This week's "How'd You Do It?" Wednesday was about safely leaving a dangerous relationship. Here are some listeners' tips:

[My friend] always found she was stronger and more able to leave him while she was talking to or around friends... So while she was with friends one day, she asked everyone that if there came a day that she called on the spur of a moment, if all of us would be able to drop everything and help her move out?However, in a couple months, all of a sudden she stopped talking to all her friends and disappeared... obviously because she got back together with him. So advice... CUT OFF ALL CONTACT AFTERWARDS! She said she wanted to put closure on things, which ended up being the thing to bring them back together.

I couldn't have done it without my friends or family who love and care about me. The night it happened, a Crisis group from St. Paul called me and told me about a support group which I attended weekly for several months. If you know someone in an abusive relationship, try to at least be there for them when they do decide to leave, they will need your support!

When I heard myself say the next time he hits me I'll leave, it dawned on me, Why did there have to be a next time? So I called a couple of my male friends and told them what was going on. They said they would move me out and into a girl friend's house as long I promised never to go back. I moved out the next day. And never looked back.

How to get out of a dangerous relationship: REPORT IT! Get it on record because it will follow him if he does it to you or someone else in the future. My mother did this when my father became abusive. We were lucky enough to resolve it, but he was forced to go for a psych eval, anger mgmnt, and neurotics anonymous. This website is AWESOME: www.mcbw.org

I moved across the country while he was in California for two weeks.

He was in the military and was being deployed to Bosnia. During his leave is when I got enough guts to leave. I would recommend any contact being done with other people around.

I had my daughter call 911... While he was in jail for the weekend, I moved. I also got a restraining order and called police EVERY TIME he called!

1. Get the restraining order and CARRY IT WITH YOU keep copy on you, in the car etc...
2. Stay somewhere else for a week friends, family, women's shelter
3. Change your routine a little (take a different route to work, park in a different area, etc?.)
4. Inform your boss, school, daycare what's going on. More than likely they might come to your job and/or kids schools
5. Follow through when they break the restraining order (not if but WHEN cuz they will eventually)
6. If you have to leave make sure that you have all your stuff in order (papers, money, clothes etc)
7. Make sure you take advantage of domestic violence support groups and/or get therapy. Read books on leaving abusive relationships and start all over from here rebuilding your new life. You might need to obtain a job, get an apartment, get a car, etc. What people don?t' realize is that this part is also really hard. Once you've left you have to heal from the abuse but you also are dealing with a breakup at the same time so it makes it twice as hard. It takes a woman an average of 7 times to leave so when you are ready and going to go MAKE A PLAN!

The "Man Your Man Could Smell Like" Old Spice commercial is easily the best commercial ever. This video talks with the guys who wrote it, and how it was made. It's a 19 minute video, but easily worth every minute.

Once again, it's "How'd You Do It?" Wednesday. Today's topic: How'd you get out of debt?

If consumers want legit help dealing with their debts they should contact a nonprofit credit counseling agency that will give them solid advice. (NOT debt settlement companies) -Anne, Consumer Rights Attorney

Find the debt that you are paying that is most harmful. This is usually credit cards with high interest rates. Pay the minimum amount on all other debt but the most harmful (i.e., credit card). Then, try to pay at least twice if not more than the minimum payments. Think about that minimum payment, say $20, and cut that out of your spending a month so that you can pay double or triple on it. -Jamie

I called and basically told them, "I'll pay it off today if you'll settle for half" and every single creditor agreed. A few of them took less than half. -Adam

Strive to reduce your monthly bills (turn the heat down at night and when you away, get rid of the movie channels and check out DVDs for free at the library instead). Try talking to your service providers and tell them you are trying to cut costs. Ask them if there is a better plan to meet your needs. It never hurts to ask. -Kimberly

MOST important 1st step: Get $1000 in a SAVINGS account. (DO NOT USE IT UNLESS IT?S AN EMERGENCY) Once you have that set up, you can move on to getting out of debt. But if an emergency comes up, you will have that set aside and it won?t get in the way of your plan to get rid of debt.

