Debt-Free Forever: Take Control of Your Money and Your Life

By Gail Vaz-Oxlade

Revised and updated with new material!

Through Debt-Free Forever, more than 100,000 Canadian families have used Gail Vaz-Oxlade’s brand of money management to dig themselves out of debt. Her strategy is straightforward—it isn’t about neat tricks, hidden agendas and mysterious fixes. As Gail says, “Money isn’t rocket-science, it’s discipline.” Gail has made it her life’s mission to make money management something everyone can do. And she won’t take no for an answer. Hers is a style that’s unique, a voice that is demanding, an approach that is holistic.

Debt-Free Forever helps readers take back responsibility and control over their money. Gail’s Rules are simple: you can’t spend money you don’t have, you must save something and if you’re in debt, you must get the albatross off your back. That said, she knows that executing them can be hard. That’s why Debt-Free Forever will serve as a roadmap to getting out of debt, with carefully detailed plans, and Gail’s unfailing support to help readers get to the right destination.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Dec 20, 2011
• ISBN: 9781443412827

Gail Vaz-Oxlade

Gail Vaz-Oxlade is the former host of Till Debt Do Us Part and Princess and the #1 bestselling author of books that have included Debt-Free Forever and Money Rules. She has had a divorce three times (almost), raised kids, run a business, made mistakes and fixed them, and continues to believe the world is a wonderful place.

Reviews for Debt-Free Forever

[zabetreading · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a fantastic book for those of us who want to take control of our family finances. Even if you are not up to your ears in debt, Gail's no-nonsense approach can help you trim your budget and save for a new home, a new car or a great vacation.

[zabet17 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is a fantastic book for those of us who want to take control of our family finances. Even if you are not up to your ears in debt, Gail's no-nonsense approach can help you trim your budget and save for a new home, a new car or a great vacation.

[deesirings · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It may be premature for me to offer a rating and a review because though I did read the book cover to cover, I did not complete the exercises, as instructed (this is in large part because it is a borrowed library book for which there is a waiting list and I do not want to deprive other users of this resource longer than necessary). I read this already being familiar with Gail Voz-Oxlade's approach from her show Til Debt Do Us Part and I wondered if it would just be more of the same (the show is formulaic and once you've seen a few episodes, you're unlikely to learn a great deal more from Gail). While there was some overlap with what's shown on TV, what the book provides is a guide or how-to approach to applying the principles from the TV show to your own situation. On the TV show, Gail analyzes a couple's income, previous spending and debt and devises a budget tailored to the circumstances. Here, she shows you how to do this for yourself. Many of the resources are also available on her website (so if you are on a waiting list for this book, you can still get started by applying what you learn from her website).One point I found striking was the emphasis on working hard. Can't make ends meet on a regular full-time job? Supplement it with an additional part-time job! Gail says that for many financially successful people, the 40-hour work-week is not the norm. Work hard and work long to reap rewards. Another aspect Gail was more emphatic about than I would have expected is the need for an emergency fund and her adamant belief that credit should never constitute an emergency fund (even when one is focussing on repaying debt). Like any plan laid out in a book, this one sounds great -- the challenge is in applying it. There is every reason to think it can be done. For example, Gail tells you to figure out how much money you need to meet your basic needs and then do what it takes to ensure you take in that much money. If you apply this, there is no way it can go wrong as a principle.I think this book would be useful to anyone who doesn't know that much about personal finance (there's some concepts worth learning even if you're not even in debt yet but are just starting off your adult life), and definitely for anyone who has consumer debt and who wants to pay it off. Much of the material would be self-evident if you gave some serious thought to it yourself, but having it spelled out in plain, conversational, no-nonsense language's gotta be beneficial.

[chrystalm_7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I LOVE GAIL! If you have not watched her TV show 'Til Debt Do Us Part - you are missing out. My Mom first told me about Gail and her Magic Jars as a way to help me get out of some debt. I was hooked from the first episode I watched and honestly as soon as this book came out I went and bought it. So this is a re-read for me, but it really is great to be going over this information another time. I have stickies on a handful of pages that I refer back to all the time. Gail will teach you how to make a plan and budget properly, how to get your debt paid off fast and effectively (as long as you stick to the plan - which I have fallen off the wagon a few times, but keep getting back on), how to change your habits and most importantly how to save and plan for your future.She has given me hope that all is not lost, though there are days that I feel like I am doing things all wrong. And since I have her trusty charts and worksheets I can keep track quickly and easily and adjust as needed. My biggest spending vice would be books - it is hard for me to NOT buy books. I just need to fit it into my budget.Oh and the Magic Jars - she teaches you to split your money up into specific categories and you pt your money in the jars for the week and when it is gone it's gone. It's a great learning experience! I highly suggest picking up a copy of the book for yourself if you need some guidance, even if you are not in debt for a lot of money it can be a helpful guide to see if the things you spend your money on are realistic or not. It's a great help to get an emergency fund setup and saving for the big things.I cannot wait to read her next book... Never Too Late: Take Control of Your Retirement and Your Future. I think having the two books together you can't go wrong. So watch for my review of Never Too Late coming in the near future.

[erika.d · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love her show and her books! Her financial plans are so easy and smart. She is realistic and very down to earth. I'm looking forward to being debt free and financially fit!