Adulting & Afraid

Send us Fan Mail Building credit from scratch can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re 17 or 18 and have never had a credit card before. In this episode, Deborah Criddle, the Mortgage Queen, walks through the first steps of establishing credit responsibly, from getting your first job and saving $500 to applying for a secured credit card and developing the habit of paying off your balance. She...

Send us Fan Mail A HELOC can be a powerful financial tool, but when you use your home equity to pay off credit cards, car loans, vacations, and other spending without changing your financial habits, you could put your home at serious risk. In this episode, Deb walks through a real-world example of homeowners who went from owing just $135,000 at a 2.5% mortgage rate to carrying hundreds of thousand...

Send us Fan Mail Student loans can be a valuable tool for paying for an education, but only when they’re used responsibly. In this episode, we take a hard look at student loan debt, why borrowing more than you actually need can become a serious financial problem, and why student loan money should be reserved for legitimate education expenses like tuition, books, and required supplies. We also cove...

Send us Fan Mail Installment loans, like car loans, personal loans, student loans, and other fixed-term loans, can play a major role in your credit profile and your future ability to qualify for a mortgage. In this episode, we break down why making payments for 12+ months, making extra payments, and managing your debt strategically can matter, plus when it actually makes sense to pay a loan off as...

Send us Fan Mail Medical collections can be confusing, especially when it comes to what can actually appear on your credit report. In this episode, we break down the $500 threshold, the 12-month reporting window, what happens when you pay a medical collection, why you should track down medical bills you never receive, and the important difference between medical debt and consumer debt . We also di...

Send us Fan Mail Did your credit score suddenly drop after maxing out a credit card? Don't panic, it may be easier to fix than you think. In this episode, I explain how revolving lines of credit, credit utilization, and statement cutoff dates can dramatically impact your credit score, especially if you're preparing to buy a home. You'll learn why maxed-out credit cards can lower you...

Send us Fan Mail Maxing out your credit cards can have a much bigger impact on your credit score than most people realize. In this episode, I break down one of the biggest credit myths, that carrying a balance helps your score, and explain why paying down revolving credit is often the fastest way to improve your credit. I also share a real client story where paying off a high credit card balance a...

Send us Fan Mail Want to improve your credit score in as little as 30 days? In this episode of Adulting and Afraid , Deb the Mortgage Queen shares five simple credit card strategies that can help transform your credit by lowering utilization, avoiding interest, and building healthy financial habits. Learn why you should treat your credit card like a debit card, how statement closing dates and paym...

In this episode of Adulting and Afraid, Deborah sits down with her good friend Julie Hawkes, an energy healer whose passion is helping people create better, more balanced lives. Julie shares what energy healing really is (and what it isn’t), how our thoughts and emotions can impact our daily lives, and simple ways people can start becoming more aware of their own energy. Whether you're feelin...

Neuropathy affects millions, but most treatments only mask the pain with medications like gabapentin, without fixing the underlying cause. In this video, Deborah the “Mortgage Queen” sits down with an Idaho Falls chiropractor to explain a new protocol that targets the root causes of nerve damage : blood sugar imbalances, chronic inflammation, and poor circulation. Learn how this approach combines...

I guess I get to be put to the test as Tory comes and shares what he knows and what he has learned.  Who knows, did I get an F in teaching class or a B-?  Guess you will have to listen and grade it!  Listen from someone who has just entered the credit world.  Ya know you want to!  

Job jumped?  Recently Self Employed?  Plan to be self employed?  I cover all things employment and why.   This is worth the listen if you are interested in buying a home and have a few changes in your employment world.  

LET'S DEBUNK 1 QUICK THEORY ON CASH, LETS TALK ABOUT EARL AND BILL.  ARE YOU READY TO TAKE A PLUNGE?

You do not need 5 new trade-ins to have good scores.  You do not need 10 lines of credit.  Slow down, do these in a proper fashion in your budget fool!  BUDGET!  Do not over extend.  

Medical bills are so dumb!  Some get reported to credit, some you cannot even find because they sale the account to different collection agencies.... So what now?  WE ARE GONNA FIGHT A BATTLE ALL!  1

Did you ever watch that Friends Episode when Rachel gets her first paycheck and doesn't know who "FICA" is and why he took all her money?  Well, that's gross and net.  Learn the difference here!

I got tossed in a rabbit hole and learned something that should FREAK you out cause it did me for sure!

What if you start right now, buying real estate and can retire in 30-35 years?  Sounds crazy to think 30-35 years?!?!  But what if you are 25 and start?  Retire at 55?  I THINK SO!

Okay- so what if you house hop and take full advantage of all the options while you’re young!  RETIRE AT 55 or younger?  Yeah I think so. 

What if you could buy a home right now?  Let's try. Walk through the first steps and see how easy it really can be! 

What do we have set aside for a housing payment so we are ready to jump in and pre-qualify for a home!  Basic math people..... get out the notebook and lets do some basic math!  

How did I get into this business and where do YOU start when it comes to buying a home.  Yes, you want to listen to this. Kind of a fun little story and ALSO- you better not have "that" item in your purse/wallet or I will PUNCH you in the FACE!  :)

Dumbest word in the English Language. Mortgage- the T is silent, well, I think it is.  What isn't silent?  How excited you will be when you buy your VERY own home!  Let's get ready for this.  What is a mortgage?  Step 1 of 50 steps to get ready for a home purchase.  Well, maybe not 50 but I am going to make sure you have every step ready and understood!  

Review, recap, make sure you are ready to go... If not, go back, listen and BE PREPARED for next week and weeks to come cause we are PREPPING TO BUY A HOUSE BABY!!

That is right! Your name, your phone # could be getting sold just by your inquiry.