Debt-Proof Your Christmas by Mary Hunt

Debt-Proof Your Christmas: Celebrating the Holidays without Breaking the Bank

About the Book

Have a Very Debt-Proof Christmas

By Mary Hunt

978-0-8007-2143-5

$12.99

Paperback

240pages

Pub Date: September 2012

Christmas may be the most wonderful time of year, but it’s also one of the most stressful and most expensive. Americans spend billions, crafting the perfect holiday season complete with lavish meals, new decorations and the latest, greatest gadgets and fashions for everyone on their gift list. Most don’t think about the hefty price tag until the credit card bill comes in January, and many will go thousands of dollars deeper into debt to finance the perfect holiday season.

For anyone who wants to have a less stressful, more joyful holiday season and celebrate without breaking the bank, syndicated personal finance columnist Mary Hunt is here to help.

“Here’s my challenge for you,” writes Hunt. “This Christmas, lock up the credit cards and let me show you how to experience the best Christmas ever with no debt, less stress, and more joy!”

In Debt-Proof Your Christmas Hunt helps readers assess their financial situation, commit to no new debt and think creatively about their gift list. With her guidance, readers will identify what has caused them to overspend in the past and approach this holiday season with a plan and a new attitude toward holiday spending. This just might be the best gift you can give yourself and your family.

Though it may be a little too late to read Mary's book and implement her ideas for this year; however,  start early for the years to come.  Mary gives practical and wonderful advice.  You couldn't ask for more simple ideas.  I'm an easy simple person.  It may take some time to recondition your way of thinking, but Hunt shares many many ideas in her book.  I just can't say enough about how I totally enjoyed reading Debt-Proof your Christmas.  She not only shares ways to make your Christmas debt free, but also ideas for finding bargains, making from your garden, kitchen and putting things in a jar.  Hunt shares ways to make traditions in your family and she even has written ideas from others that have willing shared with her what they do.  This is a book that once you get it you'll have instant ideas right at your finger tips.  You'll grab it every chance you get for reference. 

 Like to have more sneak peak at inside check it out @ CBD

About the Author

Mary Hunt is an award-winning and bestselling author, syndicated columnist and sought-after motivational speaker who created a global platform that is making strides to help men and women battle the epidemic impact of consumer debt. She is founder and publisher of the interactive website Debt-Proof Living, which features financial tools, resources and information for her online members. Her books have sold more than a million copies and her daily newspaper column is nationally syndicated through Creators Syndicate and is enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of Everyday Cheapskate readers. Hunt speaks widely on personal finance and has appeared on shows such as Good Morning America, Oprah, Dr. Phil and Focus on the Family. She and her husband live in California.

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“Available September 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

A copy of this book was provided in exchange for my honest review by... 

Living with Financial Freedom by Matt Bell

Money and Marriage: 
Living With Financial Freedom

By Matt Bell

For many couples, money is a tough topic. But there’s one financial issue that, like no other, causes financial discomfort among couples and raises the chances for financial fights: debt.

Take Off the Shackles

The Bible says, “The borrower is servant to the lender.” Living as a servant to a lender isn’t wise for any of us, but it’s especially problematic in marriage.

Researcher Jeffrey Dew at Utah State University has found that not only does consumer debt (credit card debt and other installment loans) fuel a sense of financial unease among couples and increase the likelihood that they will argue about money, but “this financial unease casts a pall over marriages in general, raising the likelihood that couples will argue over issues other than money and decreasing the time they spend with one another.”

Dew’s research shows that newlyweds that take on substantial consumer debt become less happy in their marriages over time. On the other hand, newly married couples that pay off their consumer debt within their first five years of marriage are more satisfied with their marriage. Those findings held up no matter whether couples were rich or poor.

Whose Debt Is It?

How couples approach their debt is important as well.

When Scott and Karen got married, Karen brought $50,000 of non-mortgage debt into the marriage. Scott jokingly referred to it as a reverse dowry.

