From a half-million in debt to $30,000 in a year! Could you do it?
By Wendy
@jerzgirl (9384)
United States
November 10, 2008 9:30pm CST
I have to say that I admire this woman. She did something that I don't believe I could do (thankfully, I'm not in as much debt, but still...) I do believe that some of the principals she used are sound and Biblical, although I'm not a believer in prosperity Gospel teaching.
I'm thinking of buying her book just to read how she actually went about accomplishing it and see what, if any, principals I might be able to use in my own life. 
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/weird/Woman-Says-Bible-Got-Her-Out-of-500K-in-Debt.html
What do you think? Do you think she's legit? Or do you think it's a come-on for book sales? I'm inclined to believe she pulled off the debt reduction, although I'm having a hard time understanding how she reduced it by $470,000 in a year if she only made $30,000. Which is why I'd like to see the book and see how it stands under realistic scrutiny. 
How about you, though? Maybe in a less extreme situation, do you think the basic principals here are valid (God's promise to see to our needs if we are good stewards of what He gives us)? Are you skeptical in any way or do you think it's entirely possible? 
http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/weird/Woman-Says-Bible-Got-Her-Out-of-500K-in-Debt.html
What do you think? Do you think she's legit? Or do you think it's a come-on for book sales? I'm inclined to believe she pulled off the debt reduction, although I'm having a hard time understanding how she reduced it by $470,000 in a year if she only made $30,000. Which is why I'd like to see the book and see how it stands under realistic scrutiny.
How about you, though? Maybe in a less extreme situation, do you think the basic principals here are valid (God's promise to see to our needs if we are good stewards of what He gives us)? Are you skeptical in any way or do you think it's entirely possible? 1 person likes this
3 responses
@thedogshrink (1266)
• United States
11 Nov 08
I absolutely, vehemently disagree with that "prosperity gospel" -- it is not at all Biblical, and dangerously confuses and misleads people.
However, it doesn't sound, according to this article, like this church is teaching that.
They are just teaching, or so it sounds, real Biblical money management.
I question whether she really had that much debt, on a $30,000 salary, but I can imagine it could be very high and hopeless still. But she says she cut up the credit cards and started to tithe and live within her means, instead of living on credit. So I think that is sound Bible teaching.
Prosperity teaching is different -- they try to get people to send them exorbitant sums of money on the belief that God will return it to them a thousand fold. they are scam artists, even tho some of them can sound very Biblical if you hear some of their sermons -- until they start strutting around showing off their riches, and saying all Christians can be like them if they just start sending them their money by the thousands!
Imagine the lives they have destroyed!
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
11 Nov 08
I based my Prosperity Gospel comment on the fact that her minister said that God wants us to have money, not money to have us. The money to not have us wasn't my red flag, but the wanting us to have money was. Other than that assumption, I think the basics are Biblically sound.
1 person likes this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
11 Nov 08
if you buy it, please give a synopsis to us! I'd like to hear what she has to say. I looked at the link and in my opinion, from a frugal, dollar stretching, common sense, never-had-it-in -the-first-place person, it isn't hard.
It tells you right there in that article, she bought whatever she wanted. First, stop buying everything you want and you'll see your "debt" go down.
It says she had 10 credit cards she kept swapping back and forth on...Second, stop using the credit cards, and again, you'll see your "debt" go down.
Then just come to the realization that you want to be debt free and you'll find all kinds of ways to not spend and save more. Check out my blog in my profile called Coffee Break Whatever Save Money - it is my personal experience with life and supporting 2 kids on minimum wage. Look at your own spending - literally write it all down on paper and you will see many ways you are wasting money and you don't even realize or know it.
Then just throw in the part that if she was reading the Bible and studing it, that just meant time she was NOT shopping and spending!
But when all is said and done... good for her!
2 people like this
@coffeebreak (17797)
• United States
11 Nov 08
I have never made that much money or qualified for that many credit cards either! I was being nice (and still am), at least she finally saw the "evils" of her ways and corrected them herself instead of making others pay the price for her luxuries. But for someone to get into that much debt with only that much income, is just stupid. And then to expect everyone to praise her for fixing her own problems...but again, I am being nice and I say good for her for fixing her own problem and I hope others can learn from it.
I didn't notice if it said how long it took for her to pay it down. Might be she's beenworking at it for awhile - I mean, $30k is probably gross not net and it also didn't say if she got help from anyone. Lot of things could have participated in it so don't get discouraged. At least you aren't stupid enough to get where she was! Good for you on that! But you could do it, just chip away little at a time if nothing else! Trust me...you'd be surprised at how much you actually spend and don't even realize it! I realized that out of necessity! Give it a try! Can't hurt, can only help. You don't need a big major routine...take it a step at a time.Once you see yourself saving or paying down, you'll get the ambition to continue doing so!
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
11 Nov 08
I also plan to order the book for the same reasons. Although I don't owe anywhere near that much in debt it still needs to be paid off and every little bit of help will help me along. I am currently paying off a back student loan and Hubby is paying off back child support so there will be 2 less leeches feeding off us before long. It's a long road but worth traveling in the end.
[b]~~MY OWN PEACE WITHIN~~
**STAND STRONG AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF**[/b]
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9384)
• United States
11 Nov 08
I haven't decided if I will get the book - I'm still unemployed, but have an interview for a part time job tomorrow paying a little more than half what I used to make. But, my unemployment's almost done (including the extension) and I need to still pay rent, so one must do what one must. At least it will, if I get it, be something I enjoy.
