After making those payments and taking care of monthly expenses like food, utilities, child care, gasoline, etc., there s not much left over to save for retirement, a vacation, or sending the kids to college. Your debt load can be determined by dividing the total amount of your debt payments by your monthly income. Whatever this number is for you, that is how much of a raise you can give yourself when you eliminate your debts. Easier said than done, right? But consider this. . . . Wouldn t your life be better, less stressful, if you could take the money you ve been sending your creditors and use it for yourself and your family? Wouldn t your life be more enjoyable if all your wealth didn t go to your creditors? Wouldn t your life be easier if you made 20 to ...