This is Your Blog YF&Bers...

I am absolutely loving my first few weeks of blogging; it's no secret I've always got plenty on my mind that I want to share!

But what would be absolutely great is if you would tell me more about what would make this blog work for you. Feel free to be blunt. I want to know exactly what you are interested in-and what you could care less about-so I can make this blog fun, interesting, and useful for everyone who is Young, Fabulous and wants to get past Broke ASAP.

So come on, click on the comments link below, and let 'er rip. Tell me what you want to see in this blog.

Comments

[Bill]

my problem is not with credit card or student loan debt, its with back taxes on my house. I keep falling behind on payments, is there a way to formulate a plan so that I can catch my self up while being current?

[John]

Hi Suze, I just wanted to personally thank you because about a year ago at this time i had $22,000 in credit card debt. It is now at $5,000 and I have $10,000 in savings I could use to pay it off. The credit card debt is at 1.9% so I'm taking my time with it. But thanks to your shows I now have a strategy and understand the signifance of savings.

[Tyesa]

I have a question. I have closed out my credit cards that I've had for a long time and I recently opened a credit card last month. What to do since I have "erased" all of my history with the other credit cards?

[Jon]

Hey Suze! Thanks again for writing the book and making a section like this on your website!

As per your question: "But what would be absolutely great is if you would tell me more about what would make this blog work for you."

I would love if you would post a daily "What is Suze Wearing Today?" to your blog! HAHA! You are such a stylish woman not only do I watch your show for the advice but to see what you're wearing! :)

Also it would be great if you can do maybe a Q&A once a week or every couple of days where we can submit a question and you can answer it on the blog! Hope to hear from you soon!

~jon

[Laura]

Suze,

I would love for you to check in with the young 24 year old successful YF&Ber you had on the end of your show last week. I would love to hear about her progress. If she wanted to tell us about your advice she followed and how it worked for her that would be great too. She is my age and I thought here is someone who is fabulous but not pretentious (she does not need to impress other people). It is so refreshing when all of my friends are driving themselves into debt trying to out do each other.

[Shannon]

I am very excited about this site! The book is like a bible for young people and I plan on giving as a gift to everyone I know as they are graduating from high school. What I wouldn't give to have read this back then. I definitely wouldn't be in the financial place that I'm in now!
As far as what I'd like to know more about...the costs of raising a child. I have a beautiful 8 month old daughter and for as wonderful as it is having her, it's a financial yellow light for my husband and me. I am no longer working so that I can be a stay-at-home Mom yet our debt and other bills aren't getting any smaller. Diapers and clothes make up the bulk of expense that is directly related to our daughter but I fear the future when her expenses become bigger. Any ideas would be very appreciated.

[Pauline]

Hi Suze,

I'm not sure what Blog means, but I'd sure like to know how I'm going to pay for the certificate program I want to go into. AND how am I going to get through it while working f/t? Or if I should try for more class time and les work time. I am already looking for a job in my chosen field so maybe I can get the company to pay for some of my tuition.
And, I'm 38, I hope it's not too late.

-Pauline

[Jen]

I really like the site, I have been doing the recommended steps and when broken down like that they are easy to do and make sense. It has taken a lot of the scary out of all of this.

My biggest challenge right now is that I have just gotten full time employment in my field which where I live is something short of a miracle. Especially since the pay is decent however, the place I work for is very small and offers no retirement plan at all. help?!?

Thanks
--Jen

[Isabella]

Hi Suze,

I'd like to see more of "Save Up" --- I'm fortunate enough to have paid my debts off, I don't use my credit card unless I can pay them off the next month, but I don't have anything at the end of the month.... I need to know where else I could save money from ....

Thanks,
Isabella

[Missy]

Suze
Just wanted you to know I am really glad you will be talking about student loans! I will be a grad student next year and every school to which I've applied tells me to fill out some forms and then I have to WAIT and they will put together a "package" for me. I don't get it...how am I supposed to plan for anything? Or do anything proactive? Just WAIT?! I had full scholarships and fellowships for my undergrad degree and my first grad degree, so this is totally foreign to me.
Thanks for the book and this website!!!

