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1. Save a Small Safety Fund First
You know what’s worse than being in debt? Being in debt and broke.
Because if your car suddenly decides to die or your AC gives up in the middle of a Miami summer, you’ll probably end up using more credit.
That’s why you build a small safety fund first. Just enough to cover those “life happens” moments without swiping your card again.
Think of it as your mini financial shield. Even $500 can keep you from going backward.
And trust me, having a cushion feels way better than sweating every time your phone buzzes with a “payment due” notification.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Start with a small goal. Save $500 using a high-yield savings account like Betterment Cash Reserve and automate transfers weekly until you hit it.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
2. Cut Unnecessary Spending Before Paying Debt
Let’s be real. You can’t pour water into a bucket full of holes.
If you’re trying to pay off debt but money keeps leaking out on takeout, random Amazon “essentials,” or five streaming services (yeah, we see you, Hulu + Netflix + Disney+ combo), it’s gonna feel impossible.
Cutting expenses isn’t punishment. It’s giving your money direction.
You’ll feel surprisingly good when you realize how much you’ve been wasting on “stuff” you barely use.
Suddenly, you’ll have more cash to throw at your debt without feeling broke 24/7.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Track your spending with Rocket Money, cancel one or two subscriptions you don’t need, and use that money to make an extra payment this month.
3. Pause Using Credit Cards
Here’s the deal. You can’t get out of a hole while you’re still digging it.
If you keep using your credit cards while paying them off, it’s like running on a treadmill that’s on fire (and no, that’s not cardio).
Take a break from swiping and start using cash or debit for now.
It’ll hurt a little at first, but you’ll notice how quickly you stop overspending when it’s your money leaving your hands.
Once you’ve got control again, you can use credit wisely later. But not while you’re still climbing out of debt.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Move your cards to a drawer, use only debit cards or cash. Ttreat credit like it’s on vacation until you’re in the clear.
Bonus Tip: Track Your Progress In One Place
You know that feeling when you’re doing everything right, but it still feels like your debt isn’t shrinking fast enough?
That’s because it’s hard to see progress when you’re juggling ten different payments across five different apps (and maybe a sticky note on your fridge).
Tracking everything in one spot makes the whole process way less chaotic, and honestly, way more satisfying.
You’ll actually see your balances dropping and your confidence growing every month.
It’s like watching your own highlight reel of financial wins. And who doesn’t want that? 🙂
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Use Undebt.it, a free tool that shows all your debts, payments, and progress in one clean dashboard so you can track your journey and stay fired up to hit that zero balance faster.
4. Automate Minimum Payments to Avoid Extra Fees
Nothing kills progress like a missed payment fee.
Those $35 “oops” charges add up faster than you’d think. And they can wreck your credit score, too.
Automation is your new best friend.
Set it once, and your payments will go out every month, no stress, no “oh crap, I forgot again” moments.
It’s the easiest way to protect your progress while you focus on bigger financial goals.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: Log into your bank or credit card portal, turn on autopay for the minimum payment amount, and set a reminder in your phone to review it monthly.
5. Focus on One Debt at a Time
Trying to pay everything at once feels like trying to juggle flaming coconuts. Looks impressive, ends badly.
The secret? Focus on one debt at a time using the debt snowball method.
You start with your smallest balance, pay it off, and roll that payment into the next debt, building momentum like a financial avalanche (a good kind).
Each win gives you a hit of motivation. Like crossing the finish line at a marathon… except without the sweat.
By the time you’re done, you’ll look back wondering why you didn’t start sooner.
👉 Here's How You'll Do It: List your debts smallest to largest, pay minimums on all, and throw every extra dollar at the smallest one using a free tool like Undebt.it.
📌 SAVE IT FOR LATER! 📌
And that’s it!
Never forget it…
🍔 A Bigger Bank Account Is Waiting For You!
😉 Dale!
