Dear Debt: A Story About Breaking Up With Debt

by Melanie Lockert

In her debut book "Dear Debt," personal finance expert Melanie Lockert combines her endearing and humorous personal narrative with practical tools to help readers overcome the crippling effects of debt. Drawing from her personal experience of paying off eighty thousand dollars of student loan debt, Melanie provides a wealth of money-saving tips to help her community of debt fighters navigate the repayment process, increase current income, and ultimately become debt-free. By breaking down complex financial concepts into clear, manageable tools and step-by-step processes, Melanie has provided a venerable guide to overcoming debt fatigue and obtaining financial freedom.

Inside "Dear Debt" you will learn to:
- Find the debt repayment strategy most effective for your needs
- Avoid spending temptations by knowing your triggers
- Replace expensive habits with cheaper alternatives
- Become a frugal friend without being rude
- Start a side hustle to boost your current income
- Negotiate your salary to maximize value
- Develop a financial plan for life after debt

Genres: Finance, Nonfiction, Personal Finance

12 pages, Paperback

Published August 12, 2016

About the author

Melanie Lockert is the personality behind the award-winning blog, Dear Debt, where she chronicled her journey out of $81,000 in student loan debt. Through her blog, she inspires readers to break up with debt by writing their very own breakup letter to debt.

In 2015, Melanie (and her journey out of debt) was named one of the top five most inspiring personal finance stories of the year by Yahoo! Finance. She currently works as a freelance writer and event planner. Melanie and her work have appeared in Business Insider, The Huffington Post, Yahoo! Finance, INC, and more.

Originally from the Los Angeles area, Melanie moved to New York City to attend New York University. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and a Master of Arts in Performance Studies. After stints in New York City and Portland, Oregon, she returned to Los Angeles, where she currently resides.

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Albeit a very good book about tackling debt there's one thing Melanie doesn't have that a great many of us sitting in large debt don't. Kids. Being a single mom with very little monetary support from the 2nd parent makes many of her points moot from my standpoint. She's not accounting in expenses like school lunches and after school activites (sports are a wallet buster for sure). I'm not saying that her tips aren't useful as I've been trying to use those for years now. I'm just saying. Melanie... Write another book once you have a 10 year old boy who eats enough for an army, grows an inch a month and blows through shoes 4-5 times a year. Or point me to a book from someone who does and is still successful at conquering the never ending circle of debt

[Jeffrey Trull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! Just about all the info you need to pay off debt packed into one book with no fluff.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jam packed with useful information and handy resources with a healthy mix of humor and inspiration!

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a book read as a part of a larger project I'm working on dealing with young professionals and debt. It just happens to be the first one reviewed. Overall, the book reads like a series of blog posts sort of put together for publishing in print. There isn't anything really wowing about this, but the concept is a useful one nonetheless. Considering the good thing that debt brought and thanking it as part of letters helps people to put things in perspective. Downfalls: while I commend the author on paying off her debt, she's writing from a place of privilege that I'm guessing most of her readers don't have. Assuming people have the option of moving in with someone who is footing most of the bills, not considering children or race or past or so many things, all issues. That said, there are enough good-for-everyone tips in here (for example, this is the first place I've seen the suggestion of paying off debt that pisses you off the most first) that it's still worth reading. Recommended, very sparingly. Don't pay for it, borrow it from a library. Saving money is the whole point.

[Chantel Dixon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The tone of it is very easy to read and I was able to relate to so much of the experiences that Melanie and other contributors have had. It has encouraged me to keep on going with paying off my debts.

[Bonnie G. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A quick read, this was rather redundant with not a lot of practical advice or real motivation. Basically a blog collages book- but not entertaining enough or educational enough to add to your financial library

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I follow the author on instagram and check her website periodically. She has lots of actionable steps in the book, and it's an inspiring story. Recommended.

[Calee Spinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read, and inspirational for anyone going down the road to being debt free. Unfortunately for me, it's a bit elementary for where I am in my journey, although reinforcement isn't a bad thing. I liked that she included lists with specific resources.