Hispanics Rise and Fall

Hispanics Love Money! They do, in fact the more money the better. Hispanics love money so much that they would rather carry it in their pocket then put it away in a bank. You would think that they would open up a checking/savings account so they can keep their money safe but safe to them is cashing their checks and putting the cash underneath their mattress. Why do they prefer cash? They prefer cash because they know how to use it. They did not grow up handling a plastic card to make purchases, they used cold hard cash or pesos. Not only that but the stores that some Hispanics go to only accept cash, like flea markets and stores related to the culture. The more our society pushes plastic the more likely it will be for Hispanic families to apply for a credit card. When this happend Hispanic families will spend more than they should. When people spend with plastic there is no emotional connection with the purchase. When people spend with cash it hard to let go of Benjamin Franklin. Hispanics rise because they use cash to make purchases, but the future looks brighter for plastic and it may lead to their fall. - Debt Free Hispanic

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Craigslist : Garage Sale Money

My wife had a garage sale this weekend and actually made close to $30. When is the last time you had a garage sale to get rid of your junk? Your junk could be somebody elses treasure and if thats the case you can make some serious money in a weekend. I was able to post the Garage sale on Craigslist and people came because they saw it posted online. I also put pictures and a static website I made in Wordpress to make our garage sale look different than other postings. We are going to use the money from the garage to buy food for the week, sandwich meat and chips. Great tip for people getting out of debt. - Debt Free Hispanic

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Why not Be THE MAN

Have you heard the saying, "The man keeps me down". When people cannot get ahead they often say that "The Man" is keeping them down, holding them back or standing in their way. You know what I say to that, Become the Man. If the man keeps you down, Become the man so that you don't have anything to worry about. When it comes to finances, the man is always going to be ahead, so become the man. I live my life in a way where I am the man not giving excuses to any circumstances. One way to become the man is to become debt free. When you are debt free, the man cannot take your money, the man cannot own you financially, you BECOME THE MAN. - Debt Free Hispanic

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Stop Spending : Draw a Line in the Sand

One of the hardest things you will ever have to do to get out of debt is to stop spending. I don't know why spending is so important, maybe its because of the emotional rush. People tend to feel good when they are in stores spending money, but it doesn't last long. The other day I was eating dinner because it was dinner time but I wasn't hungry, but I ate anyway. Thats what people do with spending, they spend even though they don't have any money. Draw a line in the Sand, enough is enough. I remember when I made the decision to become debt free, I said that I will not borrow any more money, no matter what! That was my line in the sand. Now I have control of the most powerful wealth building tool ever known to mankind, MONEY. - Debt Free Hispanic

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Hispanic Debt

Hispanic Debt : I love my people but something has to change. Who in this world is going to speak to Hispanics in a loving way? In a way where Hispanics can get educated and know how to take care of their personal finances. I read a lot about Hispanics in Hispanic Business Review, Hispanic Trending, Entrepreneur.com but everywhere I read its about marketing to Hispanics. Everyone wants to know how to Market to Hispanics.


Marketing to Hispanics does not help us build our economy, it does the opposite. If you help Hispanics in the area of Personal Finance, they can earn their way to becoming homeowners instead of renters. Not all Hispanics rent but the majority do. It's not unusual to find more than one family living in a rented home. First of all, you need a SS# to qualify for a home loan, now how are 1st & 2nd generation Hispanics going to get approved for a loan without a SS#? They won't qualify so they rent. 2nd & 3rd Generation Hispanics such as myself are homeowners because we have been educated in finance and we qualify for mortgages.

My heart goes out to all Hispanics who are busting their butts, working hard for a living, but using that money for the weekend or to purcahse vehicles. I wish I could sit down with more Hispanics and show them how to retire with dignity, with pride, but more importantly, with money. I'm going to change my family tree forever, will you? -Debt Free Hispanic

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More Money More Problems

Have you heard the saying, "More money, more problems". Nobody buys into that. Actually the more money the more opportunities in some cases. Problems occur when people get more money and not change their spending habits. I often think what I would do with more money coming in. Well I would do what I currently do, invest and save the money. I am currently looking for ways to make my money work for me and not me work for my money, hmmm theres an idea or a blog title. The more passive income we can create the more money we will make. But if you do not educate yourself and change your spending habits than the more money you make the more problems you will have. - Debt Free Hispanic



