🔎 Disclosure: WE DON’T SELL ANY COURSES. Money Vice is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The ideas presented on this site are opinions and are presented for entertainment purposes only. We’re not licensed financial advisors. The information presented should not be construed as financial or legal advice. Always do your own due diligence.
1. Know How Much You Owe and Spend
Let’s be real. Most people don’t actually know how much they owe.
They just swipe, pray, and hope future-you deals with it later.
But that’s like driving blindfolded on I-95 during rush hour. Yeah, not fun.
You can’t fix what you don’t see, and debt works the same way.
So grab your bank statements, credit cards, and bills, and face the numbers head-on. It’s scary for five minutes but freeing for years.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use a free app like Rocket Money to see all your debts and expenses in one place instantly.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
2. Set a Small Savings Goal First
You don’t need to start saving thousands right away (calm down, Jeff Bezos).
Start small. Like saving $10 from every paycheck.
It’s not about the amount; it’s about building the habit.
That small start builds momentum, and before you know it, saving feels automatic.
You’ll feel proud every time your balance grows. Even if it’s just a few bucks.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Open a free high-yield savings account (like at Betterment) and automate $10–$25 a week to it.
3. Pay a Little More Than the Minimum on Debts
Paying only the minimum balance is like running on a treadmill. You’re moving, but you’re not going anywhere.
Even paying an extra $20–$50 a month can shave years off your debt.
It’s not magic. It’s math.
Every extra dollar hits the principal, meaning less interest over time.
And that small “extra” starts adding up faster than you think.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use the debt avalanche method with a free tool like Undebt.it to pay off high-interest debts first and save money in the process.
Bonus Tip: Make Your Money Work on Autopilot
You’ve got your budget and your debt plan rolling. Now it’s time to let your savings appear.
Once you’ve got a little breathing room, paying yourself first will always be your best power move.
You don’t need to be a genius to start saving a lot easily. You just need to be consistent!
That’s where tools that do the work automatically come in.
A smart platform like Betterment automatically gets a cut from your paycheck to your savings based on your goals, and you can adjust as life changes.
It’s simple, beginner-friendly, and honestly feels like putting your money on cruise control.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Open a Betterment account, link your savings, and set a recurring transfer so your extra cash gets saved automatically while you chill.
4. Keep It Going with Easy Automation
Here’s the deal: willpower fades, but automation doesn’t.
You can’t forget to save or pay your bills if your system does it for you.
Automation makes you the boss of your money, even on lazy Sundays.
Think of it as your invisible financial assistant that never complains or calls in sick.
Once set, it keeps your goals on track without you even thinking about it.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Set up automatic transfers for bills and savings using your bank app and Betterment to stay consistent without effort.
5. Find Simple Ways to Spend Less
You don’t have to live on ramen noodles to save money.
You just need to cut the fluff. The stuff that doesn’t add value.
Do you really need five different streaming services when you only watch one?
Small cuts like that don’t hurt, but they still fatten your wallet.
It’s like trimming palm trees. You remove the dead parts so the rest can grow strong.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use Rocket Money to cancel unused subscriptions and track where your money’s leaking every month.
6. Find Side Income to Boost Cash Flow
You know what makes saving easier? Having more money to work with.
Cutting expenses is cool, but earning extra cash? That’s the real cheat code.
You could sell stuff you don’t use, freelance online, or rent out your parking spot. Yes, people actually do that.
Even an extra $100 a month makes a difference when it’s going toward your goals.
And who knows, that side hustle might just turn into something big.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Try selling on Facebook Marketplace or pick up quick gigs on Fiverr or DoorDash to boost your income right away.
7. Avoid Taking on New Debt
Nothing kills financial progress faster than adding new debt while paying off old ones.
It’s like trying to drain a pool while the hose is still running. Pointless.
If you don’t have the cash for it, you probably don’t need it right now.
The goal isn’t to live like a monk. It’s to live smart.
Once you stop adding new debt, you’ll actually feel your progress for the first time.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use only a debit card or cash for daily spending and freeze your credit cards (literally, in your freezer if you have to).
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
And that’s it!
Never forget it…
🍔 A Bigger Bank Account Is Waiting For You!
😉 Dale!
