A client of mine — we’ll call her Jenna — didn’t start with a big raise.
She didn’t get a bonus.
She didn’t win the lottery.
She started with her grocery bill.
She realized she was spending more than she thought, so she got intentional. Planned her meals. Shopped with a list. Cut back just enough to free up a couple hundred dollars a month.
Then she did something simple… and powerful:
She sent that money straight to her debt.
Next, she called her service providers.
Negotiated her internet bill.
Shopped her insurance.
Canceled a few subscriptions she wasn’t really using.
Every dollar she freed up?
Went to her debt.
And then something interesting happened.
She started watching her balances drop.
At first, it was small.
Then it started to pick up.
Then it became addictive.
The Shift That Changes Everything
When we first started working together, Jenna felt:
Ashamed.
Defeated.
Stuck.
Like no matter how much she made, she couldn’t get ahead.
But when she shifted from reacting to her finances…to proactively attacking them?
Everything changed.
She wasn’t avoiding her numbers anymore.
She was using them.
She wasn’t hoping things would improve.
She was making it happen.
And that shift?
That’s where momentum is built.
If You’re Ready to Get Out of Debt Faster, Start Here:
1. Pick a Strategy You’ll Stick With
There’s no “perfect” method. There’s only the one you’ll follow through on.
Here are a few options:
- Snowball → Pay off smallest balances first for quick wins
- Avalanche → Pay off highest interest rates first (best mathematically)
- Big Rock → Knock out one large, high-impact debt
- Debbie Downer → Focus on the debt that stresses you out the most
The best method?
👉 The one that keeps you going when motivation dips.
2. Don’t Wait Until the End of the Month
This is a big one.
Most people make their debt payments last…after everything else.
Instead:
👉 Pay your debt when you get paid
Even if it’s smaller, more frequent payments.
This:
- Reduces interest
- Keeps you engaged
- Prevents “leftover money” from disappearing
3. Negotiate Your Bills
You’d be surprised how much flexibility exists.
Call and ask:
- Lower interest rates
- Payment plans
- Hardship programs
Also review:
- Insurance premiums
- Subscriptions
- Monthly services
Every dollar you free up?
👉 That’s another dollar attacking your debt. Apply it immediately.
4. Trim (Not Eliminate) Spending
You don’t need to make your life miserable.
But you do need to be intentional.
Start here:
👉 Dining out
It’s usually the easiest lever to pull.
Even cutting back slightly can free up hundreds per month.
Remember:
This is temporary.
5. Use Debt Strategically (Carefully)
This one comes with a big asterisk.
Sometimes, restructuring debt can help:
- 0% balance transfer credit cards
- HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit)
- Personal loan
This can lower interest and speed things up.
But be careful:
👉 This only works if spending is under control
Otherwise, you just move the problem around and have the potential to rack up even more debt.
6. Increase Your Income (This Is Huge)
This is the most underrated strategy.
Cutting expenses helps.
But increasing income?
That’s where things accelerate.
Ideas:
- Sell items on Facebook Marketplace
- Walk dogs in your neighborhood
- Babysit
- Freelance or pick up small gigs
- Work overtime
Even an extra $100/week = $400/month
That’s nearly $5,000/year toward your debt.
That’s not small.
That’s momentum.
7. Track Your Progress (And Celebrate It)
Debt payoff can feel long. Try breaking it down into short sprints. Make every week count.
Make progress visible.
- Track balances monthly
- Watch numbers go down
- Celebrate small wins
Paid off a card?
👉 That matters.
Progress builds motivation.
8. Leave Shame Out of It
Shame doesn’t help.
It keeps you stuck.
What does help?
👉 Action.
This season may require:
- Hard work
- Sacrifice
- Saying no more often
But it won’t last forever.
Final Thought
You don’t need to be perfect.
You need to be consistent.
Debt doesn’t disappear overnight.
But with a plan, it does disappear.
And you don’t have to do it alone.
I’m here to walk with you through it.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start…
Let’s build a plan that actually works for your life.
