10 Things I’m Doing to Get Out of Debt

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I’m going to be honest, getting out of debt isn’t glamorous. It’s not fast. It’s not always fun. But for us, it’s necessary. We want freedom, not payments. And after years of telling myself “next month we’ll get serious,” we finally got serious.

Here are 10 real-life things my husband and I are doing to help us get out of debt; nothing fancy, nothing perfect just real life. We are trying to make progress while raising three kids and working multiple jobs. If you’re on this journey too, I see you. Let’s go:

1. Got a Second Job

I LOVE being a realtor, love it. But I’m only in year three, and I don’t have repeat clients yet. That means income is… inconsistent. I needed a more reliable paycheck while I build my business. So I picked up another job.

Is it exhausting some weeks? Yep. Am I proud that I’m doing what it takes? 100%. Sometimes you have to do the unglamorous thing to fund your future goals.

2. We Froze Our Credit Card (but didn’t cancel them)

We’re not anti-credit card. We’re anti-using-it-like-an-emergency-fund. There’s a difference. I literally froze ours as in, tucked it away where I can’t grab it when I’m stressed or tempted.

Now, when something comes up, we actually have to think about it instead of automatically swiping a card. Game changer.

3. We are building a Fully Funded Emergency Fund

Our magic number? $10K. That’s the number that lets me sleep at night.

It’s gonna take time, but every bit we put toward it means one less financial freakout in the future. No more relying on debt for the next broken appliance or ER visit. We’ll be ready.

4. Meal Planning & Prepping… AS A Family!

Look, meal planning sounds great in theory… but it won’t work if no one’s eating the quinoa and broccoli I so hopefully meal planned and prepped for every other day! 😂

Now we plan as a family. If I’m gonna shop, prep, cook, and pack it, it better be food we’ll actually eat. The kids get input. We pack a lot more lunches. And yes, it’s saving us money and cutting down on those random drive-thru stops. (Check my meal plans here!)

👉 Amazon Find: These Bento-style lunch boxes and these reusable sandwich bags are a lifesaver for packing lunches. No more soggy sandwiches or crushed chips and they hold up so well with three kids using them!

5. Planning for Fun Money

I grew up an immigrant kid in a family where fun money wasn’t a thing. We worked, we helped with bills, and we didn’t go out just for fun.

Now? I plan for fun money. On purpose. It’s a privilege, I know, one I don’t take lightly; but I also know that if we budget ZERO fun, we’ll blow the budget later out of pure frustration.

So I set aside a little guilt-free money every month for fun, and it helps us stay sane on this debt journey.

6. Buying Quality Where It Counts

Growing up, we bought the cheapest shoes, clothes, everything. Secondhand, clearance racks, you name it.

Now with three kids running, climbing, and basically destroying their clothes and shoes, I’ve learned that sometimes, buying quality saves money long-term. I’m not buying $100 shoes for an 8-year-old, but I’m also not buying the $9 pair that’ll fall apart in a week.

Strategic quality purchases = fewer replacements = more savings.

7. Buying in Bulk

We buy a side of beef, a whole pig, and stock the freezer. We hit Costco once or twice a month and load up.

Yes, it takes upfront money. Yes, you need a plan (and a freezer!). But bulk buying saves us SO much money; and helps us meal plan smarter, too.

Also? I feel like a pioneer mom with a stocked freezer. It’s oddly satisfying.

8. Monthly Money Meetings… TOGETHER

For years, I handled the budget alone. Honestly? I got resentful.

So I finally told my husband: this is OUR money, and YOU are sitting down with me every month to go over it. He was actually happy to help and made a fancy Excel sheet since he works with those all day. I prefer to work on paper, so I still use my budget planner (find it here). Now it’s a team effort and it’s making a huge difference.

When we both know where the money is going, we both make better choices.

9. Pressing Pause on House Projects

Do I want a beautiful outdoor space? YES. New floors? YES. New kitchen countertops? YES PLEASE.

But debt freedom comes first. We could take out a loan and do these things now. But we’ve decided to wait. We’ll DIY the small stuff (hello, paint), but the big ticket items are on hold until we’re out of consumer debt.

It’s not easy. But it’s worth it.

10. Celebrating Our Wins BIG!

When I make an extra payment on a credit card? I call my husband immediately like it’s breaking news. We get ridiculously happy about it.

And here’s the difference, we no longer celebrate with more spending. No more “let’s go out to eat” every time we make progress. Now we celebrate with a special home-cooked meal and a bottle of wine. Honestly, it feels even better.