The Money Game and How to Win It

Nearly $100,000 in debt not counting the mortgage. That's where David and Ellen Abramson found themselves the day they took a hard look at their finances. InThe Money Game and How to Win It, Ellen shares what it took for them to untangle their money mess and to build a new financial future.

Ellen Abramson is living her 'second act.' After a 30-year career in fundraising for the University of Michigan and the American Red Cross, Ellen carried out a plan to transition from full-time work for a large institution to a life in which she is in charge of her time and able to focus on what gives her life joy and meaning. To make this possible, Ellen and her husband paid down $60,000 of loans and credit card debt and shed $23,000 of vehicle debt within a five-year period. She and her family live debt-free, empowered by a monthly plan for saving, spending, and giving. Ellen holds a BA from the University of Chicago, and an MSW from the University of Michigan. She is chief executive officer of her family business, and president of a personal finance consulting practice.