Interview with Free Family Finance

• What influenced you to start Free Family Finance?

Like many people, college served as a time of significant personal growth for me. The most significant part of which was the discovery of my passion for personal finance. Previously unaware of the financial bondage that poses as status quo in our society, I stood appalled as my eyes were opened to the realities of credit card debt, poorly structured mortgages, and every other type of financial dysfunction plaguing our consumer driven economy. Upon further investigation, it became clear to me that many, if not most, of these situations were birthed from a profound lack of proper education. This left me full of thoughts, opinions, and a desire to help.

• Do your blogs contain more information for families struggling financially?

I started Free Family Finance the year my wife and I were married. As we began our family, I thought the title seemed only fitting. I wanted the blog to be able to grow with me & my family. Currently the focus is on adults. For the majority of American families, mom & dad hold the keys to success. I am sure as my family grows to include children, Free Family Finance’s focus will grow in that direction as well.

• Where do you get the ideas for your blogs?

I am a personal finance nerd. If my wife were present, she would provide a heart ‘Amen!’ Much of my content comes from my own personal conversations and reading. I am involved in a FPU (Dave Ramsey) class at my church and I do a small amount of personal financial counseling. Many of my best ideas come from those experiences and conversations.

• Does personal experience play a key part in the content of your blogs?

It does. Money has a control over so many lives, often because people allow it to control them. For example, let us consider marriage. When you get hitched, you have a 1 in 4 shoot of getting divorced specifically due to money. That means money controls (at least) 25% of our marriages. That is a heart-breaking reality. Education and organization are keys to defending against that control (albeit marriage or the other areas of our lives in which money has control of us). That is where I hope my blog steps in. That is our mission.

• What 3-5 blogs would you consider essential in understanding how to finance a family?

I am a huge supporter of Dave Ramsey’s work. It is incredibly worthwhile. Mint.com also provides tons of good info on their blog.

Bob at Christianpf.com also does a wonderful job. Additionally, Rob Kuban, a great friend of mine, just finished a book on personal finance. The book is titled “Dollars & Doctrine”. He and I get together each week to talk personal finance. I have a great deal of respect for him.

• What is some financial advice you could offer our readers?

I love the quote by Elizabeth Gilbert, author of “Eat, Pray, Love”…

“Borrowing money is like wetting your bed in the middle of the night. At first all you feel is warmth and release. But very, very quickly comes the awful, cold discomfort of reality.”

I think that summarizes the reality of debt so well. Granted, it is a bit disgusting, but so is debt.

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