magic and it's not some secret only a few knew about and have made a living from. It's psychology and is now understood from a scientific verifiable basis.
Do you have any recommendations?]]> http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/tonydyer/266-need-to-know-if-youre-ready-to-take-action-on-your-debt.html http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/tonydyer/266-need-to-know-if-youre-ready-to-take-action-on-your-debt.html Thu, 24 Jul 2008 07:59:28 GMT Have you had the sleepless nights and the sweats? The realisation that you owe all that money and you see no end to the situation. I think that that is a common situation when you become aware of your debt issues. I've come across this model of behavioural change called the Transtheoretical Model... I think that that is a common situation when you become aware of your debt issues. I've come across this model of behavioural change called the Transtheoretical Model. It seems to explain how I've come to tackle my debt issues.
There are five stages and these are:
Pre-contemplation where people are not clued upto the issues and not sufficiently motivated to do anything yet.
Contemplation where people are better informed both for and against but are forever thinking about the issues. They procrastinate.
Preparation where people are committed to take action very soon.
Action where people take focused action to address their issues.
Maintenance where people are working to stop themselves falling back into old behaviour.
You need to work your way from one stage to the next. It's the way the human mind works apparently. You can't skip steps and you have to start at the beginning and the first stage is when you get the sleepless nights, etc. Until you know that you've got a problem your unlikely to do anything. Then you're swamped.
Stage two is when you try to find out as much information as you can about your situation and more and more info and you think and weigh up and evaluate and delay and the pressure builds up and up until…
Stage three when you work out a plan of action detailing the steps you hope to take to tackle the problem and through to stage four where you carry out your plan and see the results mount up over time and finally in stage five you have actions and tricks to keep you from returning to your old behaviours.
The Transtheoretical Model has been used to tackle debt reduction, to stop smoking and many other types of problem behaviours, It has proven to be very useful in helping people to understand the stage they are at and the stages they need to go through to be successful in their struggle to achieve their desired goal.
It's a broad model that still needs you to develop a detailed plan that suits the particular behaviour you are trying to beat.
Sites like this one are aimed at helping us develop and share actions that have or are working for each of us.
As for me I'm in the Preparation stage and starting some actions that I hope will help me succeed.]]> http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/tonydyer/263-in-the-beginning-.html http://www.destroydebt.com/blogs/tonydyer/263-in-the-beginning-.html Sat, 19 Jul 2008 06:22:01 GMT A journey of a thousand miles began with a single step. Attributed to Lao-tzu (c 604-c 531 bc), founder of Taoism. I suppose that like most people who come to this site I'm fed up with being in debt and for allowing myself to rationalise all the seemingly good reasons for running up credit card ... I suppose that like most people who come to this site I'm fed up with being in debt and for allowing myself to rationalise all the seemingly good reasons for running up credit card debt.
I've been complicit in being in debt and it's not just the banks and the advertisers. It's my fault and as soon as that was accepted the better I've felt. It puts me in control and that feels good.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not in over my head but I feel that I've wasted a lot of my income servicing debt and interest that could have been put in savings to cover that rainy day that comes to all of us. And you know that when I think about the rubbish that I've bought over the years in response to some advert or get rich quick scheme I shudder and wonder what state my finances would be in if I had been a bit more prudent.
Did I really need a new computer? Is a new car every two years a good use of money? The latest in satellite TV worth the money not to mention the time to watch those repeats of I Love Lucy? Are those expensive convenience meals all that convenient? How many pairs of shoes can I wear at a time? And on and on goes the list of questions that I asked myself and the answers were very revealing.
I've consumed a lot more than I've ever needed and it's not really brought me joy, only debt. I keep that expensive pen in its original box in case I lose it or break it or have it stolen. Or the shirt I keep good for the special occasion that never happens. Or I gain or lose weight and it never fits. Not at all what I had intended.
And what about all those wonderful gadgets that fill my kitchen drawers or cupboards. The slicers, dicers, juicers, grinders, microwave gizmos, food processors, bread-makers, rice cookers, and on and on.
My garage is cluttered with wonder tools galore and my bedroom is hiding my abandoned keep-fit equipment. And my loft; you know what's up there. Not only have I wasted money on buying such things, I pay for insurance to cover their possible loss. How mad is that?
Now I'm not intending to go all monastic and to take vows of poverty and abstinence. I want to bring back some sanity to my life and put me in control.
As a first step to achieving those goals I've opened an online savings bank account to hold my emergency fund and to allow me to pay myself first.
I've taken my first step in a journey that will hopefully end in a debt free me.]]>