Your Money Actually — A Free Newsletter From Steve Rhode

I’ve been helping people deal with debt since 1994. I filed bankruptcy myself in 1990. And for 30 years, I’ve watched the same pattern play out: the people and institutions telling you how to handle your money are playing by a completely different set of rules.

That’s why I started Your Money Actually — a free newsletter where I send you the financial information that the people profiting from your confusion hope you never see.

Here’s What I Mean

This week I wrote about the Vermont Catholic Diocese filing bankruptcy — how they spent $2.1 million on lawyers and shielded $500 million in property while 119 abuse survivors waited. That article has the facts, the judge’s quotes, and what it means for your options.

But in the newsletter, I went deeper.

I dug into the data most people never see. It’s not just 43 Catholic organizations that have filed bankruptcy. The Crystal Cathedral filed with $55 million in debt. The Baptist Foundation of Arizona went bankrupt. First AME Church of Los Angeles filed in 2024. Synagogues and Islamic centers have filed too. According to the American Bankruptcy Institute, 59 religious organizations filed Chapter 11 every year between 2014 and 2019. Most of them were small churches — not headlines.

The site gives you the story. The newsletter gives you the part that changes how you think about your own situation — the context, the patterns, and the questions nobody else is asking.

That’s what Your Money Actually is. Not clickbait. Not ads for debt settlement companies. The deeper take you won’t find anywhere else.

What You’ll Get

• The exposed hypocrisy — when the people telling you what to do with your money are doing the opposite themselves
• The hidden math — the real numbers behind debt relief options, including the ones nobody wants you to compare
• The options nobody tells you about — because the debt industry makes money when you stay confused and afraid
• My honest opinion — 30 years in the debt industry, including running a credit counseling organization. I’ve seen how the system works from the inside

What You Won’t Get

• Ads or sponsored content — nobody pays me to recommend anything
• Generic “stop buying lattes” advice — that’s not why you’re in debt
• Shame or guilt — debt is math, not morality
• One-size-fits-all answers — your situation is unique and deserves a real response

Why Free?

Because I’m 66 years old and I’m not building a business. I’m building a legacy.

I spent decades watching people get hurt by bad information, high-pressure sales tactics, and moral shaming designed to keep them paying interest instead of protecting their future. I started Get Out of Debt Guy in 2004 to fight that. Your Money Actually is the same mission in your inbox.

No paywall. No upsell. Just what I’d tell you if we were sitting at my kitchen table.

If you’re already dealing with debt right now, don’t wait for the newsletter. Use the tools below to start making decisions based on your actual numbers today.

FAQ

What is Your Money Actually?

Your Money Actually is a free weekly newsletter written by Steve Rhode, the Get Out of Debt Guy. Each issue covers a financial topic most people never hear about — exposed industry hypocrisy, hidden costs of common debt advice, and the real math behind your options. It’s delivered to your inbox through Substack.

Is it really free?

Yes. There is no paid tier, no upsell, and no paywall. Every subscriber gets every issue. There are no ads or sponsored content.

How often will I receive it?

Typically once or twice a week. You’ll only hear from me when I have something worth saying — not on a rigid schedule designed to fill your inbox.

Who writes it?

I do — Steve Rhode. I’ve been in the debt industry since 1994, filed bankruptcy myself in 1990, and ran a nonprofit credit counseling organization. Every word in the newsletter is mine. No ghostwriters, no AI-generated filler.

Can I unsubscribe?

Anytime, with one click. Every email has an unsubscribe link at the bottom. No guilt trips, no “are you sure?” hoops to jump through.