steps we're taking to be debt free in our early thirties

one thing that i haven't shared too much about publicly is finances. mostly because it's always been a personal topic that i haven't cared to share. but i'm changing my stance on that today because it's become something of a passion project of mine and honestly, i think it's something that needs to be shared so we can all inspire each other to keep on keepin' on. ✌

i had shared on the blog last year that one of our goals over the next three-ish years is to become completely debt free. COMPLETELY. i mean, there might be a sliver of a mortgage left. but darn it, we're attacking all of it.

why? because we're so so sick of the burden. we're so sick of the mentality that debt is normal. because we want to build wealth rather than riches. we have big dreams of building a home for our family, off grid & in cash with no debt holding us hostage. to travel & make memories without worrying about making the mortgage payment. to show our kids that a debt free life IS possible.

If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else. - dave ramsey

before you go thinking that I'm a naturally frugal person--I'm not. andrew is the saver in our relationship. and I'm the emotional spender. as in, it's superrrr easy for me to justify purchases--especially when it's for jack or gifts or has sentimental value. it's taken me a while to come around, it can sound good in theory but difficult to implement & alter hab. but between the two of us, we balance each other out. we don't want to hoard our money or never enjoy things--but we also want to be intentional about it. and paying off debt, that comes first so we are then completely free to choose where we place our hard-earned money going forward.

don't think of saving money as a punishment. think of saving money as a lifestyle change and a means to freedom. - emily g. stroud

Personal finance is about 80 percent behavior. It is only about 20 percent head knowledge. - dave ramsey

here are some practical things that we're doing now so we can hit our early thirties debt free ☟

setting + adhering to a budget: we've been using + loving the "every dollar budgeting app" created by dave ramsey. it's a simple way to log your income + expenses + savings goals--completely customizable. we log our expenses at the end of the week within our chosen categories, then whatever is left over our minimum threshold is extra to be thrown at the principal on our debt.

creating a vision: it's all well + good to talk about adhering to a budget but when you're faced with a new target ad or could use a phone upgrade, it's tough to stick to. it personally helps me to visualize our end goal. being tighter with our fun money right now means that there will be opportunity for bigger, better dreams in the future. so i focus on that. if that means pasting pictures to a vision board, then so be it!

spending less: this means choosing the less fun, budget friendly option most times...so that we have that much more money left at the end of each month to take a bigger chunk out of our debt. we have set pretty strict parameters on our extra spending for the time being--sometimes we bend it a little, but most of the time, we stick to it and "just say no" because whatever we're considering spending on can probably wait--even if seems like a necessity at first. kinda crazy what we can actually do without. beyond budgeting, it's also a great minimalistic practice--it causes us to really think about what we're buying and if we'll actually use it rather than buying on a whim, going to waste or if we're simply adding to the clutter. here's some ways that we're spending less ☟

one vehicle family

we sold our extra vehicles prior to our big move + paid off our certified, pre-owned car last year (wayyyyy ahead of time to skip all the extra interest). we've chosen to stick with just one small, conservative vehicle for now to save on car insurance + upkeep costs. eventually, as our family grows we'll have to invest in a larger vehicle but it will be paid for with cash. and in turn we'll sell our little cruze--remaining at one vehicle. it can be a little inconvenient sometimes + requires a little coordinating on the days i need the car during work hours, but we make it work. and it's not nearly as bad as you'd think. NOTE: i work from home, so it's a no-brainer for our family. i know that one vehicle just isn't realistic for everyone. i will add that i know of friends who have commuted together to make one vehicle work--again, coordinating required but doable.

christian healthcare ministries

sharing network

we are technically uninsured & are instead active members of CHM. we each have a chosen plan (gold, silver & bronze are available) based on our needs that determines our monthly "gift." rather than this money going somewhere we'll never see again, our money goes into a "pot" which pays for other member's medical bills. when we have a bill over our deductible, we submit them to CHM and receive reimbursement from that same pot. for example, my maternity expenses for jack were completely covered. my doctor and hospital treated us as uninsured patients, with a discounted rate. those bills were then submitted to CHM and upon verification/approval we were completely reimbursed. it does involve the work of keeping track on your end & i highly recommend setting up a savings account for medical expenses to cover costs until you can be reimbursed. but if you're up for it, it can be a legitimate money saving option. even when i had an insurance plan available to me as part of my employment benefits package, CHM was by far the more affordable & beneficial program. this isn't always the case, some employers can offer much better options if they are a larger business, etc. and sometimes state care is best depending on your income. just know your options. if you have more questions on CHM or are interested in switching over--lemme know, because i've got answers & a link that will help both of us save a little money.

