Kiplinger

Pass on Your Wealth Wisdom

I have a colleague who, at 30 years old, was able to get his family out from under student debt. Part of that success meant following a strict budget, with special funds for expense categories that reset each month. He tells the story of opening the garage door by hand, waiting for their “home fund” money to replenish. When the next month came, they bought a new garage door remote to replace a broken one.

Now, this isn’t a dramatic example, but it does strike a vivid picture: a young newlywed breathing steam on a cold morning, committed to his family’s financial well-being. The story is what his children (and colleagues!) will remember:  Financial health takes grit and determination, but it is possible and real everyday people do it.

My friend’s kids won’t know his debt-to-income ratio that year, but they will know the story about Dad opening

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