Crushing Debt

Back in March (episode 507), we did a show about the "Sweet 16" worst money habits to see which was the worst for your wallet and budget.  We decided to bring that episode back, but with 16 new "bad" money habits based on a World Cup-style seeding. Group A: Everyday Leaks Subscription creep Food delivery apps Impulse buys ("just this once") Convenience store runs Group B: Big Ticket Traps Buy Now,...

Why will paying off debt not make you wealthy? What is the tax trap inside your debt payoff plan? What is the difference between being debt-free and financially free? Most business owners who end up in financial crisis did not get there because they failed to earn enough. They got there because nobody ever showed them how to keep what they earned. Revenue is not wealth, and that gap is where the r...

What are the known and hidden costs of getting sick? What about a medical emergency? Are you prepared for the cost of unexpected health issues and how can you protect yourself, your family, and your bank account? On this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk about Shawn's son, who broke his arm recently, requiring surgery to fix.  His son is expected to make a full recov...

Are money problems spilling over to work? What can you do for your employees to reduce stress?  Reduce down time? What can you do for employee retention? What is a "stop for this" purchase? As an employer, how can you reduce the chance that you get asked to give advances of payroll to employees? In this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to Barry Sanborn about the cos...

What are some of your more expensive habits? What impact does summer have on your spending? In this week's episode of the podcast, Shawn & George talk about summer's most expensive habits, including: Weddings / Vacations / Family Outings Summer Camps & Kids Activities Concerts Home Improvement Projects Pets Subscriptions Back to School Shopping Cost of Living Changes What other summer spending hab...

It is officially  the start of Hurricane Season in Florida! Are you prepared? What are some funny hurricane truths? How much water should you have?  Toilet paper? Flash lights and batteries? How should you prepare your family and your business for the financial impact of a storm? On this week's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk about these topics, including whether you are...

Why do people think bankruptcy is bad? True, it has a negative stigma and it will be a hit to your credit score, but why is bankruptcy perceived as a massive negative? Is bankruptcy the best solution for everyone?  Put simply, no it is not, but it is better than most people will admit. On this week's episode of The Crushing Debt Podccast, Shawn and George talk about rising debt levels, rising gas...

Are you celebrating your freedom this weekend?   Or are you still trapped by debt? Or are you spending like you're out of control? Memorial Day   weekend is here… The grills are out, the coolers are full… and somehow your bank account is empty by Tuesday.  Memorial Day  isn't just a long  weekend. It's about honoring those who gave everything. Freedom comes with a cost. What are you doing with the...

How is that summer body, bathing suit body coming along? Every year around this time… people start talking about getting their summer body ready; eating better… hitting the gym… cutting back… but nobody's talking about their summer budget. J ust like your body, if you ignore it all year and panic in May, things get uncomfortable real fast! Summer bodies vs. summer budgets! On this week's episode o...

What is one piece of advice you received that is really useful? What about advice that you would rather ignore? On today's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast, as Graduation 2026 nears closer, Shawn & George talk about financial advice you may have received - good, bad or otherwise - like: Follow your passion Do what you love Take risks while you're young Money will come later You deserve it - pu...

Buying a house?  Can you get assistance with your downpayment? Are there income requirements for getting downpayment assistance? Do you have to be a first time homebuyer to get downpayment assistance? What is the difference between MIP and PMI? On this week's episode, we talk to Michael Banner for his fourth appearance on the show.  You can hear Michael on episodes: 400 - Sleeping Giant of the Sen...

AI is becoming a financial "advisor"… but does it know you ? Are you using AI for budgets, investing, medical or even legal advice? Should you trust AI with your money? AI can give you answers… but it can't give you accountability." On this week's episide Shawn & George asked AI for Financial Advice:  What AI Gets RIGHT (Be fair and exciting) What AI Gets WRONG (or Dangerous) AI & Investing: Oppor...

What are some confessions about money that you don't want to admit? What were you taught about money versus what is reality about money? If you could start over with money, or had to start over with money, what would you do? Financial literacy isn't about being "smart with money"… it's about unlearning bad habits we picked up growing up, on TikTok, or just by surviving life. April is Financial Lit...

