prosper-inc’s posterous

My life prior to Prosper Inc was ok I suppose. I only had one credit and 4 months left on my car payment. I was planning to pay everything off, well except for my mortgage because I thought that was good debt. I was investing in my 401K but really didn't pay attention to it. I worked as a contractor for IBM for 9 years. I was making about $52,000 a year. I felt like I was doing ok until I lost my job. That was a really tough situation for me. I had a little bit of savings, but I didn't have 6 months to a year of savings. Fortunately the day I lost my job, I had a job interview. I was really hoping this would turn out. Well it did. 

I found out that I got the job after two weeks being without a job. I thought I was saved. I was with the same contracting company and still working in the same building at IBM but in a different department. I was hoping to make the same salary. Well that wasn't the case. My contract company cut my salary exactly $20,000. YIKES!!!! It felt like somebody slapped my face and punched me in the stomach at the same time. I had to use all of my savings, plus credit cards just to keep up. When I made $52,000.00 I was living slightly below my means. Now making $32,000.00 a month, I was living way above my means. I just couldn't make ends meet. So now I'm racking up credit card debts. I got consolidation loans to consolidate my cards and car payment. I just panicked. After a year of failure to control my finances I was ready to try anything. I got a school loan so I could possible start a new career in Web design. Even though it put me more in debt, it did increase my salary about $10,000.00. Now I'm at $42,000.00. Now I'm kind of breaking even. Still, I was so use to using credit cards to get by, I got deeper in to debt and didn't know how to stop this downward spiral. I prayed a lot and cried a lot. I couldn't believe how much debt I had gotten into within 2 years. I've never in my life had this much debt.

One morning when I was driving to work, I would hear the commercials for John Commuta's Transforming your Debt into Wealth. What interest me was getting debt free with only the salary that you made. I believe that commercial aired every morning on the radio until I called and ordered the books and CDs. I signed up for the coaching sessions because I knew that I needed more help. I thought I was going to learn how to get out of debt, but it has been much more than that. Not only am I learning how to get out of debt with the accelerator margin technique, I'm also learning how to invest after I get out of debt. Now I know that I need to save a certain percentage of my salary in my savings account. I've learned how to manager my little side business better. I've learned the right way to prepare my taxes. I can't wait until my coaching sessions start on wealth building. As of now, I have two credit cards paid off. I will have the third card paid off in November. My fourth and final card would be paid off in 2008. I can pay off my house and loans within 8 Years or less. I never thought I could do that. Just knowing that I will be out of debt very early, I've set new goals in my life. I would like to run my own web business and retire from corporate America. 

I would like to have over $5,000,000.00 or more in investments when I retire. I want to travel and do charity work with my church. I would also like to help others get out of the same rut I was in. I would like to be a coach to them to help them through it. This program has changed the way I view life. I'm going to keep my car as long as it runs and gets me from point A to B. Now I can say NO!!! to telemarketers with giving in to their guilt trips. I'm honest with my friends about my finances. If I can't afford a dinner and a movie, I just would invite them to my house and let everything chip in to rent a movie and ask everyone to bring a snack. I spend my money wisely when I go grocery shopping. I bring my lunch to work everyday. If I want to go out to eat, I will put some money aside and plan the best date to go out. I do my expense tracking in a excel spreadsheet so I can see how much money I'm spending in a given month. These little tips have been very helpful to me when it comes to being in control of my finance. I'm very grateful for my coach and to this program.

