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Sep 12, 2025    |      0 comments

Financial Education Failure

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I’m sure it’s not news to the BAD community that the American public education system (maybe private too) is failing our next generations by not teaching financial literacy in our schools. While I believe the original mindset was that it would be taught at home, it’s definitely not, and it’s a failure we should correct.

This was brought to mind when I saw this graphic online, and was like “Yes!” And sadly, this is the story of my life. Yes, I know, I know.

how do you play life? example monopoly game

Senior Year Win

I’m not sure I’ve shared this story before. It’s about the evolution of Princess education and how she ended up with a Bachelor’s of Finance. Yes, I know this has nothing to do with my debt journey, but I would say that my children had a pretty solid education on what not to do financially from me. Coupled with an education about the nuances of personal finance – budget, forecasting, credit score – as I learned about them.

But it was her senior year of high school when she ended up in a high school economics class that her vision of finances really broadened and became real world. I am pretty sure it was a required course. Last semester of her senior year.

I have no idea who the teacher was, but I am so grateful for her. She had the kids “buy” stocks and track them and report on them and research them and discuss them. Princess fell in love.

She had already been accepted to college as an engineering major. But before the semester was over (high school), she had contacted the college to change her desired major to economics.

Freshman Year Change

We had already planned her college route. Get the basics out of the way, and then focus on the major classes at the end. But sophomore year, she was in gen ed money related class. And that professor altered her path after meeting with her during office hours a few times. He identified her aptitude, inquisitiveness, and basic financial competence, and recommended she join the college club affectionately referred to as SMIF, Student Managed Investment Fund.

Through that experience, she once again changed her major from economics to finance and the rest is history. Through SMIF, she was able to travel to New York several times for competitions, was exposed a corporate world that both challenged and embraced her, and built her confidence in presenting, researching, and growth in ways I never could have imagined.

What’s next for her…

I’m so grateful that she is already so much further ahead than me in her knowledge of finance. And I’m especially grateful that one of my brothers is also in the corporate finance world so she’s had someone we trust to guide her, understand what she’s talking about, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. She’s now completed her onboarding training in the commercial banking world as an analyst, and is loving her job.

Sep 9, 2025    |       4 comments

Debt Detox by Room, Part 3: Living Areas & Paper Zone

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The living room and dining room table is where clutter turns into shame. Paper work, stacks of mail “to sort later,” and sentimental piles that slowly swallow the sofa, the dining table, the tv stands, and so on and so forth.

We’ve gotten that we clear off the table bi-weekly when the family comes for dinner. But we just pick the piles up, and pile them on a bed in an extra bedroom. I told dad this week as we were doing that yet again. That I don’t know what I agree to this. Because once I return from my wedding trip to Georgia, I’m going to have to tackle that room. It will be piled high with randomness and the closet is already full of boxes of paperwork, sentimental items, and things they never unpacked when they moved here over a decade ago.

piles of paperwork - stock photo

The Decision Framework

“Honor the story, protect the space.” The goal is to keep visible, curated history-without losing the room to cardboard time capsules.

Two Power Stations

This is my plan for October, leading up to the holidays and the kids coming. Because we will need all the extra beds/bedrooms for their visits

  • Incoming Paper:

    • Three files by the printer in the back room: “To Pay,” “To File,” “To Call.”

    • One small shredder.

    • Weekly 15-minute “Bills & Banter” appointment on the calendar.

Dad wants me to take over the bill pay and financial tracking. But for now, I’m just trying to get it organized and be familiar. And I’ve got to file several years of back taxes. (My sister takes care of my mom’s accounts, etc.)

  • Memory Lane:

    • I’m slowly going room by room and sorting through the “stuff”. My mom has been incapacitated for the bulk of the last 5 years (diagnosed 8 years ago) so the house has long been neglected. I mentioned earlier that all items I question keeping first go through my dad, then my siblings. It’s working for us.

My mom has always kept a beautiful home. I have no idea how she did it with all 5 of us kids. But she also became a thrifter in the last couple of decades. It’s all curated well, but us kids don’t have a lot of sentimental value placed on many of the decor or knick knacks collecting dust.

Wrapping Paper & Bags Limits

I discovered two LARGE boxes of just gift wrapping supplies. And then a hutch full of holiday tins. I’ve put them in away for now. But made it clear to dad that we are going to use that stuff for Christmas this year and do a major purge at that time.

I’m sure as I continue on this with segment of the purge, there will be more, but the mail and paperwork are the bane of my existence right now. Thankfully, I enjoy being busy. So when I’m not working, I’m sorting, purging, cleaning, and organizing. Keeping an continual list of to dos as I discover them.

Money Impact

  • Bills surface and get paid on time.

  • No more buying gift bags or wrapping paper.

  • Clear surfaces by putting things in their place. And if they don’t have a place, do we really need to keep this?

30-Minute Reset

  1. Sweep every flat surface into three piles: paper, not-paper, sentimental.

  2. Paper goes straight to the station: pay/file/call.

  3. Not-paper either returns to its home or gets reviewed for its merit.

The Livability Test

THIS! I saw this in an article and keep it on repeat for dad as we discuss upcoming family gatherings and maintaining the home.

  • Can we sit on every seat without moving a pile?

  • Can we vacuum without clearing the floor first?

Maintenance Schedule

I’ve built myself a cleaning schedule that I am working hard to stick too. After sweeping, scrubbing, and mopping the kitchen took me 6 hours the first time because there was so much build up, I said never again. And so did my back.

  • Weekly 15-minute “Room Reset” (set a timer, cue a favorite song). I have to do this when dad is away. He doesn’t like my music 🙂

  • Weekly mini-audit on what’s coming up the next week. And what can I do to support him. We are currently sharing my car while his is in the shop, so this has become even more important although outside of church and a meal out every two weeks, I rarely leave the house.

What one limit would make the biggest difference where you live?

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