Recently, many of us have seen videos on social media showing people taking the “Ice Bucket Challenge”.  This campaign is intended to raise awareness and money for the fight against ALS.  Sadly this campaign hits very close to home for me; my brother-in-law’s father, Dennis, passed away from this truly horrible disease just last month.  As you will see in the video (above) I participated in my own challenge this past weekend…there I am in the black T-shirt!
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Debt is the devil.  Being in debt is one of the most stressful and anxiety-producing situations that you can find yourself in.  I have been there; it is overwhelming.  I used to lie awake at night worrying about it; I felt as if I had a constant weight on my chest.  Of all forms of debt, credit card debt is one of the worst.  I still remember getting my first credit card in college.  The sales representatives from the bank were set up in the student center taking applications.  That very first credit card came with a lovely 24.99% interest rate!  At the time I was too young and naive to fully understand what exactly that meant or what an impact it would have on me later on.  I want to state, for the record, that it is no one’s fault but my own that I ran up my credit card bill; I really do not like people who do not take accountability for their own actions.  With that said, it is not an accident that banks offer cards with this type of interest to the young and inexperienced…life has not yet taught them to say, “24.99%?!  Get the hell out of here!  No thanks.”  Long story short, like so many others, I spent more than I should have…a lot more.  I share this story only because it is an all too common tale and my advice may be helpful to others.
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