About Us

About Us:

Updated June 2017

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 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 heading to college in the fall. They have been working part-time jobs for over a year, and both have good saving accounts. Our youngest son is not working yet, but side hustles when there is a big-ticket item he wants and he’s also volunteering his time.

I have begun to help others with their finances. 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. Just recently we received approval for a full K-12 personal financial literacy curriculum for a student body of 6000 students. I have also begun speaking and sharing our personal story with debt at libraries and High Schools with the goal of educating others.

 

Debt Discipline around the Web:

Guest Post @ The Society of Grownups – Reflections on Paying Off Debt: Brian Brandow

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

Money Masters @ Debt Free Guys – Debt Discipline

Guest Post @ brokeGirlrich – Debt Profiles:Brian’s Story

Interview @ Couples Money – Paying Off Almost $100k Of Debt as a family

Interview @Simple Financial Lifestyle – Simple Inspiration Interview

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

Guest Post @ Even Steven Money – What are you Worth?

Guest Post @ Money Think.org – How to Kill Over $100,000 of Debt

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

Expert Opinion on Financial Independence @ Think Save Retire – What does Financial Independence mean to you?

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 @ Go Banking rates – 37 Ways Dads Can Make and Save More Money

Interview @ Even Steven Money – Financial Independence Interview

Podcast Interview @ SoMoney – Episode 221

Expert Opinion on Debt Snowball @ Credit Karma – How 5 Financial Bloggers Paid Down $209,000 in Credit Card Debt

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