[Laural]

Suze,
After three years of putting your advise to work, I'm finally on the right track. I've paid off $38,000 of debt and have been debt free for a year and a half. I've got an emergency fund that will cover my household payments for a year. I'm contributing to my 401K up to the match, and have maxed out my Roth IRA. I'm less than a year away from having enough to put 20% down on a home. My question is when I buy my house, should I focus on extra house payments to pay it off faster, start putting some into separate mutual fund for more savings or a combination of the two?

Thanks,
Laural

[Trung]

Dear Suze,

I love your TV show, new book and new website. I am wonderdering if you can have your show on CNBC every Sat night post on your website so everyone who missed your show on Sat night can go to your website and watch it again.

It would be nice to see this feature in the the future so that EVERYONE CAN WATCH YOUR SHOW.

What do you think?

[donnajune]

Hi S.,
I went to a free NGC (National Grants
Conference) seminar yesterday at the Hilton
in Manhattan yesterday. They want $999.00
from people so they can help them get grants
from the government regarding home ownership
and small business. I was skeptical.
What's your opinion on this?
Thanks,
Donna

[Tennille]

I totally love the book and it is definitely motivating me to take financial action in my life!

However, I am a teacher and I am really confused about my 403b. I thought that when working for a school, the only thing you would receive when you retire is your Social Security (if it will be around) and your pension. Therefore, I have an annuity which I thought was a 403b was so vital. Now from reading, I am finding out a variable annuity like the one I have isn't good. I am feeling just awful about this; I just increased my contributions to $100 a month.

Help!

[Amber]

comments on "This is your blog YF&Bers..."

Dear Suze,

I would like some more detail about sections in the book. Maybe you could rotate and go into more detail about a specific chapter each week. Then people might know what was coming th next week so they would know the best time to ask a certian question.
For example, as far as student loans go-consolidations is good advice, but it gets trickier if one has many different kinds of loans. I have subsidized Staffords, unsubsidized Stafords, Perkins, private and institutional loans all at different interest rates. If I consolidate them all together, do I pay the average interest or the highest? What are the best companies with which to consolidate? ect.

Thanks!

[Bonnie]

Suze,
My husband and I are probably a little on the edge of the young part of the YFB (over 30)and not really broke (bills get paid). But we picked up your book because since he just finished college we are now able to do more than just keep our heads above water.

My question:
My husband quailifies for deferrement on his student loans due to his teaching in a high need field. Should be take it even though we are able to pay the bill each month. My thought is that that 150 could go towards paying off either a higher interest loan taken out from a private instution or a line of credit we utilzed to pay for our house.
I know that we will owe interest on a the unsubdized parts...
Thoughts?

[Sarah]

Hi There,

Read the book and loved it.

What I would like more direction on is finding my nitch in the business world.

I didn't go to college but starting runnng my own business at the age of 18 and have for the past 11 years.In the begining I had lots of enthusiasm and never had a problem doing whatever it took to make it successful. I figured that most people go to college to find a good paying job I had the opportunity to work for myself and make good money.I have done well, financially but have definetly worked hard for it. Now I just find myself dreading going in everyday. I obviosly have lots of knowledge within my business (which is direct sales)but because that's all I've ever done and have become accustomed to a nice life style, I'd like some advice on how to find a "NEW NITCH". You mentioned how important loving what you do is.... and since I'm still young and fabulous just not wanting to be broke again! Any suggestions?

[Chuck Loucks]

Suze, I saw your advise on how to pay off a 30 year mortgage sooner by making extra and/or larger payments and thought you would be thrilled to see my idea of gradually increasing one's mortgage payment by the same percentage as one's annual salary/wage increase. But allas, you seemed to have deep six'ed the idea. I'm curious why there was no interest? The idea even has a name, which is: Growing Equity Mortgage or GEM. BTW, at a 6% interest rate, increasing one's P&I payment by 2% of the previous year's payment will pay off a 30 year mortgage in about 20 years.

