I was very upfront with the banker, telling him everything about our credit card debt, and our enrollement in debt consolidation plan. After reviewing our information, including our income and debts he thought we had a good chance at being able to get the interest rate lowered on our line of credit.

The bureau just released two bulletins for the industry, reminding debt collectors to avoid misleading consumers about how paying off debts will impact their credit worthiness, credit reports and credit scores.

I can say now that it was the best financial decision my wife and I have ever made, but at the time it wasn't so cut and dried. Although I'm rather transparent about our journey here in the CareOne Community, we kept it a secret from our friends and family for a very long time. 

Between your credit card and insurance policies, you could save yourself some serious money on travel insurance.

Paying back our credit card debt through our monthly program payment took a huge chunk of money out of our budget. We are constantly looking for ways to cut costs and save money.

Those were the days before strip malls, WalMart super centers and even indoor malls. Absolutely everyone gathered for late night shopping each Friday and we all knew the store owners and workers by their first names.  

Once we make that last payment, we gain control over our money for the very first time in our adult lives.

Those we've got in the bag. But there are a lot of lesser-known actions that can affect your financial situation, too. In fact, there are some that are just downright strange. And not knowing about them could get you into trouble, financially speaking.

The appraisal came in roughly where we thought it would, and we were full steam ahead.  Our banker then dealt us a blow by telling us that our ability to move forward depended upon underwriting approving our mortgage application.  If we were approved, the appraisal fee would be returned at closing.

Start by FOCUSING on the changes you feel you may be able to make quickly.  Don't take on too much at first. 

Over the last year, I've honed those skills and learned some new skills to keep our weekly grocery bill on point.

Some people have a penchant for recklessly spending cash. Others have no control with credit cards.

For the last eighteen months I've been hoping that the van will make it until we complete the program, so that we'd be in a better financial state to buy a new vehicle.  It was almost a foregone conclusion that we would make the last payment, hang up the phone, and drive immediately to a dealership to pick out a new vehicle. Now that we're almost there, I could care less about having a new van. I just want this one to last as long as possible. 

If you are still reeling from the holiday shopping and have sworn off spending any more money, you might want to reconsider to take advantage of some super discounted sales during the month of January. 

If a person's goal is to save more money, or stop wasting their money on a perceived unnecessary expense, they have to take action to achieve their goal. 

Your library card is the most valuable card in your wallet.  

That trend is seemingly reversing now, and we want to get rid of the interest-only second mortgage and get everything locked into a fixed-rate loan.  As my wife and I pulled into the bank parking lot, she asked me a very valid question:  Can we even refinance while enrolled in a debt consolidation program?

Let me rephrase that:  2014 is most definitely going to be a spectacular year.  2014 is the year that we finish our debt consolidation program.

Knowing that money was tight, I would just plug my ears, close my eyes and hope that it would go away.  Have you ever not updated your checkbook register for such a long time that you just turn the page, write down the current balance and start over?

Here are 3 of the best reasons to stick with your debt reduction plan.

As the tears start rolling down my face, it is hard to read what I am writing. Maybe that is a good thing.

Instead of cutting things, I try to find a way to come up with extra cash.

Here are seven unsatisfying but necessary travel expenses you need to budget or account for when planning your next trip.

As I look back at the last four and a half years, I was able to break down my debt consolidation experience into four different and distinct time periods and the feelings that came with them.

Her basic attitude has been that I am a killjoy, and she seems to think I overstate how hard it is to live on a tight budget. Since she spends so much time with us it has created some struggles. Well . . . let's face it: we have had some fights.