Are you using personal credit cards to run your business? Are you traking what you spend by category? Do you have multiple "deferred interest" or "90-days same as cash" debt balances? If so, then this week's podcast episode is an interview by Shawn & George of Nancy Ward, of www. WeeklyDebtPlan.com .  There's a moment a lot of solopreneurs hit:  they're putting in the work, the business is moving,...

What does TikTok get right, and what does it get very wrong? Girl Marth and Boy Math, what could go wrong? On this week's episode of the podcast, Shawn and George doomscroll ... um deep dive into some TikTok advice.  What do we agree with?  Disagree with?  Laugh with, and laugh at? You can watch the videos directly on TikTok at these links: https://www.tiktok.com/@rachelcruze/video/760383252563024...

March Madness is one of our favorite times of the year! Therefore, we've put together a list of the 16 worst money habits, in a "Salty-16" to see which habit wins as the worst habit. LEFT REGION: Everyday & Emotional   B1   ·   EVERYDAY MONEY LEAKS 1   Daily impulse spending  vs. 16   Forgotten subscriptions  People instantly relate.   B2   ·   EMOTIONAL SPENDING 8   Stress shopping  vs. 9   Rewar...

What is a lucky break? Were they lucky or were they ready? Can you actually create your own luck? How do you position yourself to be lucky?  How do you engineer your own luck? On this week's episode, Shawn & George, two professionals who've seen it all - one from the courtroom, on from the coaching room - dismantle the myth that financially successful people are simply lucky, and make the case tha...

Welcome to the Religion of Crushing Debt, where we regularly confess our sins and ask for forgiveness. What sins have you committed that you would like forgiveness from Shawn & George? In this week's episode, we talk about financial "sins" most borrowers make, even innocently or unbeknownst to them.  Some of the sins include: I make money but live paycheck to paycheck. I maxed out my 401(k) but ha...

What are some common things that hold people back from building wealth? What can you do to avoid or counter these things, and how can you build wealth? On this week's episode of the Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk about ten things that typically hold people back from building wealth and what they can do about it, including: Lifestyle Creep / Inflation Confusing consumption with investin...

Why is "we never fight about money" an unhealthy sign to a relationship? Can you overcome your ego to ask for help? This week's guest on the Crushing Debt Podcast is TJ Recinella, a financial coach, speaker, and the founder of TJR Financial Coaching, where he helps individuals and couples  dream big and live free  by moving from financial stress and confusion to clarity, confidence, and long-term...

Happy Valentine's Day from The Crushing Debt Podcast! What is "good debt?" What is "bad debt?" What is debt that is neither good or bad? In this week's episode, Shawn & George talk about the difference between "good" and "bad" debt, including a four-question debt test: Does the debt help you earn more money? Is the interest rate under control? Would "future me" thank "present me" for this decision...

Do you work with family? How does relationship-based networking impact your life? Your company?  Your bottom line? What are some of the biggest misconceptions about networking? In this week's episode of The Crushing Debt Podcast, Shawn & George talk to Spencer Reynolds and his son Kamryn Reynolds, Co-Executive Directors of BNI Tampa. Originally from Northern Utah, Spencer and his family packed up...

FIVE HUNDRED EPISODES of The Crushing Debt Podcast !! Who knew way back in November 2015, that the Podcase would: (1) turn 10 years old, and (2) celebrate episode 500? We like to think that The Crushing Debt Podcast is Florida's longest running legal episodic podcast - maybe even the Country's longest running... What have we learned over 500 (plus) episodes? What has changed in terms of money and...

What would you do if you had to start over in 2026? Would starting over be a reset or a setback? In this week's episode, Shawn & George talk about what you would do if you suddenly lost everything and you had to start over again.  Unfortunately, this is a common theme amongst clients as they deal with job loss, divorce, poor economic conditions, health issues, etc. In this week's episode, we talk...

You should visit your doctor annually for a physical.  Do you give your business an annual check up?  If so, when? What things should you focus on in January as we start the new year? In this week's episode, Shawn & George talk about these topics and more, including: Tax Compliance Corporation or LLC renewal Reviewing Your Prior Years' Numbers Expense and Recurring Payments Audit Pricing Audit (sh...