Things I Gave Up To Pay Off My Mountain of Debt
Debt is something that plagues so many people. In the United States alone, over 77% of people have some type of debt, whether it be from student loans, credit cards, or medical bills.
I was one of those people.
My freelance writing jobs slowed down, and I was not earning a lot of money at my entry-level job. However, I was determined to get out of debt as quickly as possible.
I made a few small sacrifices to pay off my debt. By doing so, I paid off the majority of my debt in 18 months.
Here is what I gave up in the process.
1. My Credit Cards
Every time I paid one of my credit cards off, I usually would max it out again even when I knew I should use my debit card. I was paying interest on groceries, fuel, and other things that I should have been using the money in my checking account for. I realized that I was paying more than what the products were worth in interest alone. After careful consideration, I ended up deciding to only use my checking account or cash at the checkout.
2. My Free Time
I gave up my free time to pay off some debt. I started delivering groceries, cleaning houses, and picking up odd jobs around the community. This may sound like a time sacrifice, but it felt fulfilling as I was helping others and meeting new people around me.
I started Door-Dashing around my neighborhood as well; which really helped me reach my goals a lot quicker. The flexibility in schedule and quick payouts encouraged me to keep going.
3. My Soft Drinks and Fast Food
Believe it or not, this was my hardest sacrifice. Soft drinks were my addiction. After I stopped drinking caffeine, I encountered headaches and irritability. However, it was worth it in the end. I couldn’t believe how much money I spent on soft drinks, coffee, and fast food a month.
4. My Cable
I didn’t notice this one too much, because I kept myself occupied in the meantime. I prefer watching Youtube anyway…
