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A Straight Talk on Debt A Straight Talk on Debt gives you the real deal on debt, straight from our employees and personal finance experts. Learn more about debt relief plans and how to be financially fit. 2825
CareOne Debt Discussions The employees of CareOne Services, Inc. understand debt, many have experienced their own personal debt challenges. Learn more about why the employees of CareOne understand what it is like to struggle financially. 678
Entrepreneurial Money Management Marci talks about the financial issues & concerns business owners’ face when running their own company. 55
Life Balance Nora and Tim help you find balance when dealing with a stressful debt situation. Learn how to manage stress and enjoy travel without breaking the bank. 778
Major Life Challenges Blog Series We are taking a closer look at some of the big issues we all can face in our lifetime. Each topic will be featured as a blog series. 127
My Journey out of Debt Featured customers currently enrolled in a CareOne Debt Relief Plan, share journey to become debt-free; hear how they juggle family, finances, and more. 2874
Savvy Spending Savvy Spender knows how to pinch a penny and about being on a budget. She has learned great ways to save money on everyday expenses. 197
  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    Name Brand vs. Store Brand Coffee Taste Test

    • 12 Comments

    Unable to locate it, she grabbed a box of the store brand that had just recently become available and put it in the cart.   

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  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    I'm on a DSP, My Creditors Keep Calling and Harassing Me. What Should I Do?

    • 11 Comments

    This month's question reflects on the harassing collection calls you may be receiving.

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  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    I'm on a DMP, Can You Explain Track My Progress and Why My Balances Are Increasing?

    • 11 Comments

    This month's question reflects on using the Track My Progress gadget.

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  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    I'm on a DMP, Why was my Payment Taken Out Early?

    • 11 Comments

    This month's question reflects on your CareOne payment.

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  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    Creditors Keep Calling Me: What Are My Rights?

    • 11 Comments

    As a debtor you do have rights. Creditors and collection companies are legally not allowed to contact you with reckless abandon. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act was put in place to protect debtors from creditor harassment. Below is an outline of what creditors are allowed to do and what to do

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  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    How Much Longer Will my Mini-Van Last?

    • 11 Comments

    However, that magical number of 100,000 miles weighs heavily on my wife as she has an increasing perception that it may break down at any time.

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  • My Journey out of Debt

    Changing Jobs While Enrolled in the Debt Management Plan

    • 11 Comments

    While from a pay perspective this is a lateral move, from a "happiness" or "fulfillment" perspective, this is an excellent move for Vonnie and our family.

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  • My Journey out of Debt

    Who Knew Dance Recitals Were so Expensive

    • 10 Comments

    We've done this for a few years now, and know how much this preparation can cost; we have found ways to make it as inexpensive as possible:

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  • My Journey out of Debt

    $5 Lunch for Two, at a Restaurant!

    • 10 Comments

    Looking through the menu, all the sports bar staples were present: wings, ribs, chicken, wraps, and burgers. Looking further, I saw that the prices looked pretty much on par with any other restaurant. I started to think that I was in for one of those disappointing post meal stare downs with the bill.

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  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    14 Things I Learned on Debt Management

    • 10 Comments

    As my graduation day quickly approaches, I sit back and reflect on the things I have learned over the 34 months that I have been enrolled in my CareOne Debt Management Plan (DMP).

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  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    Organizing Your Finances Doesn't Have to be Complicated

    • 10 Comments

    I was then informed that the rest of the day should be spent putting seasonal decorations into color-coded bins, collecting tools from the garage shelves and putting them back into my toolbox, cleaning our  closet out and putting everything back in an orderly and easy to find fashion, and sorting and organizing the "junk" drawer in the kitchen  again.

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  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    Riding the Debt Relief Roller Coaster

    • 10 Comments

    Vonnie and I have been climbing the hill of a debt relief roller coaster inch by inch, dollar by dollar, for three years and four months. Like a roller coaster rider, eyes closed, we listened to the steady click, clack of the car wondering if the ride would get stuck. Wondering if we would ever reach the top. Wondering if it would ever end.

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  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    How Much Would You Pay For a Haircut?

    • 10 Comments

    However, for a wife with long, luxurious locks, a teenage son, and a young daughter that is already very aware of self-image, things are not as simple.

