Personal Finance - DWD Community

Why Wealth Isn’t Complicated—Just Rarely Practiced

June 20, 2025 No Comments

This entry is part 8 of 8 in the series Seeds of Wealth

If you’ve ever felt like wealth is some elite club you weren’t invited to, you’re not alone. The way it’s sold—charts, jargon, hedge funds, TikTok stock tips—it’s easy to believe there’s some hidden formula known only to people who wear loafers without socks. But here’s the truth, stripped of all the flash: Wealth isn’t complicated. It’s just rarely practiced. That’s not a motivational poster. It’s a reality check. The Illusion of Complexity People often assume…

What To Expect From A Debt Management Plan

June 19, 2025 No Comments

This entry is part 1 of 1 in the series Getting Out of Debt

In 2024, American Consumer Credit Counseling clients paid off around $191,257,429.83 in debt! Debt Management Plans help people regain control of their financial lives by consolidating their debts into a single, manageable monthly payment. Here’s what you can expect when you enroll in a Debt Management Plan (DMP) with American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC). What to Expect from a Debt Management Plan Personalized Financial Assessment The process begins with a thorough financial assessment conducted by…

The GI Bill Grift

June 13, 2025 1 Comment

This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series Military Life

How Scammers Target Veterans’ Education Benefits You’ve served your country. You’ve earned your stripes, your salute, and yes, your GI Bill benefits. It’s time to plan for civilian life. Many veterans look to higher education as the next mission. But just like what your recruiter tells you, not everything is as straightforward as it seems. Among the legitimate schools and training programs are scammers looking to cash in on your hard-earned benefits. Let’s look at…

From Patience to Plastic: America Became a Nation of Consumers

June 8, 2025 No Comments

This entry is part 2 of 2 in the series CIDS

There was a time when people dreamed big, saved slow, and bought only when they had the cash in hand. Our grandparents told stories of scrimping for years to buy a car. Of walking past store windows and saying, “One day, when we’ve saved enough.” That mindset wasn’t about deprivation—it was about pride. It was about ownership that was earned, not borrowed. But something shifted. And now? We live in a country where the question…

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

June 6, 2025 No Comments

This entry is part 7 of 8 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…

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

June 5, 2025 No Comments

This entry is part 1 of 3 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…

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

May 28, 2025 No Comments

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…

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

May 19, 2025 No Comments

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…

A Decade of Dollars, Discipline, and Dodging Debt in the U.S. Army

April 25, 2025 No Comments

This entry is part 1 of 2 in the series Military Life

I joined the United States Army at the tender age of 20, armed with youthful enthusiasm, a wife, and a baby on the way. I also joined as an E1—meaning I made about enough money to afford socks, maybe. Back then, pay for junior enlisted was even worse than it is today! Still, for all its quirks, Army life had its perks. No matter where Uncle Sam dropped us, we had guaranteed food, housing, and…

Why Is It So Hard to Pay Off Your Credit Card? (Part 2)

April 24, 2025 No Comments

This entry is part 2 of 3 in the series Quicksand

Part 2: Crisis Spending — When “No” Isn’t an Option In Part 1, we talked about the “Yes Trap”—how seeing a generous available balance on your credit card can flip your inner script from “Can I afford this?” to “Why not?” It usually starts with a few small splurges: You’ve had a long week, so you treat yourself to dinner out—twice. You finally grab those concert tickets before they sell out. That coat you’ve been…