Middle Class Lifeboat Blog

by Paul Edwards, JD, and Sarah Anne Edwards, LCSW, PhD

Economists worry that Americans will use their tax rebates to pay down bills instead of buying more iPhones and plasma TV’s.  Certainly, decreasing personal debt is a pressing and important need for many Americans, but the best way to spend our rebates might be on neither consumer goods nor debt but on securing our economic futures in a perilous changing economy. 

While a “Recession” is an election year worry, with painful consequences for many people, something bigger is happening with implications for the standard of living and hopes of most Americans and their children’s future — changes that make the more important “R” words (more…)

Practical Tips to Begin the Help You Lift Your Load
by Paul Edwards
co-author Middle-Class Lifeboat

Many Americans are drowning in debt. The average American is carrying over $9000 in credit card debt. Many also have upside down auto loans, ballooning mortgage payments, and college loans.

Is there a Middle Class Lifeboat amidst this sea of debt? Yes, but reducing debt is a necessary step in preparing our own middle-class lifeboat because being weighted down by debt limits your vision and your choices for building a secure lifeboat. So here are some specific things you can do to get rid of debt: (more…)