Pay off Debt Without Feeling Deprived
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Loving life and aggressively striving to pay off debt don’t have to be mutually exclusive!
I think we’ve all read the stories about people paying off their debt by doing something dramatic like eating only rice and beans for years, or living out of a car, or not doing anything fun for themselves for years.
While these strategies may work for some people (and to be honest Joel and I definitely have plans to live out of our 1977 VW Bus in the summer just because we can), those strategies just weren’t right for me.
Yes, if you want to pay off tens of thousands of dollars of debt, it will require sacrifice to achieve, but there are tons of things you can do to love life along the journey.
The whole reason I wanted to start this blog is to help others find ways to pay off debt while still loving the life they have right now.
Enjoy the Moment
Too often we say to ourselves “I’ll be happy when (insert major life event here)”. But the thing is, life is too short to not enjoy each moment. (I know, I know, easier said than done).
And besides, if we convince ourselves that some accomplishment will make us happy, the reality is that once we achieve that, the next big thing will take its place and we’ll find ourselves right back where we were before.
Joel and I paid off over $40,000 of student loan debt in just under 2 years, but you know what, those 3 years were AMAZING, and we did tons of things that made us really happy during that time.
The trick for us was doing activities that were free or close to free, which for us meant lots of getting outside (hence the name of this blog: Money and Mountains).
Pay Off Debt and Enjoy Life
Here are some of the strategies we used to make the most of our lives while still paying off student loans.
The strategies we used encompass more than just outdoor activities, although that is and always will be one of my go-to cheap activities.
Get Outside
There are tons of hiking and walking trails throughout the U.S., even in many big cities. State parks also offer pretty cheap admission.
Thinking of meeting up with a friend? Why not go for a walk together instead of going out for coffee or dinner?
You’ll still get the quality visiting in which is probably the real reason you wanted to get together anyways.
Plus getting out and enjoying the great outdoors can also save on things like gym memberships.
Attend Free Museums
Many museums offer free admission every day or on specific days and times.
If you’re just dying to go to a museum, check out their website in advance to see if they have any days that are free to attend.
Find Cheap Movies
Live near a university? Many colleges screen movies that have been out for a while but aren’t out on DVD yet.
Tickets and concessions are generally significantly cheaper than you could get at a traditional movie theater.
When Joel and I lived in Albuquerque, we had a weekly date night to see a movie on campus at the University of New Mexico. Tickets were $2 each and we could each get a popcorn and share a pop for another $5. It’s hard to beat a $9 date night.
If you don’t live near a college, check to see if your local movie theater has a “cheap” day.
Many places offer $5 tickets on a less popular day of the week like Tuesday or Thursday.
Also, a lot of movie theaters have an email list you can sign up for where you may receive a free snack for signing up or have periodic coupons sent to your email.
Split a Meal at a Restaurant
Sometimes you just want to go out and have a nice date, and that is ok!
One way to save money is to consider splitting a meal. Often times restaurants serve way more food than one person could eat anyways.
By splitting, you can cut the cost of your date night in half while also reducing potential waste which is not only good for your wallet, but for the planet as well.
Trade Date Night Babysitting
Joel and I don’t have kids yet, so we haven’t run into babysitting costs, but I babysat as a side gig in high school and college and even in grad school, and man, I was expensive!
When I was little my mom and several friends would trade off babysitting duty so that everyone could get a chance for a kid free night every now and then. They used a token system among everyone to keep things fair.
If you have a group of friends or neighbors in your same boat, consider reaching out to them to start some sort of group exchange that will benefit everyone!
Your Turn To Pay Off Debt and Love Life!
I hope some of these tips will help you find joy in your life and allow you to continue to engage in things that will support you mentally and physically even in as you work to pay off debt.
Paying off debt sucks, but it doesn’t mean other areas of your life can’t still be amazing!
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Be sure to check out these other articles for even more money saving tips and success stories!
How to Budget Like Your Life Depends on It Your comprehensive guide to starting a budget so that you and your family can get ahead and stay ahead! Plus instant access to our free excel budgeting spreadsheet!
Pay Off Student Loans: Practical Strategies That Worked Need encouragement as you pay off debt? Check out our story which contains practical tips you can implement in your own life to become financially free!
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