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New Floor No Financing needed

A new floor is needed in the kitchen. Home Depot has great clinics available to help with jobs around the house. One thing they push is their Credit Card financing to get jobs done. I can't wait to let them know that I'm debt free and I plan to stay that way (hint: reason i'm going to the in-store clinic) Now that I have money I plan on keeping it and not paying a high paying professional to do work I am capable of doing. Just another cost saving tip for those you on your way to debt Freedom. - Debt Free Hispanic

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I get Paid through CashCrate

Just added CashCrate to my list of ways to earn passive income. I signed up today and I already made $1.50. I plan to make more this weekend. It is very simple to earn money on CashCrate. Simply fill out surveys or sign up for offers and you get paid. I do not promote websites that do not work, so I tried it first and since it does work i'm promoting it on my blog so some of you can earn extra income to pay off your debts quicker.




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12 Ways to Trim Financial Fat to Cut Debt

In order to have extra money to pay towards debt, people must be willing to trim their financial fat. So what is financial fat? Financial fat is anything extra that people spend money on that does not include basic necessities (Food, Shelter, Clothing). So here are a list of fattening consumptions:

1. Cable
2. Extra Cell Phones
3. Movies/Rentals
4. Magazine subscriptions
5. Dining
6. Cleaners
7. Lawn Maintenance
8. Beauty treatments (spa)
9. Monthly gym memberships
10. Newspaper
11. Internet Providers
12. Impulse Shopping

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Why People Sign Up For Credit Cards

Seems like everywhere people look they see those logos from VISA and Mastercard. The logos make people feel like they have money so they use them. These credit sharks are the smartest marketers. They know how to get people to sign their life away. Think about it, what has caused you to sign by the X__________________


My list of reasons why I signed:

1. To get the Houston Astros logo on the MasterCard, (MBNA)



2. To get a Houston Astros shirt (MBNA)



3. In case I needed a lawn mower (SEARS)



4. Just because they let me open one (Wells Fargo)



5. Because I starting a Business Checking (Wells Fargo)



6. To purchase a camcorder (Circuit City)
7. To Rack up the Rewards

What is your list of reasons to sign up for Credit Cards?


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Attack debt, do NOT let Broke people get you down

Have you ever been at the point where you feel like you are the only one trying to get out of debt and everyone else is spending money like crazy?

Maybe you take lunch to work everyday and your co-workers go out to eat every day. Eventually you go with them and order water while your friends order special drinks and sodas. Well if this happens to you, you are not alone. People do not understand their own spending habits. The truth is by doing simple things such as ordering water which is healthier than sodas can save you $712 annually. Well how so, well at $2/day * 356 days a year, that equals $712 which you could have used to save up or pay down your debt. Why do I write this? To encourage my readers to keep attacking your debt or keep up your saving habits. Do NOT let Broke people get you down! You will feel better than others later because of the choices you make today. I know I feel good about my finances especially when friends continue to live paycheck to paycheck, not this Debt Free Hispanic.

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Be Content or go further in Debt

To be content is to be satisfied. As people look at their lives and compare themselves with others its obvious that we are not content with what we have. People that are not content tend to spend more thus going further into debt than others. Those who do so as well are people who deal with their self esteem. That is why many advertisers are using the "pamper" yourself slogans. They are trying to pull in people who are quick to say that they work hards and deserve new stuff only get themselves further in debt. Be content with that you have and only buy what you need not what you want. - Debt Free Hispanic

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What is your PASSION?

You've heard the saying, "Someone with Passion can be 10 times more effective than any man with a desire". So what is your Passion? What are you most passionate about? What is it that captures your full attention? For me its finances. When someone is talking about money and how they make money, I listen. I listen because I want to know how they did it and I want to look for ways to do it better and make even more money. That is how I got out of debt. I started to see how people were living their lives that had money and I realized that the way I was living was going to keep me in debt. So I went on a journey of not eating out and living off of sandwiches which I love, and bring lunch to work and only ordering water when I ate at restaurants. I think I took it too far because now I get disturbed when people do not order water and pay over $2 for soda or a special drink. But i'm passionate about staying out of debt and living life in a way where people can see my passion for saving. So I ask again, What is your PASSION?

