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Dream Crushing Debt Podcast

Dream Crushing Debt Podcast

By Dustin

A place where we talk about all things money and budgeting. Get Dustin’s take on money management and become inspired to take control of your financial future!
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What is the best budgeting app?

Dream Crushing Debt PodcastFeb 04, 2019

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Labor Day! A Quote To End The 3-Day Weekend

Labor Day! A Quote To End The 3-Day Weekend

“It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Sep 02, 201907:45
Don’t Get Sucked Into “Good” Labor Day Sales

Don’t Get Sucked Into “Good” Labor Day Sales

We all love a good deal and who doesn’t want to save a bit money in the process of buying the things we want and need. However, some deals aren’t as good as they seem and some deals are designed purely to get you to spend money. For example, be wary of the ones like “Spend $100 and get free shipping.” Or “Spend $50 get $10 back.” Those are great if what you’re actually buying is going to cost more than that… but most of the time, it takes a lot to reach those minimums before you qualify for the special offer and you end up buying more than you needed and spent more than you had just so you could say you saved $10 at checkout.

Aug 31, 201911:07
Ask For A Lower Interest Rate On Your Credit Card

Ask For A Lower Interest Rate On Your Credit Card

If part of the debt your fighting is credit card debt, give your credit card company a call and let them know you’d like to negotiate your interest rate. It’ll take a bit of your time to make the call and work through any details, but you’d be surprised just what these companies are able and willing to do for their customers to keep them happy. With that said, keep in mind that the worst they are going to say is, “No.” So there is no reason to get upset if you can’t lower your interest rate… at least you tried. Always remember, you get more with sugar than you do salt… so be nice and be gracious with the outcome.

Aug 19, 201912:37
Side-Hustle Series: Downsize on Facebook Marketplace

Side-Hustle Series: Downsize on Facebook Marketplace

This might be a great idea of someone who seems to have the knack of selling things online. They know how to price things and handle negotiations. It’s a great way to de-clutter your space, but your might also start offering up your skill to others for a fee. I’ve done this before where I’ve offered to sell things for people at a 10% fee of the selling price. 

Aug 17, 201909:12
Side-Hustle Series: Dog walker, Dog sitter, Landscaping, Window Washing

Side-Hustle Series: Dog walker, Dog sitter, Landscaping, Window Washing

These are some side-hustles that can turn into some serious summer work. The only downside is you need to have the equipment to do the work. So there might be some upfront capital costs, but there are some great ideas that you can do to earn some extra money. (Lawn care, sprinkler installs, concrete pressure washing, etc) (Marketing tip: put a flyer on garbage can on trash day)

Aug 15, 201912:30
Side-Hustle Series: Deliver Food to People

Side-Hustle Series: Deliver Food to People

You might not be interested in doing airport runs for strangers or picking up late-night bar goers, but you can pickup food for people who are “too busy” to go get their own food. You can get up with services like Doordash, Grubhub, and UberEats. Walmart Grocery has even partnered with all the popular food delivery services to delivery groceries to their customers. Aside from these, there is also pizza delivery you can do to make some extra money through the tips you’ll earn.

Aug 13, 201911:32
Side-Hustle Series: Some Simple Ways to Earn Money

Side-Hustle Series: Some Simple Ways to Earn Money

With as often as we are on our phones, we might as well be productive by filling out surveys. There are lots of places out that will compensate you for your time in taking a survey to provide them with information. You can checkout places like SurveyJunkies and Inboxsurveys. These aren’t big money makers by any means, but a little extra here and there can add up to something big for you. When doing surveys, companies are looking for information for specific demographics to help them better understand how “working women in their 30’s” find time to go grocery shopping. 

Aug 11, 201908:23
Tips to running a marathon and achieving your dreams

Tips to running a marathon and achieving your dreams

DISMISS THE DISTRUCTIVE

  1. Never skip an aid station

- Update budget. Listen to inspirational podcasts. Take a break. Celebrate the small wins.

  1. Comparison and Complaining will kill you!

- Complaining is unattractive. The more you are critical of yourself, the less likely you’ll be able to recognize the good that is in you, and all around you.

- When we compare, we become arrogant and complacent. Meaning, we find reasons to be content.

  1. Never Stop! Make it to the finish line.
  2. There will come moments that seem so hard you can't go on.
    • The man or women who can drive them self further when the pain comes will win.
    • “There is no chance, no destiny, no fate, that can circumvent, or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” - Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Aug 09, 201912:25
"Pay the price today so you can pay any price tomorrow."

"Pay the price today so you can pay any price tomorrow."

“Pay the price today so you can pay any price tomorrow.” - Grant Cardone. Put the time and effort into things the first time. And stop wasting weekends on nonsense. — This quote showed up while scrolling through LinkedIn (again) from an article of what successful entrepreneurs would tell their 25 year old selfs. I think it would almost go without saying that “we would thank ourselves later”, but there is a balance in all things. If we spend our youthful days working so we can play later, or travel later or do whatever later... we might not be able to enjoy it later. 

Aug 07, 201908:19
How I went about buying my car

How I went about buying my car

It occurred to me that I after talking about car buying tips, I never shared with you how I went about buying my car. Inspired by Ramit Sethi, I found email address for all the dealerships I was willing to buy a car from and emailed them. 

Aug 05, 201909:42
Why You Should Automate Your Bill Payments

Why You Should Automate Your Bill Payments

At the end of the day, you’ll save yourself some money if you do this. First, auto bill pay is great because you’ll always have a payment on-time with no late fees attached. Second, some loans will give you a discount on your interest rate if you enroll in auto-pay. If you missed a payment (and it’s your first time), you can usually call your bank and have them forgive the late payment fee so long as you enroll in auto-pay. The worst they are going to say is, “No, we can’t do that.”

Aug 03, 201906:39
Don’t Buy Things You’ll Only Ever Use Once

Don’t Buy Things You’ll Only Ever Use Once

Don’t waste your money on something you’ll only ever use once. If it’s an absolute must, see if there are renting options available to save you some money. An example of this might be with a home improvement project that requires a specific tool. Don’t buy the tool (although all us guys want to), rent it and save money that way.

Aug 01, 201911:37
What Is Zero-Based Budgeting?

What Is Zero-Based Budgeting?

This is an interesting concept, and much lesser known one, when it comes to the topic of how to budget. However, basically this method is that income and expenses balance each other out each month to zero. Sound a bit confusing, well, think of it as every dollar you earn has a purpose or a place to go each month. There is no left over money at the end the month. 

Jul 30, 201909:31
Stop Guessing At Your Expenses! #budgetfail

Stop Guessing At Your Expenses! #budgetfail

One day at work, my first job out of college, I was sitting in a team meeting and the owner was discussing finances and where we were at with everything. After listening to him talk, I turned to my office manager and said, “I don’t know about you, but it doesn’t sound like he really knows where the money is going. Could you run me a P&L?” Shortly after that, I was let go because they could no longer afford to pay me. 

Jul 28, 201910:34
Do You Thrive On Community? Check out LIFE Leadership

Do You Thrive On Community? Check out LIFE Leadership

A few years ago I attended one of the LIFE Leadership conferences here in Salt Lake City and it was very motivational to say the least. There were some great keynote speakers and above all, a community of people all thriving on this concept of becoming financially free and taking control of not only that in your life, but every other area as well.

Jul 26, 201908:02
I’m Saving Money But I’m Not Making Progress

I’m Saving Money But I’m Not Making Progress

This is a common feeling and one I’m feeling right now. I’ve been starting to get down on myself because with all my effort to save money, it doesn’t feel like I’m getting anywhere. Then it occurred to me… I’ve spread myself out a bit to thin into multiple areas rather than just one. I’m saving for retirement, emergency funds, etc. 

Jul 24, 201911:17
A Millennial’s Way of Saving Money: Qapial App
Jul 22, 201910:41
Are Branded-Title Vehicles a Good Way To Save Money On a Car?

Are Branded-Title Vehicles a Good Way To Save Money On a Car?

There is a lot of risk involved in buying a branded vehicle from either private party or a dealership. Branded titles indicate that the car has been in some need of extensive repair simply because the insurance company did not “total” the car. You’re putting all your trust into someone who you hope did a good job repairing the car and didn’t cut corners to save a buck.

Jul 18, 201910:60
If It Has A Motor In It - It Should Only Be Worth HALF of Your Salary

If It Has A Motor In It - It Should Only Be Worth HALF of Your Salary

This is some great Dave Ramsey advice. It’s really easy to become car poor these days with the many options and variables. But, the rule of thumb is that all of your cars and recreational vehicles (anything with a motor) should add up to 50% of your salary if you’re making a payment on them. For a depreciating asset like this, you shouldn’t be spending all your money on something like this.

Jul 16, 201911:50
Life Is Full Of Trade Offs

Life Is Full Of Trade Offs

60 minutes working out: "I wish I had time"
60 minutes on Netflix: "Let's watch another!"

Therapist ($130): "Too Expensive"
Trip to Walmart ($130): "Good Deals"

Professional training course ($1000): "Can't afford it"
New iPhone ($1000): "A Necessity"

15 minutes meditating: "An eternity"
15 minutes on social media: "Time flies"

Life is full of trade-offs between short-term and long-term investments. This holds true whether the investment is in the form of time, money, or talent. Where do you want to be in 10 years?

LinkedIn Post by Benton Crane - CEO of Harmon Brothers

Jul 14, 201911:14
Roadblock: I need help! I need someone to show me the way.

Roadblock: I need help! I need someone to show me the way.

Well, you’re certainly listening to the right podcast for that. As the old saying goes, “Give a man a fish and he’ll eat for the night. Teach a man to fish and he’ll eat for a lifetime.” Or another one, “I can lead you to water, but I can’t make you drink it.” — All of these require some effort on your part to learn and to do.

Jul 12, 201910:04
Roadblock: Every time I think about a budget, I’m instantly overwhelmed.

Roadblock: Every time I think about a budget, I’m instantly overwhelmed.

Just knowing where to start is very daunting for sure! There are a lot of options out there that people have found success with. The best thing you could do is break it down and then focus on that one thing until you have all the information gathered together for that one thing. Move onto the next. Taking budgeting as a whole is rough - but piecing it together is a lot easier than you might think. Just take a deep breathe.

Jul 10, 201913:42
Roadblock: Just when I think I can pay off debt, something breaks or I have a big expense that happens and shoves me down.

Roadblock: Just when I think I can pay off debt, something breaks or I have a big expense that happens and shoves me down.

Yikes! Yes. This is a major roadblock and is sure to leave anyone defeated for sure. This was, in fact, my biggest fear of working towards paying off my student loans! I didn’t have a whole lot of room for error or surprises. But, that’s when a little forward thinking comes into play when you’re setting up your budget. You should be saving a tiny bit every month for your annual expenses. And, before you started tackling your debt, you should make your emergency fund priority number 1. You need to have money on hand to take care of bigger expenses.

Jul 08, 201911:40
Roadblock: My Friends Want to Do Things and I Hate to Say, “I Can’t.”

Roadblock: My Friends Want to Do Things and I Hate to Say, “I Can’t.”

This roadblock I can big-time relate to. For sure! Most of the time, when friends get together it’s bound to be a good time and who wants to miss out on that? (Aka: FOMO). But sometimes, there just isn’t the extra money to go and do all the time. Rather than being the one to wait for the invite, research some free (or nearly free) things you can do that all your friends can do with you. You’re still with your friends, but you’re not spending money. Here are some ideas: Hiking, Art-in-the-park, Movie night, Dinner party

Jul 06, 201912:44
Roadblock: I Was Never Taught, And My Family Always Spent Money

Roadblock: I Was Never Taught, And My Family Always Spent Money

This is something I can relate to, a little bit. It’s not that there wasn’t any effort from my parents to teach me out to budget and track my spending - because there was - but it just never seemed to apply to me. Not to mention at the time, online banking was becoming very popular. But, just because you were never taught or the principles didn’t quite apply while you were growing up, doesn’t mean we can’t learn something new today.

Jul 04, 201911:34
Roadblock: I Don’t Want Others to Know I’m In Debt

Roadblock: I Don’t Want Others to Know I’m In Debt

Generally speaking, we are all very hush on the topic of money. We don’t want unsolicited advice from others who think we should be managing our money differently. We don’t want our friends or family to question our ability to buy a new car or go on a trip somewhere. So why would we then open up about our debt? We want to take care of it quietly leaving everyone else none the wiser about our financial burdens.

Jul 02, 201910:45
Why I Think People Fail Creating A Budget

Why I Think People Fail Creating A Budget

There are 2 reasons I think people struggle with budgeting. 1) They still need to change their mindset about budgeting and essentially believe they have all that it will take to be successful with it. 2) They don't want to track their spending. They want to keep things as they are, but hope their financial woes will disappear simply because they have a budget. 

Jun 30, 201911:52
Why Can’t I Budget?

Why Can’t I Budget?

Budgeting is tough. There are so many different methods and approaches you can learn about. Each one claiming why their method is better than all the rest. In reality, what most fail to realize is that what works for one, doesn't mean it'll work for another. Yes, you need to look into different ways of budgeting, but you need to craft your own method of what works for you. Then do I believe you'll find success.

Jun 28, 201910:52
What Is It Like After Student Loans Are Paid Off?

What Is It Like After Student Loans Are Paid Off?

It's very surreal actually. Whether you're focused at paying them off or going at them with minimum payments, in any case they will have been around for years. They'll feel like they are a part of the family with has much as they hang around that once they are finally gone it is hard to believe. You've imagined your excitement anticipating such a day, but aren't quite sure you can believe it just yet.

Jun 26, 201915:13
How Long Does It Take To Pay Off Student Loans?

How Long Does It Take To Pay Off Student Loans?

Sadly, there is no set timeframe on this except for the set minimum payoff timeline that was established when you took out your loans. Which is typically has a payoff term similar to that of mortgages... 15-30 years. Paying them off sooner than that will depend largely on income and loan size. 

Jun 24, 201912:32
Where Is My Money Going?

Where Is My Money Going?

I started asking myself this question after college and started to sense the weight of my student loans. Where was my money going? I couldn't account for most of my spending and still felt like I had nothing to show for all the money I was making at the time. It felt like I was dazed, and confused about what was going on... and I hated that feeling. I didn't like not feeling in control.

Jun 22, 201913:16
What is the easiest way to track spending?

What is the easiest way to track spending?

What might be easy for me, might not be the easiest or most efficient way for you. Everyone is different and some budgeting methods might come more naturally to you than they do for me. Which is okay, but until you explore or at the very least research into different ways, you'll never be able to find what works for you. For me, I use Mint.com to track my spending because it links to my bank accounts.

Jun 20, 201912:15
What Is The Best Way to Save For Annual Bills?

What Is The Best Way to Save For Annual Bills?

Using a spreadsheet, I've listed out all of my annual bills (and even my semi-annual bills) and then added them all up. That gives me a total for the year, and then in another cell, I enter a basic math formula that divides that total by 12. I know have a number I save every month into my savings account automatically. 

Jun 18, 201911:59
Jump out of your comfort zone

Jump out of your comfort zone

Wow! This can be really hard sometimes. You probably already feel that you’re out of your comfort zone and can’t possibly handle any more than you are. That’s okay, but growth and change will only come when we keep putting ourselves out there - whether by our own choice, or someone else’s.

Jun 16, 201910:43
Why is self talk important?

Why is self talk important?

This is script we are using to frame our lives and guide are actions. When we are negative and doubt, we respond to life in that way. When we believe that we can do hard things, then we start to accomplish the impossible.

Jun 14, 201912:37
How to Celebrate on a Dime: Part 2

How to Celebrate on a Dime: Part 2

Throwing a party can be stressful, especially when you aim to impress. However, I have learned that most people just like getting together and are more than willing to bring something to contribute to the party if you just ask. But you have to have a plan and be organized - the less thinking people have to do, the more likely they will contribute freely. 

Jun 12, 201911:38
How to Celebrate on a Dime: Part 1

How to Celebrate on a Dime: Part 1

How to celebrate a birthday without breaking the bank. Especially when celebrating a birth week. Going out to eat is often the least stressful way to celebrate, which means you might be eating out a lot around the week of your birthday. To save money, be sure to sign up for the different birthday clubs at your favorite places so that you can get free or discounted meals. 

Jun 10, 201905:16
How to Buy Gifts On A Budget

How to Buy Gifts On A Budget

Buying gifts in the first place can be difficult, especially if the person you’re buying for isn’t very good at dropping hints at what they would like to have. However, if you have time to plan and shop, you buy gifts on budget. What I like to do is set a budget... whatever it is I’m comfortable spending for that individual and then decide what it is I want to buy for them. Once I’ve figured that out, I go to DealNews.com and search for current deals, or create an alert for future deals. 

Jun 08, 201911:55
Keep it Simple and Still Play Hard

Keep it Simple and Still Play Hard

I love the summer time. There are so many different things you can do outside with your family and friends that will cost you next to nothing. I did things like float the river. Ride bikes along the Greenbelt. Attend local festivals and other events that were free to get in. 

Jun 06, 201912:05
How Do I Afford To Travel?

How Do I Afford To Travel?

Traveling can be addicting and just as expensive. Without careful planning, any trip or vacation could seriously hinder your financial goals because things cost more than you were expecting and all your spontaneous spending went on the credit card. Wherever you go, you need to create a plan of what you want to do and research how much it’ll cost.

Jun 04, 201916:09
Plan Now For The Holidays

Plan Now For The Holidays

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years seem to happen all at once! But planning ahead can really make a difference in being able to afford the travel, the food, the gifts, and all the festivities. Even having a quiet holiday season can cost a little bit of money. The key to planning for the holidays is to give yourself plenty of time to save smaller amounts of money. 

Jun 02, 201915:17
How to Budget and Plan For Summer Fun?

How to Budget and Plan For Summer Fun?

With Memorial Day still in the rear view mirror, all of the pools and water parks are officially open - Summer is here! Here are some great ways you can still have all the fun in the sun while not breaking the bank. 1) Buy season passes on discount to water parks. 2) Do BBQs with neighbors to save money on all that great food. 3) Search on Groupon for discounted events or on Facebook for the events calendar for neighborhood or community events. 4) Make a list of what you want to do for next year.

May 31, 201910:57
I Can’t Get Out of Debt On My Own

I Can’t Get Out of Debt On My Own

I think it’s important to believe that this is a myth and a mental roadblock. What is your roadblock? What is holding you back from even just believing that you’re capable of getting out of debt? Once we are able to identify that (even if it’s multiple things) then we are address them one by one. And I’d love to hear from you what you feel your roadblocks are.

May 29, 201916:11
Getting Out of Debt- TIP #5- Go Gazelle (As Dave Would Say)

Getting Out of Debt- TIP #5- Go Gazelle (As Dave Would Say)

It’s time to dive in head first, or at least with both your feet. At this point, you have a budget and you’ve already identified different things you can do or change to create some extra money for you each month. It’s just a matter of putting it all into practice. Spend a weekend make whatever adjustment are needed and setup whatever automatic banking you can so you don’t have to think about it anymore. 

May 27, 201910:39
Getting Out of Debt: TIP #4: Let it Soak In

Getting Out of Debt: TIP #4: Let it Soak In

You probably weren’t expecting me to just say, “Take a chill! Soak up some sun.” Well, I am. Before committing to big lifestyle changes, it’ll be worth the time spent thinking through everything. This isn’t a time for doubt or to give up, it’s a time to reflect on you imagining yourself living this new way of life. The budgeted life. Once you can see yourself living this way... you have that mental game plan... the break time is over. It’s go time!

May 25, 201913:16
Getting Out of Debt: TIP #3: Add Up Your Extra Money

Getting Out of Debt: TIP #3: Add Up Your Extra Money

Getting out of debt sooner than later relies 100% on the amount of extra money you’re able to put towards your debt every month. This tip basically requires you to add it all up. How much extra money do you have from your paycheck every month, and how much could you have after making those adjustments. How much do you have? How much faster will you be able to pay off your debt with it?

May 23, 201910:44
Getting Out of Debt: TIP #2: Find Spending Adjustments

Getting Out of Debt: TIP #2: Find Spending Adjustments

Now that you’ve created a budget, meaning, you’ve setup some spending categories and now know how much you’ve been spending in each of them. It’s time to evaluate what you’ve been spending money on and if there are any adjustments that can be made to save some money. This could be realizing that gym membership you forgot you had. IMPORTANT NOTE: For this tip, or step, don’t take action right away on anything. You’re just making a list of things you could cut out, or make an adjustment to.

May 21, 201916:55
Getting Out of Debt: TIP #1: Create a budget

Getting Out of Debt: TIP #1: Create a budget

Creating a budget is no easy task. Don’t let anyone fool you if they are saying otherwise. The most important thing you need to figure out is which method you’re going to use to track your spending. You might even have to try a few before deciding which budgeting system works for you. Once you’ve figured out what works for you, you need setup some basic spending categories that every bit of spending can be tracked in. Even using previous transactions, you start to figure out how much you spend in each category and put a limit on it. This is going to be a tremendous step, but the most important as it will establish the foundation for everything else. 

May 19, 201919:11
5 Tips to Getting Out of Debt

5 Tips to Getting Out of Debt

Knowing where to get started is tough, but if you can do these things, you’ll find success: 1) Create a budget. Know where your money is going. 2) Find areas you can make adjustments to with where you are spending money. 3) Add up how much extra money you have. 4) Let it soak in and take a deep breath. 5) Go gazelle (as Dave would say).

May 17, 201913:38
What can I sell to get out of debt?

What can I sell to get out of debt?

Oh man. What do you have?! Honestly, selling of random things is great for the sprint, but not the marathon. Sell your couch, but where will you sit? Sell your car, but how will you get to work? I believe its less about what we are able to sell as much as it what we are able to change or switch out that will help us get out of debt faster.

May 15, 201912:19