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My life prior to Prosper Inc was ok I suppose. I only had one credit and 4 months left on my car payment. I was planning to pay everything off, well except for my mortgage because I thought that was good debt. I was investing in my 401K but really didn't pay attention to it. I worked as a contractor for IBM for 9 years. I was making about $52,000 a year. I felt like I was doing ok until I lost my job. That was a really tough situation for me. I had a little bit of savings, but I didn't have 6 months to a year of savings. Fortunately the day I lost my job, I had a job interview. I was really hoping this would turn out. Well it did. I found out that I got the job after two weeks being without a job. I thought I was saved. I was with the same contracting company and still working in the same building at IBM but in a different department. I was hoping to make the same salary. Well that wasn't the case. My contract company cut my salary exactly $20,000. YIKES!!!! It felt like somebody slapped my face and punched me in the stomach at the same time. I had to use all of my savings, plus credit cards just to keep up. When I made $52,000.00 I was living slightly below my means. Now making $32,000.00 a month, I was living way above my means. I just couldn't make ends meet. So now I'm racking up credit card debts. I got consolidation loans to consolidate my cards and car payment. I just panicked. After a year of failure to control my finances I was ready to try anything. I got a school loan so I could possible start a new career in Web design. Even though it put me more in debt, it did increase my salary about $10,000.00. Now I'm at $42,000.00. Now I'm kind of breaking even. Still, I was so use to using credit cards to get by, I got deeper in to debt and didn't know how to stop this downward spiral. I prayed a lot and cried a lot. I couldn't believe how much debt I had gotten into within 2 years. I've never in my life had this much debt.

One morning when I was driving to work, I would hear the commercials for John Commuta's Transforming your Debt into Wealth. What interest me was getting debt free with only the salary that you made. I believe that commercial aired every morning on the radio until I called and ordered the books and CDs. I signed up for the coaching sessions because I knew that I needed more help. I thought I was going to learn how to get out of debt, but it has been much more than that. Not only am I learning how to get out of debt with the accelerator margin technique, I'm also learning how to invest after I get out of debt. Now I know that I need to save a certain percentage of my salary in my savings account. I've learned how to manager my little side business better. I've learned the right way to prepare my taxes. I can't wait until my coaching sessions start on wealth building. As of now, I have two credit cards paid off. I will have the third card paid off in November. My fourth and final card would be paid off in 2008. I can pay off my house and loans within 8 Years or less. I never thought I could do that. Just knowing that I will be out of debt very early, I've set new goals in my life. I would like to run my own web business and retire from corporate America. I would like to have over $5,000,000.00 or more in investments when I retire. I want to travel and do charity work with my church. I would also like to help others get out of the same rut I was in. I would like to be a coach to them to help them through it. 

This program has changed the way I view life. I'm going to keep my car as long as it runs and gets me from point A to B. Now I can say NO!!! to telemarketers with giving in to their guilt trips. I'm honest with my friends about my finances. If I can't afford a dinner and a movie, I just would invite them to my house and let everything chip in to rent a movie and ask everyone to bring a snack. I spend my money wisely when I go grocery shopping. I bring my lunch to work everyday. If I want to go out to eat, I will put some money aside and plan the best date to go out. I track my expense in a excel spreadsheet so I can see how much money I'm spending in a given month. These little tips have been very helpful to me when it comes to being in control of my finance. I'm very grateful for my coach and to this program.

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We are very happy with the Prosper Inc coaching program. Before we started this program we really were not very good with our money, and of course that is why we had so much debt. Our coach has really helped us to change the way we think about our money, and that would have been the hardest thing to change if we were doing this on our own. 

We found more ways to save money from our coach and the wonderful materials that we received with the Turning Debt into Wealth system. We have transferred our biggest credit card debt to a 0% for 2 Years credit card and the estimated savings on that is at least $2000. With our current accelerator margin, we will be debt free in 7 years. We are always looking for ways now to decrease that time, but because of this program we now know how to do that!

We now have hope about our future together, our dreams are a closer reality now than they have ever been since we have a plan to work toward them, and without our coach we probably would still be stuck in the same place we have always been.

Thank you, Thank you for everything!!!

Todd & Melody Albright

Denver, CO

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We’ve Developed a More Positive Attitude About Our Financial Future!!

I was hard at work at my computer one day when I heard an advertisement on the radio for the TDIW Prosper Inc. system. I talked to Kurt about it, and we decided to give it a try. It seems that we've been slowly but surely digging ourselves into a hole of debt ever since we got married almost 8 years ago. We moved into a new house in September of 2001 and took out a second mortgage so that we could put in a back yard, add a patio and patio cover and redo the entire front yard, and we also took one vacation too many that we couldn't afford about 2 years ago which started us down the road of not paying our credit card balance off every month. We were definitely looking for a change.

What first attracted us to the system was the fact that you could get out of debt using your existing income. Since beginning the program, we've developed a more positive attitude about our financial future and feel that there is a definite 'light at the end of the tunnel'. It's exciting to know that we are working hard to get out of debt and will be able to pay off all of our debt, including our mortgage, many years earlier than we ever thought we could have. 

Since starting the program, we have learned to track our expenses closer, and we now are using the 'spending compass' on a consistent basis. We got through Christmas this year without having to dread paying off Christmas bills in January because we didn't overspend on gifts in December. We sold some baseball cards and added the profit from these to our accelerator margin. We transferred our high-interest credit card debt to another credit card with a 0% APR for over a year, freeing up the interest we were paying each month to now be added to our accelerator margin to get us out of debt ever faster. We are also in the process of doing some adjustments to our W2s and 457 plans in order to free up even more money to add to our accelerator margin. We also make use of coupons, and we recycle and put whatever money we get from recycling into our accelerator margin.

Some of our personal short-term goals are to sell some of our many very nice collectible items on Ebay and add the profit of these items into our accelerator margin and to keep brainstorming ways to \'trim the fat\' in our budget. 

We greatly appreciate all the help and ideas you have given us to help us achieve debt freedom, and we look forward to continuing to work with you in the future to achieve this goal.

Sincerely,

Julie (and Kurt) K.

Corona, CA

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Taking This Course Has Made All the Difference!!

I have gained some very important knowledge and abilities since I have been studying the Prosper Inc TDIW system in the past three months with Monty Cassel as my personal coach. Also, I have developed some new ways of looking at and estimating my own personal finances. I have been able to establish some important goals for achieving personal financial independence along with some specific ways to accomplish this. My ideas and attitudes toward my finances have become changed. I now feel more realistic and confident about them. 

Briefly, I have learned to keep track of my spending in a very systematic and detailed way in the Expense Tracker form on my computer. This has been helpful for me so that I can keep track and be aware of how much and for what purpose I am spending my money. This has been helpful and has provided me a way to keep a much better control and watch over my spending. Also with the Prosper Financial Scorecard, I have been able to find out and record my assets and liabilities in order to estimate my net worth. Also, I have learned about the concepts of cash flow and debt elimination and how they are related to net worth also. I am learning the “business sense” side of life, something very important. 

I have also learned about some new ways of gaining income from investing in real estate and from the stock market. I have learned a lot but I know there is still a great wealth of information that is waiting for me in the Prosper Learning Success Center on these subjects. My debt-free date according to TDIW chart will occur in April, 2014. From this time on it means that I could be saving everything that I was spending on the funds that I was using to pay off all my debts. Of course it could come sooner if and when I become proficient at investing in the Stock Market and other ways of earning income from home-based businesses. Since I am just beginning that portion of the Prosper Learning course, I believe that this will be that I will be successful. 

All in all, I feel like I have accomplished a great deal with regards to my personal financial goals and my future so far. Taking the course has made all the difference.

Gilbert S.

Melvindale, MI

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Bestselling One Minute Entrepreneur Typifies Philosophy of Provo Company

Provo, UT – June 3, 2008 – The One Minute Entrepreneur, published in April 2008 by Currency/Doubleday, has appeared on several bestseller lists, including The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and as the #1 New York Times business bestseller for the month of May.

The youngest of the book’s three authors is Ethan Willis, who currently gives most of his attention to his role as chief executive officer at Prosper Inc., a Provo-based distance education company he cofounded in 1999 with Randy Garn. Willis’ entrepreneurial experience also includes founding three other companies: Adcafe.com, a leader in online lead generation; TSN, an online business tutorial with over 20,000 members; and Education Success Inc., which has sold more than 400,000 downloadable business courses.

“Growing up in a family of nine children, I was aware that making ends meet was a frequent challenge. People are always looking for ways to supplement their income, and entrepreneurship can make that possible,” Willis said. “As the book highlights, finding the right mentor and applying proven techniques is critical to starting a successful business. I’ve seen it my life and in the lives of our students.”

For the book, Willis provided a list of twenty key characteristics which are common to today’s successful entrepreneurs, based on his experience with Prosper’s 40,000 students. This list of “E-strengths” is designed to help readers discover their entrepreneurial potential. Considering the current state of the U.S. economy, the release of the book is timely. The book is also finding international success, with strong sales in Brazil, South Korea and the United Kingdom.

“Especially in a soft economy, there is often a necessity for entrepreneurship. Prosper is uniquely positioned to give students the training and one-on-one support they need,” Willis said. “Our students are proof that it is possible to start a business and secure a better future for oneself using the principles we share in The One Minute Entrepreneur.”

About Prosper Inc.

Prosper Inc., based in Provo, Utah, is a global leader of coaching and distance training in real estate investing, stock market investing, entrepreneurship, e-commerce, and personal finance. Prosper Inc. has coached more than 40,000 students since its founding in 1999, and currently educates thousands of students enrolled in its programs in 76 countries. Visit Prosper Inc. at http://www.prospercorp.com.

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Prosper Inc. Has Given Me a Sense of a Brighter, Financially Smarter Future!! 

Status of my Cash Flow & Debt Plan-I will be turning in the leased car on Feb. 1st which will free up $88.00 per month on car insurance, $192.00 per year on car registration and about $1,200.00 a year on gas. I will use this extra cash to increase payments on my zero interest credit card with the idea of paying it off quicker. I need to update and re-evaluate my Debt Free Date. I can honestly say that this program has given me a better sense of a brighter, financially “smarter” future. It will just take some hard work and diligence on my part. But, with the tools provided I believe I will accomplish this. 

Lisa R.

Anaheim, CA

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We Couldn’t Have Asked for a Better Coach!! 

We started working with Prosper Inc. in August 2007. After hearing commercials on the Sean Hannity show regarding the “Transforming Debt into Wealth” (TDIW) program from John Cummuta, we decided to order the program. We were at a point in our lives that we didn’t know how to get out of debt so we could retire “some day”. We were “spiraling the drain” and needed some creative ideas to help us attain our goal of simply retiring. John Cummuta seemed to understand exactly where we were in our lives. 

Upon receiving the material from TDIW, we completed the “Questionnaire Form to Prepare for Consultation”, faxed it to Jerry Wilson, had our initial consultation and awaited the extended consultation appointment with Darin. At the end of the extended consultation with Darin we were thrilled to learn that he thought we would be good prospects to go forward with the full course offered through Prosper. 

John Packard was the coach assigned to our account, he is very intelligent, an easy communicator, and extremely positive. We couldn’t have asked for a better person to work with during this learning process.

John taught us so much in a short time that we will work with all of his advice and suggestions for many months and years to come. Because of the Tax Sentry Seminar offered through Prosper, we have taken our ‘little” home based business from a sole proprietorship to a corporation and recently expanded the business from that point. This step alone is far more than we ever expected we would accomplish when we sought to develop a “little” home based business in spring of 2007. Because of the vast array of live seminars offered by Prosper and the library of seminars available on file, we have been able to learn in a very short time what it takes some business owners years to learn. 

We are actually overwhelmed at times with how fast our business is progressing and the vast amount of information we are learning from the coaching sessions. We are going to need time to just let it all settle. As we work on the lessons from John, and work on our business, our lives are not the mundane lives of just one year ago. We actually see the light at the end of the tunnel that will allow us to retire and not worry about money.

Currently we are spending quite a bit of money in our business, but it is money that are tax deductions now, but payoff as revenue in the future.

We were amazed at how keeping a cash flow journal shocked us; we really thought we didn’t spend any extra money that wasn’t necessary! We were so wrong! There were many times that I would find a reason to go grocery shopping or to Wal-Mart to buy “necessities” for the family and home. Because really that wasn’t foolish money, it would benefit everyone…. we needed those items! That way of thinking is gone. Now I really enjoy window shopping and watching other people spend their money on the things they really don’t need. 

Christmas 2007 was a wonderful holiday; it was the first time that we did not spend so much that it would keep us awake at night. 

Our debt elimination is a slower process, because we have moved ahead with the business so rambunctiously. We are still on course, but our debt free date is a little longer than some others in this program. We were extremely in debt and the added business expenses made our debt free date as 2019. We know that as the business grows, we will be able to shorten this date. 

John has given us incredible tools for monitoring our 401K, and our other retirement accounts. Before Prosper we were at the mercy of our account manager. We met once a year to make sure we were “in the investments we should be for our age.” Because of John, we are now watching our own accounts and will make adjustments as we see the trends change. 

All of the valuable CDs, and reading material will be listened to again and again and read and re-read. Along with those tools, are the numerous websites we visit to glean even more information. Among our favorite is Sandy Botkin, and the website taxreductioninstitute.com. Sandy is energetic, intelligent, and quick witted which makes his CDs and books very enjoyable. 

After the sessions with John end, we will be able to call him as needed and visit the library at Prosper Learning Center. We will not be left on our own to try and figure out the day-to-day as we continue to track spending and eliminate our debt. We appreciate the support that everyone at Prosper offers. 

Donald and Dottie A.

Anderson, CA

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Your Coaching Has Been Invaluable!!

We joined Prosper Inc. on November 3, 2007. At that time we were in a panic situation. We had several areas of financial disaster and were too upset to be able to think clearly as to how to address any of them…

…We have sold Michael’s 2004 car, the newer of the two and the one that mostly sat in the garage. Part of the money purchased a 1995 Honda which will serve his needs very well. The remainder covered Christmas and is going against the credit cards.

In November we began a used book sales business on Amazon.com. It was unexpectedly successful (we have sold 70 books so far) so our business deduction on our tax returns is assured for 2007.

The reading I have been assigned has been a real eye-opener. When reading all the details of really bad money managers, I saw myself everywhere. And Michael has come to realize that this is a two-person trip. He cannot simply hand it over to me because he thinks he has no money skills. Well, neither do I. So it’s time for both of us to get with the program. We have each, in our own way, spent money the other was unaware of.

I have learned to think carefully before buying anything. I was shocked at the price of dental floss, certainly not an item I had ever paid any attention to before. I watch more closely for sales and completely delete items that are not necessary. We have learned that we actually can eat leftovers instead of letting them age in the refrigerator until they have to be thrown out. We can also eat out of the accumulation in 2 freezers instead of always running to the store to buy whatever happens to appeal at the moment. The main phrase is, “Do I really need it?”

We were fortunate enough to have 2 credit cards that offered low balance transfer rates. One gave us 0% for 12 months and another 1.99% for 6 months. We moved all the balances on our higher interest rate cards to these two. This enabled us to have only 2 cards with balances and 3 with a zero balance. The payments on these 2 cards will have a much higher percentage applying to the principal, not the interest.

I have not yet established a debt free date. But we have determined some financial goals for immediate action.

Adam, your coaching has been invaluable. I know I have allowed myself to become distracted by many other areas of my life and left incomplete the work you have assigned me to do. I am going to make a larger effort to move this more towards the top of the priority list. I thank you for your patience and excellent suggestions. I am looking forward to continuing this journey with you.

Regards,

Sue L.

Antioch, CA

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We Already Recommended this Prosper Inc Program to Our Friends!!

My husband and I are both under 30 and already feeling the strains of being in debt. We were worried about our future and the prospects of starting a family and saving for retirement really scared us. Since we've started this program with Prosper Inc. our lives have only gotten better. With an accelarator margin of $350 we are knocking out debts one by one. Once we have paid them all off in about 7 years, including our house, we can start saving and investing for that future. If you asked us 6 months ago if we thought we would be debt free in under 10 years, we would have laughed! Now, we want to beat the 7 year mark and become debt free even sooner. Our whole mindset has completely changed in terms of our spending. We are much more frugal with our finances and it is paying off! We already recommend this program to our friends and try to pass on the knowledge that we have learned, because it works and will change lives. Thank you so much!!!

George C.

London, OH

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