December 02, 2021

Debt collectors can now DM you on social media, and text and email to collect. Here is what you need to know

December 02, 2021/ Lydia Senn

Debt collectors can now direct message you on social media to collect debt. But wait, there’s more. Debt collectors can also email and text you. I wanted to cover a few things so that you might understand your rights as a consumer.

March 20, 2020

10 things to do when facing a job loss

March 20, 2020/ Lydia Senn

I am trying not to be afraid right now. Like many of you, I am facing job uncertainty. The self-employed are no less at risk of a loss of income right now than anyone else. And because my business is freelance based I do not qualify for unemployment when my clients decide to pull contracts because they can’t pay me. (I’m not whining, but this is a reality for many small business owners.)

February 13, 2019

Would I ever go back into debt?

February 13, 2019/ Lydia Senn

What happens if you have to go into debt temporarily?

I hate debt. I hate owing people money. But I also live in reality.

If you find yourself on the verge of making a decision to go back into debt, ask yourself why.

June 19, 2017

Small changes that helped us get out of debt

June 19, 2017/ Lydia Senn

When we talked getting out of debt it can feel a bit overwhelming, right? Like it takes a lot of HUGE changes to get out of debt.

Yes, there will be some lifestyle changes that need to be made. Yes, you will have to change your thought process and relationship with money. But I truly, honestly believe that it is the small changes that have the biggest impact on our lives.

So let's talk some of those small changes.

August 15, 2016

Fighting back with collection agencies

August 15, 2016/ Lydia Senn

Two weeks ago I got a letter from a collection agency. It was for a debt I did not owe.

SO what did I do about it?

February 29, 2016

4 things to do when your spending gets off track

February 29, 2016/ Lydia Senn

We all do it. We all intentionally or unintentionally spend money somewhere on something that is outside of our budget.

It happens. In fact, I did it one Thursday night.

It had been a long week. Jason has been traveling and I was home alone with two kids who were alternating illnesses. It was raining, I was exhausted and I had had it. So I put the kids in their car seats and drove to Zaxby's where I spent $20 on a garden salad and two kid's meals. $20!?!??

November 22, 2015

6 things to do when facing a job loss

November 22, 2015/ Lydia Senn

I very vividly remember the day I lost my job. The company I was working for closed. I packed up my desk, loaded everything in the back of my car and drove home.

I was working for a small newspaper outside of Atlanta in the summer of 2008. One afternoon our paychecks were handed to us. But when my coworkers and I went to deposit the checks we were told there were insufficient funds to deposit. Our paychecks had bounced.

September 25, 2015

Paying for a hospital birth when you're dead broke

September 25, 2015/ Lydia Senn

It's been almost four years since I had to deal with being broke AND pregnant. But I think the advice still stands.

My husband has a better paying job. We have better insurance and we have built up our savings.

But I still get questions from readers in similar situations we were in asking for tips.

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