The main thing that helped us was what is called the Envelope System. You budget your cash for the month. For example, my husband and I have an envelope for each of the following categories: Me($100) this is for anything that I want to blow it on (Make up, shoes, fast food, candy bar, book, earrings, etc), My husband ($100) same for him (hunting stuff, happy hour after work, video game, whatever), Groceries ($250), Household ($150) (Laundry detergent, shampoo, swiffer pads, Ziploc bags, hangers, whatever you might need that you would run out to Target for), Gas ($200), Entertainment ($100) -Christie

Read Dave Ramsey?s Total Money Makeover. -Chris

A debt management program worked for me because they don't allow you to charge on a credit card or you are kicked out of the program. I spent 3 years without using any credit cards and now the temptation is gone. I don't even have a credit card now. -Teri

Stop using your credit cards to pay for the things that add up so quickly that you don?t even notice (gas, groceries etc). Start using your debit card for everything, so you are keeping track (and so is your bank). Then you can start being more accountable for your spending and use the ?leftovers? to pay that card and everything else off. -Tiffany

I stopped buying drinks and dinner for friends that didn't make as much as me. If you cannot afford it don't buy it. -Stephen

I took the Financial Peace class through my church. It was created by Dave Ramsey. It was an excellent course. -Sarah

If you can pay every 2 weeks rather than once a month, it saves on Interest Fees. -Brande

My husband and I take out $400 cash each week. We only use the debit card for gas. Having cash makes me pay attention to what I'm spending, because I used to nickel and dime us. If we make a big purchase (for example, a tv) we'll save up, charge it and pay the credit card off the next month. This helps us build our credit without it getting out of control. -Dajon

CUT UP YOUR CARDS! Learn that you can not live beyond your means. If you don?t have the money you DO NOT BUY IT! Believe me, it takes time to relearn how to live your life without a credit card. -Maggie

Thanks to everyone who came with us to Afton Alps, and to everyone who met us out there! Here are some pictures from the day.

Every Wednesday, we're doing a bit called "How'd You Do It?" This week, we asked how people either lost the stubborn last 15 pounds, or how they lost a ton of weight. Here are some of the responses. If you're struggling with your weight, hopefully something below will resonate with you!

I never cut anything out, just used common sense and switched to whole grains, more protein and more vegetables/fruit. Cut back on eating out and started cooking more. I cut back on drinking alcohol and always drink at least 3, 32oz nalgene's during my work day. I consume two more of these when working out. I have been able to keep the weight off for two years and counting. -Jessica

I quit depriving and then over compensating as a reward and now eat whatever I want in smaller portions. ?Jenni

I started keeping a food diary and counting calories. ?Kayla

Never give up, I don?t give myself a 'get out of jail free' card for working out. Even if I don?t feel well I go because as soon as you let yourself skip one session, then it?s easier to skip another then another and before you know it, you?ve broken your routine. So no skipping. ?Jennifer

I exercise 5+ days a week and vary my workouts between swimming, running, cycling and lifting weights. ?Lori

I used to have 2 glasses of wine at night. I cut that down to just once a week. Upped my water intake considerably. Cut out most breads, cheese and bigger lunches. ?Amy

I eat very healthy Monday through Friday every 2-3 hours and then on the weekends I eat what ever I want, I also drink a TON of water which keeps me full?it was hard at first but shopping is fun again and that is what keeps me going. ?Kelly

I lost the last 15 by eating normally, but watching what I ate like not having the second double cheeseburger in the drive through & running 4.5 miles every other day. ?Robert

I stuck to a very strict workout plan 4 times a week for mixing both cardio and free weights and after every workout I swam at least a mile. ?Jordan

To lose the last 15...I stopped drinking pop all together! ?Kay

I took the plunge and did metabolic testing. I started wearing a heart rate monitor when I ran on the treadmill, working out in my specific heart rate zones. You would be AMAZED what a difference in fat/weight loss you see when you exercise zone specifically! ?Lisa

Gluten free/casein free diet. You can still have carbs but they need to be made with different flours. ?Christina

I really didn?t lose weight until I included sitting in the sauna and stretch out. And in a week I lost 5 pounds. ?Leticia

I no longer eat fast food, drink soda, eat fried anything, drink alcohol, or indulge in sweets. It's very hard being on such a strict diet sometimes but I know in the long run it will be worth it and better for my health. ?Angela

I cut out mayo and sauces. Basically ate what I wanted, just cut out the crap. ?Bob

I lost 30 pounds by eating a breakfast banana, big lunch, and not eating after 6:00 at night. Have kept it off 2 years. ?Karen

Counted sodium, cals, then added sugar and that did it... Crazy how much sugar you eat! ?Gena

I stopped drinking pop! ?Laura