$pent Millennial

Dear Reader,

Okay, I’ll tell you. 

But it probably won’t be what you want to hear.

I’ll tell you my secret to getting—and staying—debt free.

It isn’t magic. Though, I’ll admit, sometimes it feels like it.

I’ve mentioned before that people always want to know: “How do you do it? How do you pay off debt, and then not fall back into it?”

It’s not just me they are asking. I have seen the videos asking the general public, whoever can tell them. 

I am not going to give you a formula that everyone already knows about how you have to pay more towards your debt and less to other, unnecessary expenses. It is like dieting, we all know the math. I don’t think that is what people are asking.

So, I’ll tell you upfront—I don’t have a magic pill, a bulletproof formula, or a get-rich-quick scam to sell you. But what I do have is the truth about what it really takes – at least what it took for me. Because the truth is, people are feeling it right now. Prices are high. Wages aren’t always enough. And debt feels like quicksand.

So, here’s what helped me.

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1. You need to cover your basics.

This might sound painfully obvious, but it’s where most people get stuck. You need to be able to afford the essentials: shelter, food, utilities, transportation. The boring stuff.

And here’s the hard part: you also need to get honest about what “essentials” really are.

You need shelter—but not your dream home. You need safe, affordable shelter- whatever that looks like for you. That might mean a roommate, downsizing, or something less than ideal for now. It doesn’t have to be permanent. It doesn’t have to be convenient. But it does need to be safe and affordable.

You also need transportation—but again, not necessarily the shiny new car. It could be a bus pass. It could be a bike, depending on where you live. It might even mean carpooling or sharing rides. Whatever it looks like, the goal is simply to get yourself reliably from point A to point B without digging yourself deeper into debt.

Same goes for food: you need groceries that cover the basics. Not fancy meals, not constant takeout, not the convenience of meal delivery services. Just enough to keep yourself fed and healthy (healthy-ish – don’t sacrifice your health, but we aren’t eating for swimsuit contests either right now- even if that is a goal for future you). 

You get the idea. You need to get real. It doesn’t have to be comfortable or convenient, and it doesn’t have to be forever. I always tell myself that I am doing the “hard”, “inconvenient”, “uncomfortable” thing now, so that I can do the easy and enjoyable things later. 

All of these necessary expenses go into your *fixed costs*—bills, rent, and minimum payments. Once those are covered, you can start working with what’s left.

And one more thing while we’re here—streaming services are not needs. They’re nice-to-haves, but they’re not required for survival. When money is tight, Netflix, Spotify, Hulu, Disney+—all of that goes. The basics are the basics. I watch free streaming services and always listen to Spotify ads myself.

Now, I say this with empathy and understanding. I really do. I know people who are struggling are not necessarily out there “wilding out” on expensive takeout and fancy new rides. I know some jobs don’t pay enough. I know families are stretching every penny. I know singles living on one income feel squeezed. There is a systemic problem and an affordability crisis at play here. I’m not ignoring that. 

But the fact is, in order to get to a place where paying off debt is even possible, this needs to be true. You will not be able to pay off debt or start saving to get ahead until you can cover the minimum basic needs. That might mean getting uncomfortable and creative when it comes to cutting expenses and finding ways to try to earn more. 

I understand in this economy, there might be people who legitimately struggle to make this part true. I feel for you. If you cannot afford basic necessities, the next two steps won’t work– no matter how hard you try.

I understand that you cannot pull yourself up by your bootstraps if you don’t have boots, and you cannot get “creative” to find boots when you are operating from survival state. For people in this situation, all I can offer is my support through donations I make, organizations I support, and systems I am working to re-write. My advice here will not serve you. Just know, I see you, and I am doing what is in my small amount of power to help.

The rest of this post is for those who can make this step work.

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2. You need to want it.

And I mean really want it.

This is the part where most people get tripped up. Because paying off debt isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet—it’s about desire. You have to want your financial freedom more than you want the short-term “hits” of convenience or comfort.

Yes, I’m talking about the daily coffee runs. But I’m also talking about bigger things—shopping sprees, vacations, or lifestyle creep.

For me, just “wanting to be debt-free” wasn’t enough. My real *Why* ran deeper.

I used to belong to the school of thought that said: “I shouldn’t have to pay this back. Corporations are greedy. The system is rigged.” And honestly? I still don’t fully disagree. But here’s the reality: this is the game we’re in. And until I paid off my debt, I didn’t get to sit out of it.

My debt kept me chained to jobs I didn’t want, to choices I didn’t like. I realized that as much as I wanted to say I “didn’t care about money,” the truth was I couldn’t “not care”—because I owed it to someone – and they sure cared about it.

So, my why became freedom. I wanted to be able to say “yes” or “no” to any job, any opportunity, without money being the deciding factor. I wanted the option to walk away or dive in.

That’s still what fuels me. It’s why I keep an emergency fund and what I call my “GTFO account” (what some people call FU money). That buffer, combined with being debt-free, means I can say “yes” to myself first. That is my Why.

Your Why might be different—and that’s okay. Maybe it’s a paid-off home. where your kids can run barefoot and fancy free. Maybe it’s being able to hand in a resignation letter at 65 and retiring with security. Maybe it’s van life and making coffee with a different sunrise every morning. Whatever it is, find it. And then feed it daily until it grows stronger than your cravings for the extras and the small conveniences.

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3. You need to pause.

I know that’s a big ask in a world that never stops. People won’t even stop at red lights anymore—I got honked at last week for waiting at a railroad crossing while a train was literally passing through.

But you’ve got to pause. Especially when it comes to your spending (and moving trains).

Before you swipe, tap, or click, take a breath. And build a longer reflection pause it into your routine by sitting down once a week, looking at your spending, and recording your receipts. This will help you be intentional and mindful with your spending and will make those pauses in the moment come more naturally. 

As you record your spending, ask yourself: What need was I trying to meet with this purchase?

Do this for each purchase you made through the week – no matter how big or small. 

Don’t judge it. Don’t dismiss it as “silly” or “frivolous.” Every purchase meets some kind of need—comfort, connection, fun, convenience. Even a $3 pack of gummies is saying something.

When you understand the need behind the purchase, you’ll be much better equipped to find alternatives that meet it in ways that actually serve you—and your goals. Over time, the “splurges” and distractions lose their grip.

And here’s the kicker: sometimes (often times) the alternatives end up being better.

For example, one of my favorite traditions is our “payday date night.” Back when money was tight, we would make a simple homemade salmon dinner to celebrate payday instead of splurging on a dinner out. And you know what? Even now that we can afford takeout or a night out, we usually still choose that salmon dinner. It just feels better.

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There’s no magic here. Just consistency. Just commitment. Just choosing your Why again and again, until it carries you further than you thought possible.

That’s how I paid off my debt. And it’s how I’ve stayed debt-free.

Until next time – take care and go get it (whatever it is)! 

Everett