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Two Components To Build Wealth

If you are a seasonal contractor, a day laborer, or your own business owner, you know that the money comes in like an old-time water hand pump, in spurts. Unlike a regular job, entrepreneurs and single business owners are constantly trying to balance the cash flow with the outgoing expenses. However, it’s also a way to make a lot of money fast. So, it’s not a question how much money you make, as do you have enough cash advance to pay this week’s bills? If this balancing ever caused you trouble paying your bills before your credit may have suffered too. In that case, there are still some options to get credit, like payday loans, and simple budgeting exercises that can stretch that dollar bill.

Financial Responsibility

Building a stable financial portfolio begins with paying your bills on time. This simple act affects the FICO credit score, which can give you options for credit besides payday loans, like business or personal loans. Even when times are tough, then you can go to this line of credit and float the household or business until business improves. So, being financially responsible is also one of the best ways to create a sound credit profile for yourself.

Smart Budgeting

Learning how to budget in smart ways that take advantage of your expected cash flow cycle can go a long way to helping you pay your bills on time. Cover the basics first: food and shelter. That means, you may end up going to a discount grocer, like Wal-Mart, once a month when the money is in the bank. Buy in quantity and bulk, and cross the food item off your budgeting list. Shelter should be adequate, but inexpensive when you are on your own. Stay close to your work and grocery stores, to avoid heavy gas expenses, or carpool. Do remember that food and shelter is subsidized if you fall below a certain income level and see if you can apply for aide. Keep track of incidental expenses by using an online banking system, which lists them day to day along with your account balances. Know what your income and expenses are and try to make sure you have enough cash ahead of time to make your bills.
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Hispanic Debt On The Rise

With the Hispanic population growing to be the major minority in America, debt is also on the rise for Hispanic families. It's easy to see why Hispanics are acquiring more and more debt. Hispanics have great purchasing power and a lot us do not have a financial plan. So what do Hispanics do....SPEND.

We spend money on self gratification. The following are areas in which Hispanics tend to spend most of their money: Trucks, Weekend Entertainment, Jewelry, Televisions, Stereos, Expensive Food, Alcohol, Clothing and mortgages just to name a few. You'd be suprised how many Hispanics do not have a checking account and cash checks on pay day. You don't believe me, here's a fact that i'm throwing out because I know it's true, ready, Hispanics spend more with cash than they do with checks and credit cards. That is why outdoor Flea Markets are successful with the Hispanic population. So how is debt rising? Well the credit card companies have made it easy for Hispanics to apply for a VISA. Hispanics fall for the cash back scheme which is appealing since we handle cash more than we do checks.


So when Hispanics receive the credit cards, they take out cash advances because thats how they spend money. All the while they are racking up credit card debt with every cash advance. Since a lot of Hispanics live for the weekend, its not unusual for them to take out a Pay Day Loan. Another example is how Hispanics pay for their vehicles. Hispanics pay their monthly car payments with cash because its easier for Hispanics to pay with cash at the dealership than to mail in a check. If I owned an auto dealership I would set up a plan that would help Hispanics to pay with cash, I guarantee, more Hispanics would purchase vehicles from that dealership. At the end of the day even with most Hispanics paying with cash, purchasing on credit is becoming easier for Hispanics and so debt continues to rise with the growing Hispanic population. -Debt Free Hispanic

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eBay as a source of Income

How much money do you make on your days off? Last night I checked my eBay account so see how my products did and I made $100. Not too bad for taking time to post and ship. I was selling merchandise on eBay so I can get out of debt and now that I am out of debt, I use the income from sales and apply them to my savings account. I am going to quit my job so that I can sell merchandise on ebay? No, but I will use it to make some extra income. The wealthy always have more than one source of income. Now thats Million Dollar advice.