One of the things I love about their story is that from the earliest days of their marriage, whenever Karen would talk about “my” debt, Scott would correct her by saying is was “our” debt. Now there’s a guy who is committed to financial oneness.

One other notable part of their story is that their faith-based convictions motivated them to give away 10 percent of their income throughout their journey of getting out of debt. Karen remembered seeing their year-end giving statement, and thinking, ‘Gee, we could have gotten out of debt so much faster if we had put that money toward our debts.” And she remembers hearing other people’s stories of unexpected blessings they felt came about because of their giving. “I started wondering where’s my cool story?” she said.

Six-and-a-half years after getting married, Scott and Karen made their last debt payment. It was a day neither one of them will ever forget. “It was amazing,” Karen says. “We felt like it was a hard road we had traveled, but we did it, and we did it in a God-honoring way. We are 100 percent debt-free.”

Scott will soon be able to retire with a full pension at a much younger age than most people, having put in over twenty years as a Chicago firefighter. They’re thinking about getting an RV and spending a year traveling the country.

Sounds pretty cool to me.

Be Done With Debt ASAP

If you are engaged or newly married, make it one of your highest financial priorities to get out of debt and then live the rest of your lives with no debt other than a reasonable mortgage (One that requires no more than 25% of monthly household gross income to pay for the combination of your mortgage, taxes, and insurance).

Put together a spending plan that enables you to maximize debt repayment. You may find it helpful to use the recommended spending plans found in the “Money, Purpose, Joy,” workbook, which contains detailed plans for four different size households across nine different annual incomes.

Very often, when couples get married they get excited about all that they’ll be able to afford with two incomes. But I encourage all newly married couples to base their lifestyle mostly on one income. It’s the single most helpful step you can take to prepare for children since it makes it much easier for one spouse to choose to step out of the paid workforce if that’s their desire.

If you have debt, it’s especially important to live mostly on one income so you can use the other income to get out of debt. Doing so will make all the difference in helping you build a solid financial foundation and live with financial freedom.

Matt Bell is the author of three personal finance books published by NavPress, including his latest: “Money & Marriage: A Complete Guide for Engaged and Newly Married Couples.” Matt leads workshops throughout the country and blogs at www.MattAboutMoney.com.

  Read this book tour and my review here.

A copy of this book was provided for this review by... Litfuse

Learning to Live Financially Free by Curt & Marybeth Whalen

About the Book:

(North Carolina) - The fear and reality of tough economic times, foreclosures, bailouts, bankruptcies and falling stocks strike fear in the hearts of many Americans today. With investors, newscasters and bankers giving advice, who can you trust? Marybeth and Curt Whalen share their financial successes and failures in their new book, Learning to Live Financially Free: Hard-Earned Wisdom for Saving Your Marriage & Your Money. If a family parenting six children can get out of debt and live financially free, anyone can. The Whalens readily admit they made their share of mistakes the first ten years of marriage. Becoming more disciplined and intentional in spending and saving helped them learn valuable lessons for better financial stewardship--lessons you'll want to learn too.

Learning to Live Financially Free not only focuses on building a stronger financial understanding in the home, but also encourages couples to communicate, thus building better, stronger marriages. The Whalens clearly comprehend the need for careful money management and commitment in marriage. Money-strapped families will find peace of mind as they begin the process of becoming financially responsible and debt-free.

About the Authors:

Marybeth Whalen is a speaker and contributing writer for Proverbs 31 Ministries. The author of For the Write Reason, Marybeth has also written for Parent Life, Money Matters newsletter, The Old Schoolhouse, Hearts at Home magazine, and Homeschooling Today. She contributes regularly to the daily online devotions of Proverbs 31 Ministries.

Curt Whalen is a trained financial counselor through Crown Financial Concepts. He has years of experience helping couples establish budgets, solve financial problems, and learn to communicate more effectively. He has written articles for TEACH Magazine and Money Matters Newsletter and has contributed to books by authors Lysa TerKeurst and Melanie Chitwood.

Head over to my author fun post click here for some money saving tips by our authors and a grand giveaway which will include this book plus other goodies.

This blog tour is through: