In the Beginning There Was Cash

My name is Dennis and I'm in debt.  There, I've said it, own it and claim it as mine and mine alone. Who knew that making this declaration would change my life for the better?

I was born in 1975 - so if you do the math, you'll know how old I am.  That's the simple form of math. The type of math I find fun and challenging in all of the good ways.  As a kid, as well as today, I love doing simple calculations the old fashioned way.  So why has it been so difficult for me to calculate my finances and keep myself out of debt?

As a kid, we had nothing to use except cash. There was no other option. There were no payday loans. There were no credit scores. There was no debt.  You either had the money or you didn't. What was so wrong with just using cash? Sure, kids have their wants for "things" but if you didn't have the money, you saved for it. Times were simpler and less stressful then.  Then we become adults.  Adults who want even bigger "things" that cost more money. We also want to keep up with an appearance of ourselves we've created or allowed people to create for us. Sometimes keeping up with the Jones' isn't really keeping up.

With this blog, I am chronicling my journey of climbing out of the black hole of debt that I've dug for myself and providing resources I've found helpful. I will also share my own insight of what I might have done differently and what I'm doing now to make progress to my financial goals.

What are my goals?

1. Be free of all credit debt in 3 years.
2. Develop opportunities for additional income. 
3. Begin a savings account. 
4. Educate others on student loan and credit card debt.

Entries to this blog will occur at least once per month. Stay tuned for the January 2013 debut.