[Lisa]

Suze,
I have just started reading the YF&B book. I think it is great. This is the first book I found that helps young people. I currently own a home with my boyfriend and we have about $25,000 in credit card debt put together. We both have a FICO score of above 720 but my interest rates on credit cards are very high, about 17%-23%. The card companies will not lower the percentage. Would it be better if we refinanced our home to pay off the credit cards? Thank you for all your ongoing help!

[Stephen]

My fellow YF&Bers,

If you have access to the Action Planner over at www.suzeorman.com (access granted through purchase of the YF&B book) feel free to stop by the Suze's Notes Forum. Individuals' questions can be asked and replied to by fellow YF&Bers with helpful advice (as a blog is somewhat more of a one-way conversation).

--Stephen

[Melissa]

Hi Suzi,
I just received your book today right after calculating my debt. Wow! What great timing. It would be nice to see reputable financial institutions that would loan money without hidden charges based on the low 600 FICO range. It seems that my FICO score goes down when I start shopping for consolidation loans. After being denied due to my FICO is low due to maxed out credit and lots of inquiry's Great payment record though. I am $40k in debt and choking.....HELP!

[Eric]

I'm not sure if you are answering all of these questions, but I just got your book yesterday and have a question about an item showing on my credit report...In trying to clean up my FICO score, I noticed that a $450 unpaid balance for an ambulance ride shows on my credit report. At the time of the car accident, I was only 17 years of age. When I contacted the ambulance company (which has since been bought out) I was told that because I was under 18, the account should have never have gone on my credit report, and they would be HAPPY to remove it. . . .if I kindly paid the balance in full. I smell a big ugly fish...but I don't know how to challenge this wonky logic of theirs. I just got your book, and haven't read it all yet, but I'm not sure what to do, as this accident happened here in Washington State, over four years ago

[Eric]

I'm not sure if you are answering all of these questions, but I just got your book yesterday and have a question about an item showing on my credit report...In trying to clean up my FICO score, I noticed that a $450 unpaid balance for an ambulance ride shows on my credit report. At the time of the car accident, I was only 17 years of age. When I contacted the ambulance company (which has since been bought out) I was told that because I was under 18, the account should have never have gone on my credit report, and they would be HAPPY to remove it. . . .if I kindly paid the balance in full. I smell a big ugly fish...but I don't know how to challenge this wonky logic of theirs. I just got your book, and haven't read it all yet, but I'm not sure what to do, as this accident happened here in Washington State, over four years ago

[Eric]

I'm not sure if you are answering all of these questions, but I just got your book yesterday and have a question about an item showing on my credit report...In trying to clean up my FICO score, I noticed that a $450 unpaid balance for an ambulance ride shows on my credit report. At the time of the car accident, I was only 17 years of age. When I contacted the ambulance company (which has since been bought out) I was told that because I was under 18, the account should have never have gone on my credit report, and they would be HAPPY to remove it. . . .if I kindly paid the balance in full. I smell a big ugly fish...but I don't know how to challenge this wonky logic of theirs. I just got your book, and haven't read it all yet, yet I'm not sure what to do, as this accident happened here in Washington State, over four years ago

[melinda]

I'm not that young but have a couple questions.My husband 36 and I 33. My husband makes great money when he isn't on lay off. This seems to happen every one to two years lasting around a year. Making it very difficult to invest. I work also but make alot less money. What would you suggest? My other question...his 401 k is unmatched mine only offers 10 cents on the dollar pretax. We have a small Traditional Ira. I know we should roll to a Roth, but should we fund our 401 k's at all? His employer doesn't match contributions but puts $1.80 in an account for him for each hour worked.Thanks!