What a breath of fresh air that something like this has been started!

I live out here in Hawaii and just took an "early" retirement offering from Uncle Sam.  I worked for the US Government (Army National Guard)for 26 years and a one year deployment to Iraq just kicked the dickens out of me and my wife. That was back in 2004 and we're still trying to recover emotionally from that one.  Never again. I loved serving this country but at 52 years old, that kind of stuff is a young man's game...Whew!!!

I've got some debt issues (who doesn't) past and present that keeps me walking on egg shells.  We have a mortgage and some credit card payments that I am SLOWLY paying down and not to mention the everyday home-owner stuff that keeps gnawing at our heels.  I'd like to say that I've learned my lessons from bad debt issues from the past but it is so darned easy to fall into that trap today so I've got to constantly keep my guard up.

My wife works as a Registered Nurse and she basically keeps our head above water financially for the time being.  I have big aspirations of running a successful internet business and I know that this is a beast and has also incurred debt in our lives. 

If I've learned anything over the years, it's been to keep things simple and take it one step at a time.  Hope to acquire a great deal of information and practical stuff on debt management and maybe I can lend a hand here and there on some issues and maybe even just provide a shoulder to cry on cuz  Lord knows, when it comes to debt I sure need it once in a while.

Thanks go to Mark Daoust for coming up with this idea and I look forward to all the posts, ideas and comments forthcoming.

Welcome aboard -- from a Former U.S. Marine who pulled 2 tours in 'Nam yrs ago, I wish to say Thank you for serving this beloved country, and welcome home!

Hmmm - I spent a short time in Hawaii many yrs ago, and it was very expensive back then ... so, maybe I can shed a little light down the tunnel to slow the train down.

With both of you bringing in some sort of monthly income, here's what I'd do -- out of each paycheck, put an automatic 10% away in cash ... at the end of each month, use that to pay on the credit card with the lowest amount due.

Once that card is paid off, put it in a safe deposit box at the bank and repeat the process every month until all of your cards are paid off -- but, don't stop there -- continue this practice all year, and you'll be amazed at how much cash you'll have for better things; especially around the holidays.

Running a successful internet business today is tricky -- you've got to come up with something no one else has, and everybody wants; keep it reasonably priced; and offer honesty, along with excellent customer service.

Best of luck!

Hey TA,

Thanx from the heart.  Sometimes you wonder if our world actually knows what the price of freedom really is.  I take to heart what you shared and God Bless you back for your Patriotic Service.  I guess I felt that I dedicated my life long enough to defending the rights of people to pursue happiness and the American Dream that it's about time I went out and pursued that dream myself.

Thank you for your suggestion and it will definitely be put into practice immediately...sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees.  Very Good Idea!
Had some success with paying off a few small cards in the past but it took...FOREVER!  Our goal is to see the house paid off so that we can really say it's ours!

It's still expensive here in Hawaii but I guess the wages are commensurate with the lifestyle and we do what we gotta do to survive.  At least I have a roof over my head and food on the table cuz there's a lotta people that have been made homeless over the last few years because of the cost of living (or surviving) over here.  Still, it's home and it's still beautiful!!! (I never appreciated the colors of home before until I came home from the desert!!!)  Thanx again and I will stay posted.

Ocean Guy

Welcome aboard, I'm a new member myself and hopefully the forum will succeed and become a great place to be.

Ocean Guy -- I hear ya ... trust me; the simple method I laid out is tried-and-true, not only by myself but many more 1000's I've told how to do it, and most of them today are debt-free.

Send me a PM -- may have something else for you.

Nice to meet you Ocean Guy. I salute you for the being a good citizen. You sounds like a cool guy. There's only one thing I can say. No matter what will happen, you can still serve your country in other ways. Forget the past and start a new life. Goodluck!

Hi Ocean GuyOcean,  X Army here 6 years 8 months and 4 days.  I should have stayed in myself,  lets see...1968.. Yup, I would have had 40 years in.  Thankyou also for your service.   I agree with the others here, pay off credit cards one at a time and put them away. (Probably lock them up and throw away the key).  The internet as a source of income could work out.  If things are tight, be sure to check all the free information first.  Sign up with forums (like this :] ) and see what other people are doing.  You can learn from their mistakes and it will not cost you anything.

Best of luck

Nick