5 Smart Ways to Pay Off Debt Without Giving Up Fun

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1. Focus on One Debt at a Time

You know that overwhelming feeling when you’ve got five different debts staring at you like villains in a bad movie?

Yeah, that’s your cue to stop trying to fight them all at once.

Instead, focus on just one debt. The biggest pain in your wallet.

It’s called the debt snowball (or avalanche if you’re fancy), and it works because your brain loves small wins.

Once you knock one out, the motivation hits different. Suddenly, paying off debt feels like a game you’re winning.

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Pick your smallest debt and pay it off first using a free tracker like Undebt.it to stay organized and see real progress in real time.

📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌


2. Keep a Small Fun Budget to Stay Motivated

Have you ever noticed how cutting all fun makes you want to quit the whole “responsible adult” thing?

That’s because total restriction never works. You’ll just end up stress-buying something dumb later (looking at you, $18 smoothie).

Instead, create a small “fun fund”. A guilt-free zone for coffee, takeout, or a night out with friends.

You’ll stay on track longer when you don’t feel deprived.

It’s not about being cheap. It’s about being strategic with your joy.

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Open a free savings sub-account called “Fun Money” on your bank app and transfer $20–$30 weekly just for small pleasures.

3. Use Windfalls to Pay Down Debt Faster

You know that random work bonus or birthday money from grandma?

Yeah, that’s not “free money”. That’s get-out-of-debt fuel right there.

Most people blow it on stuff they’ll forget in a week, but you? You’ll use it to make a dent in your balance.

It’s like giving your debt a surprise punch while it’s not looking.

And when that balance drops faster, you start feeling unstoppable.

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Every time you get extra cash (tax refund, bonus, Venmo surprise), put at least half toward your next payment. Automate it if possible.

Bonus Tip: Make Debt Payoff Feel Automatic (And Kind of Addicting)

Ever notice how you get motivated when you actually see your progress? Like watching your savings grow or your body change after a few workouts?

That same feeling can make debt payoff addictive (the good kind).

When you track every payment, every win, and every dollar that disappears from what you owe, your brain gets hooked on progress.

That’s where Undebt.it comes in. It’s this ridiculously simple tool that lets you create a free payoff plan, track your balances, and visually see your snowball shrinking week after week.

You’ll literally start opening the app just to admire how far you’ve come. FYI, that’s a much better addiction than checking your credit card statement 😅.

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Sign up for a free Undebt.it account, plug in your balances, and let it build your personalized debt snowball plan so you can see progress faster.

4. Set Up Auto-Pay So You Never Miss a Payment

Missed payments hurt more than Miami rent in July.

You not only lose money on fees. You also wreck your credit score.

Setting up auto-pay takes five minutes but saves you hundreds in the long run.

Plus, it removes the “oops, I forgot” excuse forever.

It’s the adult version of putting your bills on cruise control.

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Log into your bank or credit card account, turn on auto-pay for at least the minimum due, and set a reminder on your phone to check it monthly.

5. Enjoy Guilt-Free Treats Every Time You Make Progress

Paying off debt can feel like running a marathon with no finish line. Unless you celebrate every milestone.

So yeah, treat yourself when you crush a goal. Just don’t blow your budget doing it.

Get a nice dinner, buy that book you wanted, or take a mini beach day.

It’s not about spending. It’s about acknowledging progress and keeping your energy up.

Progress deserves a little fun, not guilt.

👉 Here's How You'll Do It: After every $500 of debt paid, celebrate with something small and meaningful. Like a day trip or your favorite meal under $50.

📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌


And that’s it!

Never forget it… 

🍔 A Bigger Bank Account Is Waiting For You!

😉 Dale!

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Claudio Garcia

Hi! I’m the founder of Money Vice and a passionate personal finance enthusiast. I started this site to help people across America save more with the least difficulty, get rid of debt, and to start putting their money to work (in the easiest way possible).