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Debt-Free or Die Trying: Why Freedom Isn’t Just About Money

This entry is part 7 of 14 in the series Seeds of Wealth.

There’s a reason they call it financial freedom and not “financial convenience.” Because this thing—this long, slow, grit-in-your-teeth climb out of debt—isn’t just about your wallet. It’s about something far bigger. It’s about freedom. And freedom, as anyone who’s ever fought for it knows, doesn’t come easy. It sure as hell doesn’t come from a cashback rewards program. It comes from saying “no” when the system expects you to say “yes.” It comes from paying…

MoneySprout June 6, 2025

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Dealing With Debt and American Consumer Credit Counseling Join Forces to Support Financial Recovery and Long-Term Stability

This entry is part 1 of 4 in the series Press Releases.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Austin, TX — June 4, 2025 Dealing With Debt (DWD), a nonprofit social platform dedicated to reducing financial stress and building consumer confidence, today announced a new partnership with American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC), a national nonprofit leader in credit counseling and debt management services. Together, the organizations aim to deepen support for individuals actively working to regain control of their finances—particularly those emerging from or currently navigating personal debt…

Digita1Ninja June 5, 2025

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Rethinking the Path: Why So Many Minority Men Leave College Without a Credential

This entry is part 1 of 3 in the series Career Minded.

In the U.S. today, more than 43 million people have attended college without completing a degree or credential. It’s a quiet crisis with loud consequences—one that disproportionately affects Black, Hispanic, and Native American men. The numbers are sobering. According to the National Student Clearinghouse’s latest Some College, No Credential (SCNC) report, men make up over half of the SCNC population, even though they represent less than 43% of current undergraduates. When we narrow the lens…

Digita1Ninja June 4, 2025

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Why They Don’t Teach This Stuff in School (And What You Can Do About It Now)

This entry is part 6 of 14 in the series Seeds of Wealth.

If you made it through high school, you probably learned how to factor a polynomial, label a mitochondrion, or regurgitate the causes of the War of 1812. But you probably weren’t taught: How compound interest actually works What a credit score really is How banks make money from your debt Why inflation punishes savers Or how to build wealth from zero That’s not an accident. That’s design. The Education System Was Built for a Different…

MoneySprout May 30, 2025

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Side Hustles & Smart Money: Earning Your Way Out of Debt

This entry is part 3 of 4 in the series Rebuilding.

There’s a certain kind of survival mode that only some people understand. The kind where you count change before buying milk. Where you skip meals so your kids can eat. Where you try not to open your email because you know the bills are sitting there, unpaid. For those of us who’ve been there—or are there now—talking about “earning extra income” or “launching a side hustle” doesn’t feel trendy. It feels necessary. But here’s what…

InfGurl May 28, 2025

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The Four Money Traps That Keep People Poor (And How to Break Free)

This entry is part 5 of 14 in the series Seeds of Wealth.

It’s not your imagination. The game is rigged. But don’t take that as defeat. Take it as clarity. Because once you see the traps for what they are, you can stop falling into them—and start walking around them like a seasoned pro. So let’s expose four of the biggest financial traps that keep people running in circles, wondering why they can’t get ahead… even when they’re doing everything “right.” Trap #1: The Minimum Payment Mirage…

MoneySprout May 23, 2025

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Why Is It So Hard to Pay Off Your Credit Card? (Part 3)

This entry is part 3 of 3 in the series Quicksand.

Part 3: Lifestyle Creep — The Slow Drift That Becomes the Avalanche You had a few splurges. Then came the crisis—car repairs, a medical bill, a stretch of unemployment. You figured you’d bounce back. But now, the bounce isn’t happening. And without fully realizing it, your lifestyle—the routines, the spending patterns, the monthly “norms”—has quietly expanded. At the same time, the world around you has shifted. And holding steady now costs more than it used…

DigitalNinja May 19, 2025

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What Is Real Wealth, Anyway?

This entry is part 4 of 14 in the series Seeds of Wealth.

Let’s play a quick game. Which of the following people is wealthier? A. Drives a 10-year-old Honda, lives in a modest house, and has no debt… B. Has a six-figure salary, two leased cars, a luxury apartment, and a credit score held together by duct tape and hope. If you picked A, congratulations. You understand what the financial media can’t seem to grasp. Real wealth isn’t flashy. It’s quiet. It’s not about having stuff. It’s…

MoneySprout May 15, 2025

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The Debt System Is a Hammer—Here’s How to Build, Not Break

This entry is part 3 of 14 in the series Seeds of Wealth.

Debt gets a bad rap—and let’s be honest, it deserves it. Credit cards, payday loans, 72-month car notes… They lure you in, then gut you like a fish. But here’s the twist nobody tells you when you’re scraping by on overdraft protection: Debt is just a tool. And like any tool, it can either build something—or wreck everything. A hammer can smash a window. Or it can build a house. Same hammer. Different hands. So…

MoneySprout May 12, 2025

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DWD Featured on Trending In Education Podcast

DWD co-founders Desmond Stinnie and Addison Wiggin appeared on Trending In Education’s podcast to discuss the launch of DWD.

DigitalNinja May 9, 2025

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