YOUNG MONEY Magazine

I received a lot of positive responses to last week’s blog that focused on leaving your comfort zone. It seems that most people recognize their comfort zone and feel an internal struggle of whether to stay in it or venture to the unknown...

Scaling a business and clips from new reality TV show - BAILOUT!

Dear Melissa, My 5 year vehicle lease recently ended, and my account had always been in good standing over those 5 yrs. After making my final payment, I received a $1,200 bill from the lease termination department for excess wear and tear, prorated property tax, etc...

By Scott Kleinberg Chicago Tribune (MCT) Why does everyone know about that thing you did last night with your best friend’s wife? Probably because you tweeted about it. How did I find out? Read it on oversharers.com. It’s a site that searches Twitter for all things embarrassing...

Dear Melissa, Curious? 4 years ago I had an 815 FICO score, then unfortunately a $68 hospital debt slipped through the cracks … and went into collection. I immediately paid it. But you can imagine the rest. I have a spotless 20 yr credit history and less than $1,500 debt altogether...

When looking at the goals you want to achieve and the things you want to accomplish, it is easy to get to the place of overwhelm that I have mentioned frequently in my blogs. When I was first starting my business I had to allow myself to be comfortable with discomfort and overwhelm. Why...

Dear Melissa, I had a Chase credit card that was apparently sold to another company. That company has now pursued a lawsuit against me. I have not seen a bill from chase or this other company in 2 years...

Q: My husband and I both work and have children. My husband works two jobs so I am responsible for taking care of the children and household responsibilities in the evening. I am feeling very overwhelmed, but my husband insists he has to work the second job to pay our bills...

Dear Melissa, When periodically monitoring my credit report I noticed a collection for a small amount ($31). After investigating I realized it was for an amount that had been sent to collections for an online account that had an expired credit card on file...

If you happen to be near Jacksonville, Florida on Tuesday, June 23, drop by the Hyatt Regency for a free lecture by financial guru Suze Orman. Ms. Orman is appearing as part of the Capella University Distinguished Speaker Series...

I know it’s a cliché, but your perception really is your reality. What would you be willing to do to achieve your goal? What would you be willing to give up? I was at a conference last weekend and heard a highly successful consultant and writer talking about her business plan...

Dear Melissa, I lost a small claims case and have not paid since two years ago. I was contacted by lawyers but told them I was unable to pay due to financial issues. I sent them a cease letter but still continue to be contacted. About a year later I was contacted by two debt collection agencies...

Congratulations to Gary Freedman, winner of the Young Money June Life Coach Challenge. Gary submitted this story as his answer to this question: What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done to reach a goal...

By Kim Ossi McClatchy-Tribune (MCT) No need to splurge on a pair of $500-plus Lanvin sneakers, seen on the likes of First Lady Michelle Obama this spring. With the new Keds by Loomstate line, you can show off designer kicks at a reasonable price and be good to the earth at the same time...

Dear Melissa, My wife and I had bought a pair of ATV’s almost 3 years ago through HSBC lending. The way the loan started was 100.00 every month, a revolving loan I believe. Well in that time we paid the balance down about 1000.00 dollars. Starting balance was 14,000.00 roughly...

Mistakes? How do you perceive them? Do you avoid them or learn from them? How you react to life circumstances that seem like mistakes? Your responses to these questions tell a lot about your approach towards success...

Hi Melissa, I had about 5 credit card debts more than 10 years ago. They have been calling me even though the SOL has been expired. I’ve never answered them but they do leave me messages. However, they do not send me any mail...

Dear Melissa. On April 16th of this year, I signed a 6-month lease agreement to rent an apartment that would be $620 a month in El Paso, TX...

All month I’ve been talking about goals: how to make, schedule, and achieve them...

Dear Melissa I have a son who was hit by a car while riding his bike 10/07. He had to have surgery to fix a very badly torn ACL. The establishment where he went to have his surgery for the repairs insisted that we use our own insurance for them to bill...

Question: I often make goals but have a hard time achieving them. I think the reason I am not achieving them is because I have a hard time scheduling myself. What should I do? Answer: First you need to look carefully at how you are trying to schedule yourself...

Dear Melissa, Can a collection agency collect the money I owe them by demanding I sell stocks that I own? Tim N. ...

Wow, I have gotten so many interesting submissions to the “What’s the craziest thing you’ve done to achieve a goal?” contest. It’s really amazing what people will do to achieve a goal; it’s also interesting how much resistance people have to setting or achieving goals...

Dear Melissa, I did a voluntary repossession of a vehicle and the vehicle was auctioned off. The balance that remained was about $5700. A collection company called and offered a settlement agreement from their client for $2250...

We’ve talked a lot lately about becoming clearer on your goals and creating action plans. The number one problem for many of my clients is moving from the goal to the action. It’s not that they don’t have good intentions or lack the motivation; it’s the big O word that gets in their way...

Q: In the last blog you talked about making turtle steps, small do-able steps that help to achieve goals. I am having a hard time accomplishing my goals because I get overwhelmed with the task. What do you suggest? A: Here is a basic example that we can all relate to...

Many clients tell me about fears of many varieties. Some of my blog readers also write me about the fears that they have. I hear about fear of success, fear of failure, fear of life in general. What all of these fears have in common is that they turn into a real fear of action...