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  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    Challenge Yourself to a Money-Free Weekend

    • 10 Comments

    My husband and I discussed some ways we could try to stretch our retirement dollars and the idea of money-free weekends was one of those things. It turned out to be quite a lot of fun, so I want to share with you and challenge you to try a money-free weekend.

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  • My Journey out of Debt

    We’ve Been in Your Shoes – Employee Spotlight Ricky Jackson

    • 10 Comments

    At that time that look just made me feel worse, I didn't want pity, I wanted help.

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  • My Journey out of Debt

    The Pizel Family Ornament Tradition

    • 10 Comments
    Some friends of ours invited us down to their house to hang out and watch a movie. As we sat in their living room, I stared at their Christmas tree and the brilliant colors coming from the branches. Something was different than I had remembered. After having a quick conversation, I found out that our friends had replaced the rather expensive lights they'd purchased the year before that played music along with certain light patterns. They bought an entire new coordinated set of ornaments to use instead. We haven't spent more than $5 in any single year on new Christmas decorations since we purchased our artificial tree five years ago. When we purchased our artificial tree, my wife said she'd like to get rid of the glass ornaments that we had because...
  • My Journey out of Debt

    Halfway Home!

    • 10 Comments

    As I slowed to a walk after grabbing an energy drink, I came to the realization that while I had reached the midway point relatively close to my goal, it had taken every ounce of energy I had to do so.

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  • Life Balance

    Full-Time Travel is Cheaper than Staying in One Place

    • 10 Comments

    This post isn't (necessarily!) to convince you to travel full-time; instead hopefully it will help you understand the ever-increasing trappings of the "comfortable" life so you can make decisions accordingly.

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  • A Straight Talk on Debt

    Share The Wealth: Enter Today!

    • 10 Comments

    Enter our monthly Share the Wealth contest, and tell us your solution to some of life's challenges-your answer could win you a $250 gift card!

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  • My Journey out of Debt

    7 Financial Tips I Picked up From the Wealthy

    • 10 Comments

    I think we can learn quite a bit from the wealthy when it comes to priorities and money.  They know where to put it, how to invest it, but more importantly, where not to spend it.

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  • My Journey out of Debt

    There IS Light at the End of This Tunnel!

    • 10 Comments

    For those of you with me, those who are getting closer and closer to the goal of wiping out this debt, please take a moment with me and enjoy the feeling of knowing that this day is coming.

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  • My Journey out of Debt

    Retirement – What Comes Next?

    • 10 Comments

    My main objective was to simplify my lifestyle and stop to smell the roses along the way.  It's been nine years since I retired and I'm very happy.  I feel my road map to retirement made all the difference. 

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  • My Journey out of Debt

    Eating GOOD For Less

    • 10 Comments

    Our population is increasing but our farmland is decreasing. Not that long ago families in American actually grew their own foods. Yes, I know it may be shocking to some of us, but people used to be self-sustaining and we may need to do it again in the near future.

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  • My Journey out of Debt

    The Credit Card Battle

    • 10 Comments

    As a DMP graduate going on almost three years of being debt free, I was very surprised when I checked my credit score and saw it had dropped about 50 points from the year before. The reason? One of my long-term credit cards, which was not on the CareOne plan, was closed. I didn't include it on the DMP because I had no balance on it, and had cut up the card a year before I started the plan. 

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  • Single and Settling In

    What Have I Gotten Myself Into?

    • 10 Comments
    From my first post you know a little about how I got here – in debt that is. Any of it sound familiar? Living beyond our means, spending more when we start to make more? Never saving for a “rainy day”? We aren’t alone, seems our country is right there with us, but that is a topic for later on! You’ve got a choice though, but you have to be ready to take it and it is a fine line of when that is. If you take a step to help yourself before you are ready to commit, you are going to fall back into your old patterns. If you take a step after it is too late, you are in desperate mode and in no shape to help yourself. Kind of like dating! I knew it was time for me to get some help when I was out of options. I did the debt consolidation loan (a couple of times) and still thought it best to continue to use my credit cards – didn’t work so well. I did the line of credit on my mortgage, not only did I continue to use the cards, but now the value of my house has dropped dramatically because of the housing market being the way it is, so I have no equity in my home…nice choice on my part. ...
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