Just as with most big changes, getting out of debt is a lifestyle adjustment.  It’s not something you do in one big moment, it’s not something that’s done once and then over.  Living debt-free is a lifestyle and a mindset… a really, really great lifestyle and mindset.

So getting out of debt isn’t just about all the things you can do to save or make money (though those help). You can actually get out of debt by simply making little adjustments to your day that have huge and lasting impact.  Because when you keep up with these little adjustments, they turn into habits. And that’s when the magic starts!

So if you want to live debt-free and thus financially free, incorporate these habits into your life and watch the magic happen!

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Start Your Day with Daily Affirmations

I know this sounds so corny, but if you read my blog regularly you know I bring these up a lot!  Daily affirmations are unbelievable.  They are the easiest, yet most effective way to achieve ANYTHING.

Daily affirmations are basically just positive statements that turn your thoughts into reality.  Because they’re so effective, you can find examples of them everywhere, so you really don’t have to come up with them on your own.

You can read more about daily affirmations and get an example list of them here → Daily Affirmations that Will Transform Your Life.

Wait 24 Hours for All Purchases

As far as spending goes (especially impulse purchases), nothing will put a dent in your expenses like waiting 24 hours before making a purchase.  ALWAYS WAIT.  Even if there’s the greatest deal you’ve ever seen – WAIT.  Only one left – WAIT. Never, ever, ever buy anything without thinking about it for 24 hours…even with your groceries (more on that below)!

Sales and scarcity are marketing tactics.  They’re playing with your head!  If you just wait 24 hours, you will be blown away by how many things you don’t actually need or want.  And then if you do decide to make the purchase, you’ll feel better about it and you’ll know it was the right thing to do.  

Meal Plan

Meal planning is one of the most under-rated life-changing habit I’ve ever come across.  

I’m willing to bet that behind your mortgage, your food bill (including restaurants) is your largest monthly expense. Depending on how diligent you are, it’s also probably pretty variable.

Meal planning is exactly what it sounds like – planning out the meals you’re going to make.  It sounds so simple (and it is) and the irony is that eventually every meal has to be planned…it’s just a matter of whether you sit down and do it once a week or scramble every afternoon trying to figure out what dinner will be that night.

When I tested meal planning for an entire month, I cut $500 off our monthly grocery bill!  That’s outrageous.  Even just saving $100 would be huge!  ALL of that can go towards your debt.

The greatest thing about meal planning though is that you not only save a ton of money, you also remove so much stress from your life.  You completely eliminate the conversation of “What do you want for dinner tonight?”.

I’m telling you, this simple little addition to your life will work wonders.

Automate All Payments

If this is not already in place, stop what you’re doing and automate everything. Not only will this ensure that you never pay a late fee again, but it will give you an opportunity to push bill paying and savings contributions out of your head so you can focus on new and better ways to save and earn.

Once you’ve automated your payments, your lifestyle will also start to adjust to your “new” available income and before you know it, you’ll forget that you’re even contributing.  Your money will be working behind the scenes so when you do go to check on it, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the progress you’ve made.

Please, please, please – automate everything!

Put Extra Towards Debt Every Month

You’re not going to get out of debt if you stick to the original terms of your loan. 30 years for a mortgage? 10 years for a car?  These loans are designed to be sustained throughout your entire life.  Your current car loan is going to turn into your next car loan.  Your current mortgage will turn into your next mortgage.  

You need to break this habit.  Once you’re able to purchase a car in cash, you’ll never get a car loan again. I promise. It’s hard to pay off debt and it takes a long time.  But you need to have faith that it’s worth it.

So to do this, you have to put extra money towards your principal payment every single month.  Even if it’s just $25 to start. You need to get into the habit.  Then, whenever you have a pay increase, you increase the amount that is going towards your principal (and don’t forget to automate it!).

Review Your Budget Every Week

I know this sounds so, so boring, but there’s more than one good reason to do this every week.

First, the obvious reason – you can see if you’re sticking to your plan or if there are any glaring areas of your life that need some financial tweaking.  Often, we overlook things we purchase regularly and are then shocked to find out what they add up to.  Reviewing your budget every week will make sure that you stay on track with your goals.

Second, and more importantly, reviewing your budget every week will give you a chance to re-motivate yourself and celebrate whatever successes you’ve achieved that week.  When you’re doing this every week, you are reinforcing just how much you want this to happen.

Remember, you’re creating a new lifestyle for yourself!  Before you know it, you’ll be reviewing your budget everyday instead of every week.

Related Post: 5 Ways to Make Budgeting Easier

Related Post:  How to Turn Budgeting into a Date Night

I hope you’re able to incorporate at least a few of these life-changing habits!  Come back and let me know how it goes.

If you’d like more tips on reaching financial freedom, living a fulfilled life, and raising happy kids, subscribe to MBAsahm for notification of new posts!