Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in  Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.

Here’s my little Happy New Year gift to you. Each day in January, I’ll bring you a simple, concrete and easy to put in place tip to fuel your efforts to Save Money, Pay Off Debt, and Be Awesome this year. Looking for a quick plan? Well this might not to be the right place for you. Most things down well take time. But that doesn’t mean you can’t begin to implement systems in your life that will help you achieve your goals. I’ve said it many, many times before. Paying off debt isn’t complex. It’s just not easy. You have to punch the clock daily and do the hard work. Here’s another way to make that happen.

Day 22: No More Excuses

I hate admitting when I’m wrong. In fact, I will curve my excuses to make light of my missteps. I will allow someone else will take the heat and blame. In general, it’s difficult for me to own up to my problems. Maybe you don’t struggle as much as I do with this (feel free to judge). The Fonz in me can barely get the words out when it comes time to pony up . . . I was w-r-r-r-r-r-r-rong.

Although sometimes, I might not come straight out and say my wrongdoing is the fault of others. Usually my misappropriations comes in the form of three little letters . . .

b-u-t.

Buts are usually pretty big (like what I did there) when it comes to predicting a blame game.

We already live pretty frugally, but our circumstances . . .
Well I don’t usually spend that much, but he . . .
We would be much further along in paying off debt, but she . . .

Don’t misread what I’m driving at here. Certainly there are always outside circumstances and sometimes financial infidelity occurs within marriage. However, for 85% of us, there are two sides to every story and we all own a slice of our current financial condition. You could spend all of your time and energy blaming everyone else for everything that has gone wrong. And maybe even part of everything that has gone wrong lies at someone else’s feet. Even if it is someone else’s fault, will blaming begin the process of cleaning up the mess?

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m far from perfect and I think I’ll always have room for improvement when it comes to spending less, saving more, and giving to others before I think about myself. Maybe you need to own a slice in your current situation? This is 2015. You have a chance to put your big but away (I can’t stop myself). It’s time to haul that but out into the light. Take that but and give it a swift kick. Tell that but who’s boss.

Want to kick debt in the teeth? Get rid of your but. No more excuses, Lords and Ladies.

Miss the first 21 days of Kicking Debt in the teeth? Have no fear! Read:

• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in The Teeth: Believe
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in The Teeth: Stop It
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Sell, Baby, Sell
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Use Cash
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Plan Meals
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Mind Over Budget
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Read a Book
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Quit Eating at Restaurants
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Dream On
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Set Limits
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Communicate with Your Spouse
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Move It
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Work It
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Get Your Coupon On
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Visualize Victory
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Hang with the Right Crowd
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Clean Your Room!
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: It’s an Emergency!
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: You Can’t Buy From Every Fundraiser
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Stop Freaking Out
• 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth: Knock Off the Pity Party

Want to be sure you don’t miss a single one of the 31 Ways to Kick Debt in the Teeth? Be sure to subscribe to my daily newsletter! Look for the bar that looks like this in the upper righthand corner.

You’ll receive another e-mail to confirm and then daily around 5 pm all of the money saving, debt slaying posts I write will come right to your e-mail inbox!

I’m so looking forward to sharing this month of challenge and inspiration with you. Together, we can show debt who’s boss and give it a swift kick in the teeth this January and throughout the year in 2014. Away we go!

My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free on Kindle.  

This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!