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Garage Sale Saturday

It's Saturday morning 8am. It's Garage Sale Saturday. The best way to make a little extra money is to get rid of the extra junk that you don't need. The stuff that clutters the house anyways. Instead of throwing it away, open a garage sale and see if you can get some money for it. Hey, your junk may be another persons treasure. There is junk all over eBay selling for huge amounts of money, I know because i'm selling it. Get in the game, have a garage today or next week and earn some extra money to put toward the debt. The phrase that helped me get out of debt, "It all adds up". - Debt Free Hispanic

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Write a post on my blog, Debt Free Hispanic

Do you have good information on getting out of debt and you want to help people? Send me your article and i'll post it for you.
For me to publish your post keep the following guidelines in mind…

• It must be an original article - I will check copyscape and random other sources to make sure that it hasn’t been published elsewhere. This will avoid Google’s duplicate content penalty.
• No Affiliate Promotions! I’m in the blogging business to make money, not give it away. If you include an affiliate link… it will be deleted.
• Keep the post between 300-1500 words.
  You may include a picture if you’d like
• No profanity!
• Must be somewhat site targeted. I run a blog about helping others become better with their finances. It’s a pretty broad target, so it shouldn’t be that hard to comply with.
  If you are interested, you can send your article(s) to debtfreehispanic@gmail.com. Make sure to include “Guest Blogger” in the subject line. I’ll review them and then let you know when (or if) I will post your article.

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Show me the money !

I had a Jerry Maguire moment just now. Someone aquired about posting an ad on my blog and said I would once they pay. In other words, when they show me the money, i'll show everyone their ad. Then I got to thinking what I would do with the money, well I would save it and let it grow. Being Debt Free is awesome, I can just save the money I receive and not feel bad. WOW, I love life...I want more people to be where I am so that we can all scream... SHOW ME THE MOOONNNNNEEEEYYYYYYYYY!!!!



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How to Drive Free Cars for Life

That right...you can drive FREE cars for Life.

Think about it:
What if you decided to STOP messing with car payments?
What if you invested that old car payment every month instead of giving it away to the bank?
What if we showed you a six-year plan that would put you in free cars for the rest of your life?
What if that plan also made you a millionaire?
Interested?
Here is how you do it. This changed my life. Click Here to view the video!

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What drives you to go to work?

I was reading about how people who love to go to work do so because they are driven to work. I started to ask myself the same questions, what drive me to go to work. When I was in debt, I was driven by the paycheck so that I can pay down my debt. The more I saw the debt go down the more money I used to pay debt. I was driven by results. I remember selling junk on eBay that became someone elses treasure. I took that money and paid on my debt. Every odd job I would do I would appy it to the debt. There were days when I didn't eat lunch or just ate a sandwich and then I would transfer $5 or $6 towards my debt with online banking. All the small amounts added up and I went crazy on the debt. I was very emotional when I had debt, I didn't feel like a productive man. Now I feel more productive than ever. But I wonder about how many men and women feel undproductive because of the huge amount of debt that they have. I pray you attack the debt and sell all the junk to folks who do not care. There will always be people who do not care about their money...don't be one of those people...let your drive for going to work be to get and stay out of debt.

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Gazelle Intense paying off debt

This time last year all my paychecks were going to paying off my debt. I had credit card debt and of course school loans. This year with check coming in from work and the IRS, the check are accumulating. Plus i'm doing more speaking engagements as well as freelance work. I really feel comfortable with my finances. Sort of like wearing loose clothing verses tights. I'm able to move faster than last year. Ever feel like you financially uncomfortable?

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I Used A Credit Card and it felt so Good!

I used a Credit Card after posting about how I don't use credit cards. It felt really good to get back into paying interest on things I don't need. You know I may let my wife go to a new Dillards that just opened close to our home and do some shopping for herself. Here's the twist, i'm going to tell her to open up the store credit so she can get 10% off her first purchase and then pay 17% back to them in interest.

Okay, Okay.....April Fools (It's even hard to joke about it)

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Used Cash to fix A/C unit and not a Credit Card

Last night I had the AC guy come out to fix what I thought was a loose wire. Apparently it needed a $200 part. Funny how expensive service calls can get. Well I had the guy fix it anyway and when he was done he told me the part plus the service call came out to $256. He suggested to me that I could pay with a credit card as well as a check. I took the opportunity to tell him that I only pay cash for services or anything else that I pay for. He said that people usually pay him with a credit card because A/C services are an emergency. I said well I can see where it can be an emergency, people not wanting to sweat. Then I got to thinking, some people need to sweat a little. Heck i'm sweating just thinking of the interest payments that are made by putting a new A/C unit on credit. People are more willing to sweat financially than sweat physically. Recipe for financial disaster. I cut a check and froze to death last night, debt free living feels good and so does my 69 degrees home.

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