Sharon Goff

While doing research for my upcoming book, that really has nothing to do with finances, I found an interesting website and support group that I did not know existed. It’s called Debtors Anonymous (D.A.). It caught my interest and I had to peek around the website to see what it was all about, since I like many other people on the planet, have debt to contend with.

It has resources like other 12 step programs, but this one is focused, of course, on debt and spending habits. Some of the documents listed on the site that you can download include:

• Twelve Signs of Compulsive Debting
• The Twelve Steps of D.A.
• The Twelve Tools of D.A.
• The Twelve Promises of D.A.

I have already found this information very helpful!

It had similarities of other types of 12 step programs such as going to regular meetings where you will be with others who are struggling with he same issues, having awareness, having contact with others in the group so you can support each other, gaining help from peers who have recovered from their debt experience, creating a spending plan, etc.

I'll be keeping these resources and tips in mind and it helps me feel less alone in my own struggles with ‘emotional’ spending, debt, and certain thoughts that lead to both. I have more work to do in this area!!

Here are just a few examples below since I don’t have a lot of space to put them all in this article and to give you an idea what the program is about. If you are interested in further looking into it, you can visit: Downloadable Literature - Debtors Anonymous

Twelve Signs of Compulsive Debting:

• Being unclear about your financial situation. Not knowing account balances, monthly expenses, loan interest rates, fees, fines, or contractual obligations.
• Poor saving habits. Not planning for taxes, retirement or other non-recurring but predictable items, and then feeling surprised when they come due; a “live for today, don’t worry about tomorrow” attitude.
• Living in chaos and drama around money: Using one credit card to pay another; bouncing checks; always having a financial crisis to contend with.
• A tendency to live on the edge: living paycheck to paycheck; taking risks with health and car insurance coverage; writing checks hoping money will appear to cover them.
• An unwillingness to care for and value yourself: living in self-imposed deprivation; denying your basic needs in order to pay your creditors.

Twelve Promises of Debtors Anonymous:

• We will live within our means, yet our means will not define us.
• Clarity will replace vagueness. Confidence and intuition will replace confusion and chaos. We will live engaged lives, make decisions that best meet our needs, and become the people we were meant to be.
• We will recognize a Power Greater than ourselves as the source of our abundance. We will ask for help and guidance and have faith that they will come.
• We will no longer fear the truth; we will move from hiding in denial to living in reality.
• We will realize that we are enough; we will value ourselves and our contributions.