meal planning

with some flexibility--we make a plan for the month, grocery shop when we're not hungry, and cook at home rather than eat out. it's always cheaper + healthier. yeah, yeah--sometimes we just have to do a chic-fil-a run--no shame. and we budget for that--enough to eat out once or twice a month which is factored into our overall grocery budget. food is food. but for the most part--we're an instant pot/crockpot/casserole type of family and we love our leftovers. we much prefer to buy in bulk monthly from costco & regularly from aldi, not only does it save time but it saves a lot of money. meal planning is where it's at--plan & buy what you need, rather than shop haphazardly & waste. note: we do make occasional trips to the local grocery store because the closest aldi is over 30 minutes away and there are times when your time is more valuable.

make do with what you have

whether it's your pantry or your kids pants, having the mentality that you have to use what you have can save money & reduce waste. meal plan based off of what is already on your pantry shelf. if your kids pants have a hole in them, whip up a cute patch or try your hand at felting. need a project for your kiddo, use toilet paper tubes & dried beans instead of just ordering online. bottom line: get creative to see if you can utilize what you have for what you need. consider it cutthroat kitchen, life edition.

say no to upgrades

i'm still using the iPhone 6s that i got years ago. i'm salivating over the 11 because 90% of my work is done on my phone and yeah, it would be really nice. just like a new area rug, sectional, and fresh spring wardrobe. but you know what, it's just not essential right now. and i don't really think about it in the day to day without the temptation right in my face. determining in your mind that it's a no-fly zone, does wonders. as does avoiding the areas of temptation. *ahem, amazon*

cut out the extras

i wouldn't say that we're completely bare bones here--we have hulu+ and netflix. and let's be honest, they're not exactly "essential." we have chosen to allow ourselves a few small luxuries like select streaming apps that allow us to watch our fave shows & an occasional chic-fil-a run, everyone needs a break, right? but overall, these are low cost luxuries and we say no to 99% of the extras (cable, apps, upgrades, wish list items, new clothes, etc) that would be super nice but can be lived without for the time being.

at home family & date nights

we're not opposed to going out on occassion, but the majority of the time we just try to make things fun at home. there are so many cute ideas for stay at home date nights--with or without kids. cook together, create an in home theatre, game nights, paint together, etc. it's actually a whole lot of fun & whole lot of options.

money saving apps & sites

when i do have to shop, i check my apps & sites to see if i can clip a coupon or purchase a gift card to save some money. i'm no coupon master, i will always prioritize quality over quantity, and i personally don't care to spend too much of my time just to save a buck--however, i'm all for taking a minute to see if i can save on something that i need to buy anyway.

• utilizing young living's essential rewards program helps us to make the most of our money & grab more natural products simultaneously. plus i earn more money back in my paycheck--it makes a whole lot of sense to buy whatever i can from my own store.

• i always check in with raise to see if a discounted gift card is available (this is mostly for bigger stores like old navy, target, american eagle, world market, etc)--i've typically saved an extra $10-50 in addition to whatever the store sale is. a great deal isn't guaranteed, but it's always worth a look.

• ibotta & coupon hog are a couple simple apps that pay out for shopping through them--and it's super simple, a lot of your big retailers can be found there.

• i check retailmenot for any coupon codes that i may have missed.

• i love to shop marketplace & community yard sales before buying online. there are so so many things (things like pavers for your landscaping & vintage rugs) that are in great condition that people just want rid of. again, what you want isn't guaranteed but thrifting is the thrill of the hunt. true, there are some things that i will always buy new, not used. but marketplace & community yard sales are some fun ways to save if you don't mind looking.

• i also adore ikea for affordable home items & toys--not everything is great quality, read the comments. but our fave, super comfy sectional couch & trendy light fixtures & cork pitchers & play kitchen & faux plants & cute furniture & kitchen cabinets are from ikea at a much, much more affordable price. plus, there are so SO many pinterest ready ideas for transforming your ikea purchase into a whole other look. i seriously can't get enough.

• when we go out to eat, we'll check the restaurants app or the paper for any coupon offers. there's a chance that where you're headed is offering a deal already.

• starbucks, chic-fil-a, target, old navy, grocery stores & many others all offer rewards programs just for buying what you were planning to anyway.

• etsy shops & amazon will offer regular sales--follow your faves on instagram to keep up with offers.

• for diapers, we prefer to go as natural as possible so we utilize a hello bello subscription to save on our fave diapers, plus i don't ever have to worry about running out.

beware of little expenses. a small leak will sink a great ship. - benjamin franklin

