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Life or Debt: A One-Week Plan for a Lifetime of Financial Freedom(A Ballantine Books Hardcover Original December, 2001; $23.95; 0-345-45565-7) was first published in 2001 and revised in 2004. It’s still found in major book stores and libraries nationwide. But approved agencies can put their own brand on on private label copies of Life or Debt through a special 80% discount pricing program with Random House. Learn more about privately branded copies of Life or Debt through our education services.
While the Life or Debt program is a perfect revenue enhancement opportunity, it's an especially ideal educational offering for: Inquiries • DMPs • Counseling-Only • Outreach • Pre-Discharge Bankruptcy |
Financial freedom has almost nothing to do with how much you make or what you know about high finance. It all comes down to three basic principles: get rid of the debt that is shackling you, learn to live below your means, and start investing sensibly and consistently. In Life or Debt, Stacy Johnson spells out exactly how to accomplish these goals in a step-by-step plan that covers:
Destroying debt does not mean radically changing your lifestyle or giving up the things you love. It does mean taking charge of your financial freedom and making sure the money you earn goes to the things you care about. The power to live without debt is yours. |
"This book is an excellent resource for anyone working on getting their financial life in order. Not only is it informative, but it is entertaining as well. Stacy has a way with his writing that allows you to enjoy while you are learning about finances. Even if you are financially savvy, this book is a great one to have on hand and share with family & friends." - Unsolicited reader review "I recommend this book. My finances are a disaster, but candidly, I’m more than fed up with the preachy, condescending literature on how the heck to get out of this pickle. Today, though, is a new day. This work is a very approachable, light, yet immensely insightful roadmap to "the other side." A week after receiving this book, FINALLY, I’m on that path. And to my surprise, I'm actually having fun with it. This book probably contributes little "new" to the subject, and probably told me little that I didn't already know, down deep. However, because of the author's approach and encouragement, it contributed...and continues to contribute...greatly to my life. Thanks, Mr. Johnson." - Unsolicited Read Review "I just finished reading your wonderful book, Life or Debt. This book was very easy to read and to understand. Following your charts helped me to see the big picture and plan my strategy to become debt free. My "debt buster" dollars were easily found and will enable me to reach this goal in 1 1/2 years. This includes my car! Now that is fabulous. I am not heavily in debt, but whether you owe 4 debts or 14 debts, the plan is still the same. I have chosen life rather than debt. "My goal is to enjoy my life, not work just to pay off debt. Looking at only 18-years until retirement, I would rather put more money into my 401-K than toward my debt. You were very motivating in your book and have inspired me to begin the process. Keep writing, you did an excellent job with Life or Debt." - Pat Brandon Dear Stacy, May I call you Stacy? I feel like I know you now. I just finished reading your book which I got at the library - amazing but true for someone who buys WAY too many books and will be changing that behavior right away. I had already done a lot of the number crunching in recent months because I had realized that my debt owned me and I was trying to figure a way out of this hell hole. After going through all of your steps I was completely amazed that the debt destruction plan would actually have me out of debt in less than 3 years and then should I choose to use all that freed up dinero I could actually own my home in another 3 and 1/2 years. I am still walking around with my mouth hanging open - not a pretty sight. But hey, I’ll be an unattractive homeowner who actually owns their home! Just to let you in on a secret, you are a good writer because good writing is supposed to communicate and boy, did you! I am 46 with huge amounts of debt but a good income and the common sense, finally, to be willing to replace my old Madison Avenue influenced ways with ones that will bring sanity and freedom. Thanks for such a well-written and accessible book. I feel very hopeful about the future where before I felt pretty bleak. - Addie Hosier "I purchased your book yesterday while I was at the mall with my wife. I finished reading it last night. I thought it was wonderful. "I am going to use the debt buster to eliminate all my debt except mortgage. It will only take 10 months. I am going to be able to leave my wife home to raise our first child instead of working. " We are also going to work toward early retirement. Vanguard 500 index is my favorite also. I just started in it a few months ago. " Thanks again. I am going to give this book to some friends." - Jimmy Reynolds "Thank you for writing this book. It has opened the door to me to start my journey into being debt free but more importantly staying debt free. "I have many so called self help books on getting out of debt but none have been as clear as yours has. Even though I do not have very much debt I have been throwing away a lot of money that I had no clue where it was going. Your suggestion to write down every cent has helped me to plug the leaks. "Again, thanks!" - Versie Rozefort "I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for writing ’Life or Debt.’ By the end of this month my husband and I will have eliminated 4 of our 18 debts. "It feels really good and I know we probably could not have reached this point without your book. Thanks again for inspiring me." - Charisse Morgan-McCain Dear Mr. Johnson, I read your book and took every word of it very seriously...including the last few that said you'd like to know if you have been of any use to our life. Well, it has been! If you'll allow me to expound on it... My husband is also a CPA. As you well know, that doesn’t assure anyone of financial success. As much as I hate to admit it, we also lived pretty much by the money control lifestyle....it controlled us and we worked to pay for it. Even though we haven't been hounded by creditors or have had a major disaster, we were not happy. My husband felt like a failure and I was just trying to do something to make him feel better and maybe miraculously get us out of this mess. We ordered two books, one of which was yours. In order to get at this as quickly as possible, I took yours and he took the other one. As it turned out, we both ended up with exactly what we needed in our hands. I read through your entire book and then went back and read it as I did eveything you said to do. With each step I felt another burden lifted. One night at supper I told my husband that I had found extra money in our budget to help pay off our debts. He almost choked on his supper. Then, we sat down and I showed him exactly what I had done. Now, here's the CPA part.....he started the number crunching and figured out how much money we could save, and how long it would take to pay off each debt. It fullfilled what we had both been looking for....I just wanted a plan that worked to get us out! He wanted the numbers. Now, one thing that I do want to mention that might be of help to others who are struggling. Part of our Debt Destroyer included selling some vacation property. Naturally, that is going to take some time. But, we went ahead and applied what we had readily available in our Debt Destroyer. In other words, we didn't wait! We started right away. Even without the full 10%, we were still able to knock off 2 credit cards in the first month! It has been like a breath of fresh air! In fact, it's hard to know when the property will be sold, so we just keep working with what is available right now....it still works. And, because we are adding the minimum payments from those credit cards, the Debt Destroyer does still keep growing and we get freer, and freer. We are actually somewhat EXCITED to pay our bills! Thank you so much for being so honest in your book and in your approach to money. It has really changed our life and we look forward to really providing for our family the things that make us truly happy. - Kelly Wilson "I read your book, Life or Debt, and I just wanted to tell you how I felt about it. Let me start off by saying that I have read several other self help money books. As a matter of fact, I read The Millionare Next Door. I think that everyone should read your book! I have never read a book where I actually agree with everything mentioned in the book. " I am not burried in debt. Actually I started reading these books because I learned that a friend of mine is a millionare and I didn't even know it. On the other hand, I have a friend and a sister that are buried in debt. It's hard for me to explain to them why I live the way I do. I don't even have call waiting on my phone! "Your simple plan is a life saver and I will spread the word to anyone who wants to know: Hey, it's a good book!" - Quiana Brandon Letters keep coming in. Stay tuned for more feedback...and IF we ever get any negative feedback, we’ll share that, too! |
