10 Debt Lessons You Can Learn from Football Players

[{"selector":"#anim-d59f6c08-50d7-47e5-9553-4615e67f2ae1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":250,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-037a846f-fba5-41e2-aa66-22e68a76609a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

My years in the NFL taught me almost as much about staying out of debt as my subsequent career as president of Debt.com. So let’s kick off 10 Debt Lessons You Can Learn from Football Players.

[{"selector":"#anim-e5e27887-39ac-4cd1-a511-45b0412c6cf4","keyframes":{"opacity":[1,1]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2f53f4d4-bd60-453c-a7dd-cea3ec370657","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(3)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":4000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23c05a86-e408-44e3-8fa7-2f32ef9cd588","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4e5402c0-ee06-4aa9-9f35-4e7a8e1faa08","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-100%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-04d7a40a-557f-42d8-a2c9-aa3127437c13","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

Money will get you out of debt, but it won’t keep you out of debt. I saw that up close for years.

[{"selector":"#anim-8c39f1de-3c3c-4f6b-9922-2cb878724ae3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-99cef8cb-710e-4815-897f-ed5fc428a752","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-90.79229%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gray Frame Corner Learn more

You can’t save money for a new car or a new home, or a new family if you don’t know what life is costing you now.

[{"selector":"#anim-43ec9416-e7d8-488f-b48a-7f0dc03e1899","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cd503f04-c241-4cae-91d3-0c3d23edae73","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-90.79229%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gray Frame Corner Learn more

There are secure online tools that do the boring math for you. Mint is free, while YNAB (You Need A Budget) charges $84 a year but offers more personalization.

[{"selector":"#anim-25c6abff-7a88-442b-a861-bca711a6c602","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d9ce145-454f-4c32-a5f5-d6069601bc59","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-90.79229%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gray Frame Corner Learn more

An emergency fund isn’t just peace of mind. It can save you money because when disaster strikes and you’re not prepared, you often run up your high-interest credit cards

[{"selector":"#anim-0e46a819-9a74-4c77-935e-2ef0ec62f50d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-12593362-0c65-4972-bf5f-9bb11afa9774","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-90.79229%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gray Frame Corner Learn more

If you really want to run up the lead on your emergency fund, ask your boss or your Human Resources Department if they’ll help you.

[{"selector":"#anim-22940b14-e6f3-41f3-9272-c4b8dc389186","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3eb15cb1-5c5d-472b-b9a3-689e6d2fa2f2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-90.79229%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gray Frame Corner Learn more

All you need to do is stop making late payments on your debts. Late fees and overdraft fees cost Americans an average of $577 a year.

[{"selector":"#anim-60b20dd1-1a3a-4ade-a637-9e3885b309a9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3caa754e-656c-4c8f-9312-214d4fe37e36","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-90.79229%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gray Frame Corner Learn more

What most people don’t know is that your credit score is based on your credit reports. These are detailed records of everything you’ve borrowed and paid back (or haven’t paid back).

[{"selector":"#anim-035b626f-97d8-4692-8187-29de2d5b2b4e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-afc7e9a3-d96d-4fe0-bba2-8f310a2ae09b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-90.79229%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gray Frame Corner Learn more

Every NFL player thinks about retirement. Even if you’re a rookie all-star, you know you’re one injury away from a life without football. So everyone needs to think about how to save for retirement.

[{"selector":"#anim-f7c7def8-3dd9-4dfb-a087-d51cdc25384a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72ca40eb-0177-4803-83ed-0a9b576d36ff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-90.79229%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Gray Frame Corner Learn more

Swipe Up for more 10 Debt Lessons You Can Learn from Football Players

[{"selector":"#anim-0ba07bba-ee8d-4baf-ac7b-2b9bf1b953fe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d4bab312-6235-4ad3-911c-92f6c0dc4b7e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -140.51186%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Learn more

More

[{"selector":"#anim-994fc0fd-71fb-491a-9cee-4d9769150680","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-16d0a320-8ab4-4c01-adb7-b4f651de249f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-95020d74-0414-4375-9665-ccafa99002a7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0d3b3cd9-bffb-466a-9672-60332846e9d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2decea23-0bed-4077-96fc-aea9a275b928","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-74ec49a8-30cb-4c00-a037-1fef0600dd1a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-505c1ad7-5c5a-447d-8f58-908c63a1188f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f0882d3d-fa76-4321-a545-f1bdb2e9194c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ae2fcd1a-1392-4877-a636-66cd6f1a031e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":1200,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b74c611-aa71-40fe-a1eb-4dc8cfb0ca42","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02d33c99-5bb4-4e65-a4af-6a611828d9c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-25e3b253-f1a0-4877-a069-a9418b438db8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6e7c598e-f0f1-46b4-9437-107ef7127adc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-172f3b95-b168-4f66-9ca7-419f330d2588","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-131.62394%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4486e8a3-859b-4280-ba28-22369d67d612","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":100,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-00583374-c7b5-4320-b2fb-0b852c9c7912","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-129.88165%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":100,"duration":800,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e0648479-d5f2-4cfc-99f8-01ac762a57eb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0f77b99-b773-499a-b635-6d0908410f77","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3f0e85f3-f091-44bd-8de4-3991f2ed1e5b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The 25 Best Skills to List on Your Resume Women In STEM: 5 Challenges To Overcome & Achieve Success What Should I Do After My Master’s Degree? See More See More See More

10 Debt Lessons You Can Learn from Football Players

The NFL and IOU

My years in the NFL taught me almost as much about staying out of debt as my subsequent career as president of Debt.com. So let’s kick off 10 Debt Lessons You Can Learn from Football Players.

Money will get you out of debt, but it won’t keep you out of debt. I saw that up close for years.

Brains Beat Bucks

You can’t save money for a new car or a new home, or a new family if you don’t know what life is costing you now.

Budgeting is Your Game Plan

There are secure online tools that do the boring math for you. Mint is free, while YNAB (You Need A Budget) charges $84 a year but offers more personalization.

Shorten the Field with Technology

An emergency fund isn’t just peace of mind. It can save you money because when disaster strikes and you’re not prepared, you often run up your high-interest credit cards

Prepare for the Trick Plays of Life

If you really want to run up the lead on your emergency fund, ask your boss or your Human Resources Department if they’ll help you.

Recruit a New Teammate

All you need to do is stop making late payments on your debts. Late fees and overdraft fees cost Americans an average of $577 a year.

Automate Your Money

What most people don’t know is that your credit score is based on your credit reports. These are detailed records of everything you’ve borrowed and paid back (or haven’t paid back).

Check Your Credit Reports

Every NFL player thinks about retirement. Even if you’re a rookie all-star, you know you’re one injury away from a life without football. So everyone needs to think about how to save for retirement.

Plan for Retirement

Swipe Up for more 10 Debt Lessons You Can Learn from Football Players

More

Read