We were featured on Good Morning America!
I started this blog to share my experience with my family’s debt. As I find ways to help eliminate it, I want to share that information in hopes to help someone else in a similar situation. We started our Debt Discipline journey in June of 2010 when we hit rock bottom with over $109,000 worth of debt. At that time, I had to come to grips with the fact that we could not afford a family vacation, and we had maxed out all five of our credit cards. We were living well beyond our means.
I’m not sure we were ever educated on how to handle credit properly. Although my parents seemed to manage okay, financial education was never a topic of dinner table conversation.
Fast Forward to September of 2014 we are debt-free! Paying off $109,000, in 50 months, two months ahead of our goal and it feels great! We shifted gears and now turned our attention to building wealth. Our goals are set on a fully-funded emergency fund, retirement savings, and college funds for our three children.
In early 2015, we took a bit of a step backward, after being downsized from my IT position with a company I was with for over twenty years. It was a bit of a shock, but luckily we had our finances in order, and an emergency fund in place, because if we did not, it would have been a stressful situation.
In 2016 I landed a new role with a better work-life balance. We track our money each month via our net worth updates, using tools like personal capital and Excel to track our progress. We continue to be prepared our children for their financial futures. Teaching them not to make the same mistakes we have made with money.
Our twins are currently in their junior year of college. My son is studying computer science and my daughter’s digital art and social media. My daughter recently started a 6-month internship with Disney.
They have been working part-time jobs for over three years, and both have good savings accounts. Both work full-time each summer. Our youngest son, a senior, in high school, just landed his first part-time job. Before working, he used side hustles when there was a big-ticket item he wanted, and he’s also volunteered his time over the last few years.
Since we are at this point in our financial lives, I have begun to help others with their money. I have coached many family and friends, initiated a financial wellness program at my former company, and I’m a committee chair on my local school board.
A full K-12 personal financial literacy curriculum for a student body of 6000 students has completed its second year of operation. It will continue next school year. The financial literacy committee is finalizing a proposal to be reviewed by our school’s board of education to add a half-year financial literacy class to our district. The goal is to make it a local graduation requirement, so all students received financial literacy education.
I have also begun speaking and sharing our own story with debt at libraries and High Schools to educate others.
About Me
I’m a Dad, husband, and an IT professional by trade. I’ve been described as being sarcastic, funny, cranky, moody, and some other four-letter words I’d rather not write here. Laughter and sarcasm rule our home. I’m a pet person, too. I love animals, especially dogs. We have two Shiba Inu’s, Mushu and Meeko.
I’ve been working professionally for 25 years. I want my three children to handle money better than I ever have, and have been teaching them as much as I can. My goal is to continue to champion the financial literacy message to anyone who will listen. I hope my and my family’s story will inspire and motivate you to take control of your money.
How Can This Blog Help You?
The goal of the blog is to share stories that someone in debt can learn from to help improve their financial situation. I share content and information I believe will help improve your financial IQ.
Want to Work With Me?
If you’re interested in collaborating visit my work with me page here, and we can discuss further. I look forward to hearing from you!
I’ve been featured on:
Expert Opinion @ Rentcafe – Managing Your Finances during the Pandemic
Expert Opinion @ Reviews.com – Best Car Insurance for 2020
Interview @ Mastering the Side Jam – Blogging to Make Extra Money – Side Jam Interview #7
Expert Interview @ U.S. News – How This Family of 5 Paid Off $109,000 in Debt in 4 Years
Financial Literacy Interview @ Enwealthen – Debt Discipline / Financial Literacy Chronicles
Podcast Interview @ The Money Nerd Podcast – 9 – Brian Paid Off $109,000 Of Debt In 50 Months
Guest Post @ The Frugal Farmer.net – The Power of Debt Freedom: Brian’s Story
Interview @ Bad Credit.org – Tips for Household Budgeting from A Family That Overcame $100k of Debt
Guest Post @ brokeGirlrich – Debt Profiles: Brian’s Story
Interview @ Couples Money – Paying Off Almost $100k Of Debt as a family
Guest Post @ VOSA – What Jury Duty Taught me about Personal Finance
The Saturday Weekend Review #89 @ Canadian Budget Binder – Making a difference
Podcast Interview @ Couple Money Podcast – Episode 001: Paying Off Your Debt faster as a Couple
Interview @ Business Insider – How This Family Got Into $109,000 Of Credit Card Debt While Earning 6 Figures — And Paid It Off In 4 Years
Debt Success Stories @ Well Kept Wallet – How One Family Paid off Nearly $110,00 in Credit Card Debt
Podcast Interview @ Debt Free Divas – Success Over 6 Figure Debt
Where are they now? @ Yahoo Finance – The most inspiring personal finance stories of 2014
Interview @ A Debt Free Stress-Free Life – We Quit Credit Cards {How Brian from Debt Discipline Paid Off 109K of Debt in 50 Months}
Interview @ Family Balance Sheet – Debt Free Story Real Life Stories that Motivate & Inspire
Interview @ FruClassity – Debt Freedom: There Are No “Impossible” Situations
Interview @ Frugalwoods – Frugal Hound Sniffs: Debt Discipline
Interview @ Nerd Wallet – Clear Purpose Keeps Couple on Track to Erase Debt
Expert Opinion @ Huffington Post – The Weirdest Thing I Did to Save Money
Expert Opinion @ Huffington Post – 37 Ways Dads Can Make and Save More Money
Podcast Interview @ SoMoney – Episode 221
Podcast Interview @ His & Her Money – How Brian Brandow Paid off $109,000 of Debt to Become Debt Free
Expert Opinion on Debt @ Debt Round Up – 39 of the Best Financial Tips to Start the New Year
Expert Opinion on Net Worth @ Rockstar Finance – Why 185 Bloggers Are Sharing Their Net Worth
Featured Article @ San Diego Financial Literacy Center – Cutting Expenses and Earning More Income, the One-two Punch to Financial Success
Featured Article @ Debt Wave – Which Credit Cards Should You Pay Off First? Lowest Balance or Highest Interest Credit Cards?
Featured Article @ Debt Wave – How Credit Counseling Helped Me Pay Off $109,000 Of Credit Card Debt In Five Years