MAKING MORE: beyond spending less of your income, you can only increase your income so that you have a bigger shovel to attack your debt with. currently, andrew works full-time and i stay at home with jack while managing my young living business (long story short, it makes the most financial sense for me to stay at home with him rather than working to pay a day care--plus, it's what we want for our kiddos). outside of our "full-time gigs," here's what we're doing to bring in extra income on the side

young living | my main squeeze

i decided to act on the opportunity to distribute young living oils & products for lots of reasons...mainly because i love & use their products either way and my paycheck enables us to continually afford natural products within our home, which we're both very passionate about. and hey, if you brag about the new universal thread sweater that you absolutely love--why not brag about the young living products you love & make a little extra income for it? i have yet to see my target commission, just sayin'. :) i choose to operate my business from a full-time perspective, carving out specific time to create content/educate/pour into my oilfolk fam. all of which is my choice. this business is mine to run...so i can adjust it to fit into my lifestyle. meaning family comes first. there is always room to grow with our business--meaning it's a source of potential residual income & willable income to our children. and that's HUGE for our financial future, and theirs. i work hard & stay consistent at sharing how i implement natural choices into our daily life and helping others do the same. in return, i'm able to bring in an extra stream of income to help our family. it's kinda amazing.

multi-level marketing, network marketing, and direct sales are the names used by those in that type of company to describe how their business models work. their detractors call what they do "one of those pyramid schemes" with a snarl. these companies are not pyramid schemes; they are a legitimate way for some people to make some side money and sometimes to literally build their own businesses. - dave ramsey

the worst thing we can do is get a second job. the BEST thing to do is start a home based business. - dave ramsey

etsy shop | in progress

it's probably not good business to share this early, but in the interest of idea sharing i'll bring this one up, too. i've been working on adding in a side hustle that is compatible to my yl biz--offering things that are helpful & inspiring to me in that oily lifestyle. for me, there is enough of a profit margin and shared interest to make this a considerable option. to determine my profit margin, i consider the difference between the cost that it takes to create the products/other expenses like the etsy seller's fee and what i would truly profit, weighed against the value of my time. as with young living, i would manage the marketing & customer service as well as production. that takes work and it's all things to consider before jumping in head first. but with that hard work & a great, unique product--this could be a creative avenue for anyone to pursue. many successful small businesses started with an idea & number crunching. how neat would it be if you could turn something that you're gifted at into an income for your family?

sell what we don't need | @shaulisfamilycloset on instagram

this is a quick way to earn some extra cash simply by downsizing & getting rid of things that you no longer want or need without the hassle of marketing & hosting an in person yard sale. never underestimate what people will love & want to give a good home to. personally, i have totes upon totes of really nice clothes from the last decade of life that i either no longer fit or no longer like. it takes some doing, but i created an instagram page to upload the pictures of my clothes/household items along with a simple description & price. to me, this is better than poshmark or thredup because there is no fee to sell or value removed from my items so that someone else can make a profit. removing the middle man & marketing it myself has worked really well for me. to expand my reach, i chose to offer shipping so that my friends that aren't local can shop, too! i chose a price range for shipping costs based on number of clothes purchased, with a little extra charge on heavier, bulkier items. note on shipping costs: it is impossible to nail the true cost on the head--i simply chose a base price that seems fair to both parties, so that i don't eat the entire expense to ship but they are still getting a great deal. for payment, i offer the choice between venmo or paypal. it's an easy, secure transfer, once i'm paid--the item is theirs & it's on to shipping. ultimately, i get a cleaner home & cash in my pocket while my items get a fresh start. win-win-win.

sell what we don't need | utilizing facebook community yard sales & marketplace

for larger, nicer household items that i don't want to ship, like furniture or say a nespresso coffee maker--i employ facebook groups to reach my local community. i've found that i can ask for the fair price for these items because the reach is further & i'm not desperate to sell. whereas, at an in person yard sale--people are more prone to haggle because you've done the work to set up & know that you don't want to box it up again. when it comes to bartering, be confident enough to barter back. know the value of your item & your bottom line--you have the right to say no. but also, know that you may not sell for top dollar like you'd hope--so be flexible. if something doesn't sell with time, lower your price. simple as that.

sell what we don't need | in person yard sale

some will say that an in person yard sale just isn't worth the effort, but i have $1,550 from last year's sale to prove otherwise. i only think it's truly worthwhile if you have a LOT to sell--whether it's a family yard sale effort or by yourself. we had a LOT to sell last year because we were moving from MI to PA--we opted to sell 90% of our stuff to move with less & purchase new in PA. with yard sales, you have to price to sell but you can also sell more at one time. we plan to hold a yard sale at least every other year to clean out our stuff & keep us intentional with what's in our home. i'll blog some yard sale tips in the future to help you out with making the most of your time & your stuff.

amazon affiliates | for the blogger in us

another stream of income can be from simply recommending products that we love & use with a direct link to where readers can grab it on amazon. since i blog, this only makes sense. i make a lot of recommendations for toys, recipes, toddlers projects, etc--a quick link makes it easier for the reader to accomplish and a little extra cash for my effort. utilizing amazon affiliates is also how those facebook mama's alerting you to all the great deals of the day make their money. another valid option. big influencers will go on to set up an amazon store front when you can shop their faves all in one while they earn commission from your purchase.

you know what you can do when you don't have payments? anything you want. - dave ramsey

what are some of your favorite & most helpful practices for giving debt the boot?